The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1890-12-27

MMMMNEN my weary ears Dy
y P&8M day-into my
.- dreams by night. i
could not escape them. I can not
escape them yet; for even now the
shrill whistles heard in manufacturing
districts at morn, at 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 q
pair OF ugly. vicious, black brows to-
gether if | am few seconds behind
time.
Twas poor enough those days; but
hours blacker than these stole like
dread spectres from the charnel
house of time.
One day l was discharged. 1 was
late for the tenth time-"for the
tenth and last time" the overseer
said, as 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
marchp'
The twins comforted me that night
as best they could. After long ia
tiguing walk in vain search for work
it was sweet az twilight to sit alone
with my treasures and have their
dear arms fold about my neck. l
was so young too; it seemed as if
had actually been q 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
care.
Two days tramping brought me
only an empty pocket, empty larder
and empty prospects,
And then came Christmas eve
Christmas eve, when all should be
Joy and gladness and radi-
ance and plenty! / looked into the
box Joe had fastened into what he
called a pantry" there was half of
n loaf there, some crackers, and bit
oil 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 it ever dawns
upon the poor-in it's own bright,
bitter mockery ofall gladness! Santa
Claus finds it impossible to treat the
labyrinthian alleys of Poverty Row,
. and great lump rose in my throat
\ at the sight OF two poor, little faded
stockings hung near the straw pile
that served us for bed in common.
Oh, the sweet, simple faith of child
hood! Tears came veil to my sight,
and each great bitter drop was like q
bubble that reflects more beauteous
tints than ever were in earth or sky.
Whence came they? In these salt
tears found the picture OF my child
4 hoods home, where mother lived
among us and trouble was unborn
saw her sweet face close to mine; l
saw her hands reach out to me, and
then
The dream angel must have visited
me, for 1 awoke with start to find
the last red ember only tiny spark
upon the hearth. My dream com
forted me greatly, and with a queer
Neling OF something oddlyiresembling
content, /, early us it was, slipped
off my worn shoes and let down my
hair for the night.
Such hair had then-so long, SO
,lustrous, with the CLINT of the suns
own sheen amidstits heavy masses.
"Make me doll, sister," Josie
once had said; sand cover it's head
with bit of your lovely hairl"
Right willingly would / have sacrific-
ed every tress OF tia great thought
seized me; cried out like one daft,
and bound up the heavy masses with
y eager, trembling hands.
"Sleep, little darling" l cried in
ecstatic whisper, ''sleep and dream of
q glorious Christmastide; for it shall
come to you by the power Of living
goldP'
Out into thegloom ofcold, deserted
streets beyond them into the glure
of shop lit avenues-jostled by SER
vants of Sautap Claus--excited, daz-
ed, happy in the thought ofmy sacri-
fice l hurried Upon my way.
came at last to halt before a
window behind whose one greaterys-
tai pane waxen image ola fair inn