Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1890-12-27
THE FLEETING SHOW.
Some of ITS Facts and Fancies.


either side; houses that aroused no SYM
pathy in the mind of the passer by as ex-
hibiting even in delapidation and decay
unmistakable tokens Of former grandeur,
for they had never, even in their best
estate, been otherwise than cheap, and
fimsy, and full of architectural defects
as their size would allow. The only good
thing to be said of Rainbow street, a name
seemingly bestowed upon it in bitter
irony, was that it was quiet, its tenants
being Woodworking people, struggling
against the wind and tide of the worlds
misfortunes, hurrying away in the early
thankful for work itself and for the privi-
lege of living in the dingy little houses
rather than in crowded and unwholesome
tenements.
At an upper window of one of these
houses sat a young woman with pale and
troubled face, who sometimes laid down
the little frock upon which she was sewing
to cough and press her thin hand against
her side. But sometimes, too, her face
frightened with lovely smile as, leaning
forward, she nodded to dancing little fig
ure in the street, pretty child who waved
toward her a red-mittened hand, then held
aloft battered doll, causing it to perform
the same salutation with its one stumpy
arm.
This child seemed the incarnation of
health and JOY She did not walk, but
danced and skipped from one. end of the
street to the other, trilling a little song in
the gladness of her heart as she went, or
pouring out a flood of merry condolences
upon her passive and expressionless COM
panion. Her brown eyes were sparkling,
the wavy locks that escaped from her hood
shone like gold in the sunlight, and always
the burden of her song was, "Christmasis
coming! Christmas is coming! To-day and
tomorrow and then it's Christmas! And
perhaps, perhaps, dolly, you will have
carriage and l shall have sled. Aren't
you glad, dears'
All through the night and early morn
ing the snow had fallen. Now, at noon,
Rainbow street was transfgured by it as
it lay dazzlingly white in the sunlight,
with cloud1ess, vividly blue sky above.
To little Linnet the world seemed won
derfully beautiful place, and life delight.
Between her and the street lay bank of
snow into which she sometimes sprang,
struggling out again after the manner of
frolicsome young animal and laughing
as she shook the dry snow from her skirts.
At last, after repeatedly sitting down in
| one place, she fashioned an farm chair"
in the bank and settled herself snugly in
| it for confidential chat with the doll.
| the quantity charming picture, winning
bright smile from the child, who, when
the lady was out of hearing, said softly:
''That's our pretty lady, dolly. Don't you
members She always looks at us as if
she liked u.s." and then, as lured by the
! magic of that smile, she rose and quietly
| Meanwhile her mother, the sad-faced
woman by the window, seemed lost in
| painful reverie. Memory was busy, re-
| calling bright days of the past and con-
| trasting them with the troubled times up
on which they had fallen. In her weak
ness and depression she catalogued her
misfortunes, and read them over and over
as from printed list. First, there was
her husbands long illness and the conse-
quent loss of his situation; her weary
vigils by night and day when he lay help
less, and in all the strange city to which
they had come from o far away New En-
gland village, there was no friend to offer
aid. Then, when he was creeping about,
the shadow of himself, came those hours
of agony, mercifully few, when little Hal,
the rosy, sturdy baby, struggled and fought
for his BREATH and falling sank to his last
sleep on her arms. When she returned
from seeing him laid in his tiny grave and
fell fainting beside the empty cradle, il
was the beginning of illness which
|
all the loving ministrations of husband
and child, to combat. They drew hel
back at last, as from the gates of death
but she was weak still and subject tc
melancholy moods Their savings
boarded against ga rainy day." had al
, been swept away by this torrent of mis-
fortune, SO, selling the best of thei
effects in order that they might not b,
burdened with debt, they left their pleas
ant little home and settled in thre,
, | rooms on Rainbow street She though
of dear, unselfsh Hal, working so hard
SO poorly paid, but always brave an,
cheerful, sparing her in every possibl
, way; of Linnet, active and merry, wearin
ont her clothes beyond all belief, but 8
0 loving and helpful. They were so deal
Q these two that made up her world-sh
o wished to do so much for them-she wa
20 helpless. Her eyes burned, there wa
y painful pressure on throat and che.
and it seemed to her that her heart ws
i. breaking
= And just then Linnet burst in, a
aglow with excitement, and brandishing
tightly-closed fist. "Guess what I've go
e mammal o, you never could guess! 1t
8 something beautiful The pretty lady gay
it to me, the one with the shiny eyes an
the fuzzy coat, you know. l found h,
d little parcel-a little white parcel-lyir
10 in the white snow, and she was so gla
. She said she wouldn't have lost it for
hundred dollars, and she gave me thi
lg mamma. l said p'raps you wouldn't wal
n me to take money, but she wanted me
O. have it for Christmas, and she said it W
very little to give for such great favor
u concluded Linnet, proudly, and openil
or the fist she displayed shining silver d.
he lar.
n 'Tm glad you have it, dear" said b
va mother, ttand you may spend it for yor
self. I've been dreading to tell you," a
wv she put her arms closely around the chi
"but papa will have no money to buy y
pretty things for Christmas. We 9
ne dreadfully poor, darling; you could I
er- our little girl even the clothes she nee,
10 Papa knows how much you want sl
. and he is so sorry he cannot get it for "
lor but you must try not to think of it q
ew more"
,54 This was a blow, but Linnet me
ct bravely, saying, though her lips trembl
- 81 don't mind. If my papa had the mol
er- he'd buy me hundred sleds. o, mann
LII mamma, please don't cryl"
ort 1t was Linnet's custom at night
lie perch upon her fathers knee and give
o detailed account of the days haps
mishaps. She was very proud to sh
him the silver dollar, which to her reE
md sented untold wealth, and she thoroug
To enjoyed his surprise. Then she whisl
:; ed in his ear, nearly choking him at
SUI same time, that it was ''no matter alb
has the sled," and she whispered, "W'
on. new shoes do just as well to slide ong'
the. she replied, Better, for theren be two
e. 'em. Then they kissed each other
NY were very quiet for surprisingly /
am- time, until the father said: 'T tell
lrg, what we'll 81, pet. Well go out togei
Tn on Christmas eve and we'll look in
the stores and we'll stretch
'seo dollar out as large as two," but to this
to child, much to his dismay, objected. '
an want to go with you, papa" she said.
Tn want to see all the pretty things and al
,ooa children and the big people with
looo arms full of bundles, and everyf
$3.50 laughing and talking, but want to g
and alone tomorrow and spend my money
,aa,, self.
''What queer notion has that
chicken got-in her headg'' asked Hal OF
8 to wife when the child had fallen aisle
te;da "Cannot you guesss' she said.
''' means to spend it all for u.s." s'We i
ware not let her," he replied quickly. "T
le in not think of itl'' but Mary went on. $