The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-12-25


well, I WON'T" said the child patiently.
II have to go out now," continued the
boy. tits time for my route"
They kissed each other, and then the
twelve-yearold departed to sell evening
papers, while the afflicted eight-year-old
tried to go to sleep to pass away the time
until the older sister and head of the fam
lily should come.
Number 9 Gunnison alley was always
cherries in cold weather, and the top floor
back was especially cheerless, for Mary
Worrell was out sewing every day, and
had to do her own housework at night
There was little fire in the stove this after
noon; the stove needed backing and some
ashes had fallen out over the hearth. The
principal article of the scanty furniture
was the bedstead on which Kitty had lain
for two years.
Kitty couldn't remember a time when
they had not been poor at the best, but
since they had been orphans they had
fallen gradually down, down in the mat
ter of comforts and even necessities.
Soon after Joe went Kitty heard knock
"Who's thereS" she called.
The visitor, no other than Mr.. Simon
Claus, replied: "A friend Do Joe and
Kitty Worrell live here?"
"Yes, but the key is in Mrs. milling
room at the end of the hall. Pm locked
in."
When Mr.. Claus had let himself in she
looked up at him without fear, the excite
ment of guest making her cheeks flush.
$50 you're keeping house alone today"
he said.
eyes. do every day, most, and they
lock ME in because can get up and walk
They're afraid somebody might come in
that shouldn't"
"Why can't you walk?" he asked.
"Well, you see, my back aches all the
time and my feet don't go right Once
fell, and most ever since l have had a lame
back. But Joe knows some one that can
cure me-"
"Ah, yes; came especially to see Joe.
Where is her"
"Out ceiling papers, He'll come by and
by. He's awful good to me and Mary.
Mary's my big sister. She's out to work.
Joe's going to save all the money he can to
get that doctor. And guess I'll tell you
secret" she went on. "Joe wrote to Santa
Claus and asked him to bring me some
thing for Christmas. That ISM any harm
is it' Don't you believe he's glad to hear
Of little girls that want presents?"
"Yes; l know he is" replied Kitty's
guest, greatly touched.
When Mary Worrell returned the stran-
ger told her quietly what his errand was,
received the needed direction and departed,
first putting into Kitty's thin hand purse
that Margaret had sent. She could not
wait until Christmas to begin playing
Santa Claus.
The benign face of a middle aged man
was bending over child who lay pros
ing up at him as he touched her body gent
ly, world of faith in her great brown
eyes. It was little wonder his mild yet
strong countenance inspired her conf.
dence. The face was all she saw, but
her watchful parents had begun to hope
that here was helper indeed, for they
noted the scientific way in which the firm
hands did their work and the keen ques-
tions which showed his complete knowl-
edge of the disease to be treated. And yet,
when Mr.. Claus found him, the man had
said: II am not physician, but only a
physicians aid. help those whose bodies
IRE helpless merely by giving them out
ward support"
The group in that lovely room formed q
picture, and the growing hope in the par
ents' faces became joy as they heard him
say presently, II believe she can be cured;
but it will take long time, and will
only act in connection with your regular
physician"
The child's look was triumphant.
Didn't I tell you so, mammal Aud he
must cure Kitty too"
Then she told the gentleman of Kitty,
and how the poor child's illness had been
the means of their hearing about him, and
he agreed to go at once to Gunnison alley
to examine Kitty, as Mr.. Claus requested
him to do.
ut is Christmas eve," cried Margaret
''Tell her you came from Santa Claus, for
you really do, you know, because I am
playing Santa Claus this year. Butt
her voice grew very tender-''it isn't truly
Santa Claus at all; it's the Christ-child,
he puts 1t into our hearts, you see, and I
want you to tell Kitty about him, will
you? Because can't go. / don't think
she's SO well acquainted with him as she
is with Santa Claus. They have the Christ
child in Germany on Christmas, and like
it better than Santa Claus"
Well, "Dr. Good, !" IS Margaret chose to
call him, though he wasn't doctor and
his name was plain Mr.. Goodsell, went to
Gunnison alley and made favorable re-
port OF kitty's case also. And SO touched
was he by Margaret's request that he did
not forget to tell his new patient about her
and the story of the Christ-child.
After he had gone another knock sur
prised the Worrells. This time colored
man came with Mr.. Santa Claus compli-
ments, and he wasn't feelin able to get
round to Gunnison alley, but would they
accept these, with his best wishes and his