The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-12-28

gone from bad to worse, and now, as the
New Years day was coming around again,
Pierre Pujol found himself face to face
with bitter and remorseess poverty. He
felt like a criminal as he crept back to his
8retched attic. for several times during the
week he had found awaiting him scraps of
bread and meat which he knew Julie must
have secured by begging. The thought
drove him almost TO frenzy, and yet he dared
not forbid her to ask aims. for Blanche was
such trail little creature that even a fast of
twenty-four hours might be fatal Pulol
pushed the door open as softly as possible,
but Julie heard him and called out:
How late you are tonight, papa. |
waited supper for you nearly an hour
At that word supper" Pujol felt his eyes
fill with tears. He glanced at the table,
and sure enough there was plate of bread
and meat, and beside it cup of some bey-
erage or other.
Julie" began the wretched man in low
whisper; but the little girl of ten, remark
ably strong and womanly child TOR her years,
anticipated what he was going to say. and
cut him short with a mock-earnest exclam-
= alton of Papa, Blanche has been very
naughty tonight; she wont go to sleep, al
though I've told her all about the dolls in
the shop windows"
At these words little Blanche. whom her
sister was holding upon her lap and coddling
up to her child-bTeast in such a sweet and
lovable manner that PujopS heart was deep
ly touched by the sight, broke away from
jules EN- brace, and fixing her wide-Opened
eyes on her father, cried out:
''Oh, papa, Julie has told me all about
d" them, and | want one for a New Years
present"
Zone what, my darling" asked Pujol,
taking the child in his arms aud kissing her
little cheeks, now flushed with the glow of
excitement.
Why. an unbreakable doll, papa. Julie
says 1t last till get to be big, big girl.
Won't il, Julie?"
j" Come here, you naughty child" said
julie, settling herself down again to the al
to sleep, " and let poor hungry papa eat his
supper in peace, you bad. bad child"
: Unbeatable doll?" murmured Pujol to
himself, as he covered his face with his
hands to hide his tears. and then it occurred
to him that he had seen in the shop win
dows dolls so labeled for the first time this
season " 1t Is doubtless some novel toy to
carry joy to the children's hearts," he added !;
but alas, fear there'll be no joy for me or
mine this New Years day. 1t can't last
much longer. l must either get food for
them or l must give them up to those who
can provide for their wants. Give them up !?
on, merciful heaven, the thought sets a
convulsiyely as the phantom of separation
rose before him.
Don't cry. papa" murmured child's
voice, softly and tenderly. 1t was julie and
as she laid her face against her fathers and
wrapped her arms around his neck, she re-
peated, In tone sweet and trustful: Don't
cry, papa; we shall have better luck next
year. l know we shall. And it will soon be
be New Years now, papa"
God grant it." exclaimed Puiol, as he
pressed that frail little figure to his breast
But. all. it seemed like hoping against
hore. The following day brought forth
nothing but promises. always promises.
For weary hours Puiol sat in the outer
cfilces OF business houses only to be told in
the end that they had resolved 10 wait until
after the opening of the year before they
filed this or that vacancy or took on any
new men. Utterly worn out in body and
slck at heart Pujol sat down on bench in
the Champs Elysees to rest himself for a few
moments and to run over his list of names
IN order to see if he had been everywhere
Yes. the list had been exhausted. There
was nothing more for him to do but to
send his children to some charitable institu-
ton and become beggar on the streets 1t
was hard, terribly hard, for him to make up
his MIND to give up the struggle the more so
as he felt himself so willing and able to do
his duty in life. But he seemed crowded
out, elbowed aside. he knew not why. No
one wanted him; no one was touched by his
piteous tale Of suffering; no one was moved
by the look OF anguish which came from his
terribly sad and sunken eyes. Overcome by
fatigue Pulops head fell backward and for
an instant all his troubles were forgotten.
He slept.
Poor man, how awful sad he looks 7" ex
claimed a child's voice, in a soft and sympa-
thetIc tone.
=" must be dreaming" thought Pujol to
himself.
:. Come. come, Paula" cried another little
voice, impatiently.
: Pn]ol now reused himself to find a beauti
full child, richly clad in velvet and fur.
standing in front of him. with her large blue
eyes fixed intently upon his face. q little
further along were two other children both
OF them older. The children were accom-
panied by tall, MISUNDERSTANDING man,
:" who had halted and was waiting patiently
Tor the one addressed as Paula to catch up
: TO him. Np
do come on, Paula" again urged the
same voice, we can't wait for you for
eYerp
But the little angels heart had been
touched, and she was determined not to SUR
until she had blessed Pierre Pnjol
fiease, Uncle Felix" she pleaded, "giye
the poor man some money"
- Inc tall gentleman smiled and thrusting
ms hand into his pocket, tossed couple Of
francs into PujoPs lap. "
Inc oank clerk tried to speak, but the
words uled away in his throat and be conld
: only sit there and watch the three beantifn !
chiioren as they disappeared in the distance.
once or twice his little angel Paula locke
back at him. Then he lost sight of them
entirely.
1t was evident that the gentleman whom
the children had addressed as Uncle Felix
had been visiting the shops with his three
Little nleces IN hopes that they might make
choice OF what they wanted for New Year s
presents. But it had been a fruitless task.
for when they reached home there seemed
TO be quite as little chance as ever of their
making up their minds. Even when Martha