The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-12-20

yDNJ day-into my
49, dreams by night. /
could not escape them. | can not
escape them yet; for even now the
shrill whistles heard in manufacturing
districts at morn, ut noon, at night,
cause me TO start with alarm. Imay
be latel / can not rid myself of the
notion that they are signaling me,
that the overseer will not bring a
pair of ugly. vicious, black brows to-
gether if | am few seconds behind
time.
was poor enough those days; but
hours blacker than these stole like
dread spectres from the charnel
house OF time.
One day was discharged / was
late for the tenth time-"for the
tenth and last time" the overseer
said. rs he pushed the little wages
due into my hand. For the tenth
and last time, girl I've been toler-
ant Of your fine lady ways long
enough-you are discharged
march,
The twins comforted me that light
as best they could After a long IA
tiguing walk in vain search for work
il was sweet a3 twilight to sit alone
with my treasures and have their
dear arms fold about my neck. |
was SO young too; it seemed as il |
had actually been n child with them
when our widowed mother lived; but
when we saw the cold earth take her
to it's BOSOM | aged with my great
grief, and now drear lifetime OF ex-
perience and sorrow lay between me
and the brown-eyed children, who, at
nine years OF age, comprehended
but vaguely their sisters grief and
cnre.
Two days tramping brought me
only an empty pocket, empty larder
and empty prospects,
And then came Christmas eve
Christmas eve, when all should he
ioy and gladness and radi-
ance and plentyl looked into the
box Joe had fastened into what he
called n pantry" there was half of
lcnf there, some crackers, and bit
oi cheese. We were not hungry now,
but breakfast would clear the box of
crust and crumbs, and after that
what? All we had eaten for three
days past had come from the united
earnings OF Josie and 10, who sold
papers while ! traversed the long,
cold city streets. And Christmas was
to dawn upon us as il ever dawns
upon the poor-in it's own bright,
bitter mockcry ofall gladness Santa
Claus finds il impossible TO treat the
labyrinthinn alleys OF Poverty Row,
and great lump rose in my throat
ut the eight o. two poor, little faded
stockings hung near the straw pile
TINT served us for y bed i'm common.
Oh. the sweet, simple faith of child
hood Tenrs came veil to my sight,
and each great bitter drop was like Il
bubble that reflects more beauteous
tints thnn ever were in earth or sky.
Whence came they? In these salt
tenrs found the picture OF my child
hoods home, where mother lived
among ns and trouble was unborn.
| saw her sweet fnce close TO mine; /
saw her hands reach out To me, and
then
The dreamnngel must have visited
me, for awoke with n start TO find
the last red ember only tiny spark
upon the hearth Ny dream com.
iortcJ me greatly, and with n queer
feeling OF something oddlyTesembing
content, ]. early M IL was. slipped
Oft my worn shoes md let down my
hnir for the night.
Such hair had then--so long, SO
lustrous. with the CLINT of the suns
own sheen amidst its heavy masses.
MAKE me doll, sister," Josie
once had said; land cover it's head
with n lit OF your lovely hairw
Right willingly would | have sqcrific-
ed every tress OF tia great thought