The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-20
LITTLE MISS MIGGLES'
CHRISTMAS EVE.
Copyright, 1891. by The United Press.l

held her in such terror such inward
ouaking and trembling, that the spectacle
he presented in her presence was one
calculated to excite the profo undest pity
and commissration. Further it need only
DO said that the latter condition was that
in which he might generally be found.
Jonce Miggles, drunk or sober, left to
himself, was the happiest, easiest going.
best natured man in the world. and Mrs
Miggles, couceiying in their fullest extent
the possibilities Of these peculiarities, led
Jonce drunk the hveliest dance that ever
mortal danced, aud regarded Jonce sober
with that ephemsral respect which is sure
TO assert itself in those women who feel
obliged to hold their husbands with a hand
of iron and yet realize perfectly well upon
whom they are dependent for their daily
bread.
It was nine years ago this very Christ
mas time that little Miss Miggles came to
brighten the dingy lodgings with her sunny
smile and interpose her tiny hand and voice
in the cause Of peace and quiet whenever
the opinions of her father and mother came
to variance, and the destinies of the house.
hold seemed to waver in the balance Little
Miss Mlggles was very small, even for a
tenement child, with poor, tiny hands
and fees, white, almost fieshless,
limbs and two great, deep
DROWN eyes S0S IN q nead That was twice too
large for its owner. She was pale and
weak. and suffered from dozen different
illnesses, and all this was owing to the
wretched, unhealthful atmosphere in
which she lived. Tenement houses are
dreadful places for little children, ana,
though Miss Jessie Miggles was the pet
of every one about her, and though they
loved TO come TO her as she lay in the old
faded armchair that Jonce had bought
hn,@ ov,1 l. hsvs ova1 k.1tr - 4
try to make the days shorter and the nights
less wearisome, still little Miss Miggles was
not happy. Jonoe Miggles loved his little
Jessie more than his wife, or himself, or
anything on earth but rum, and Jessie,
having nc means of knowing that q state of
standardization was not mans normal con-
dition, loved her father with all the tender
ness aud sincerity of her gentle nature, and
shared with Jonce his fear CT the wrath of
Mrs. Miggles.
Christmas eve in the home of the Mig
giles was very much the same as it is 60
hundreds Of thousands of poor souls in
every big city in the land. Tenement
house Christmases somehow have not all the
poetry and romance and beauty that comes
with larger rooms and fuller purses, and
yet wherever children are to be found the
sweetness Of yuletide is ever present, for
Christmas is the children's festival
Last year when the yuletide week was
cold and stormy and dismal. Mrs Miggles
moved by spirit of jealousy aud by way
Of showing herself In every particular the
equal of Mrs. O'Reilly on the floor below,
entertained the children of the house on
Christmas eve in honor of Jessie's 9th birth
day. Mrs. O'Reilly had given a similar
entertainment the week previous, and il
was not for Mrs. Miggles to neglect
this opportunity for revenge. OF
course, little Miss Migglos' re-
ception was greatly enjoyed by the
guests, who wisely overlooked every ac-
oepted rule Of social etiquette aud went in
for good time. When the last of the
merry company had taken their departure
it was nearly z o'clock. and Jonce MigRles
had not yet returned from his work.
Mrs. Miggles went about putting the
room in order and then prepared the
dinner table, accompanying her labors
with muttered remarks about the tardi-
ness and the failings Of her husband,
Eight o'clock came and the dinner was
eaten; 8 struck on the little mantle
clock and still no sign of Jonce. It was
nothing uncommon for him to be late, very
late, but on Christmas eve, Jessie's birth
day. he had never failed to be home at din
ner time. Mrs. Migges put Jessie away in
her little couch and sat down by the waver-
ing lamp on the table to mend and sew and
mutter. Twice Jessie raised herself on her
elbow and asked where her father was, but
got no answer. Then a third time she
spoke.
Mother, where is daddy to~night9 He
always used TO come to me on Christmas
eve"
"Shet up, an go to sleep, will youp re-
turned the mother "How do know where
yer dad iss"
II thought he might have told you, may
be, said Jessie.
ttWa1i in, ,,frhf hut ba did1sk "A
Mrs Miggles. "You go on to sleep, an let
me- do the thinkln'.n
Jessie buried her pale little face In the big
pillow aud cried for scms time. Then sbe
heard heavy step on the shazy stairs with
out, creaking upward, and she raised herself
to listen. But 1t did not sound like Jonce':
tread-it was almost too firm and steady
and when it finally stopped and Che
ORellly's door was heard to open and Close
upon it, she lay down and cried. Ter
o'clock came and then II, and Mrs. Miggles
herself got up and raised the windo " sash
and looked out. A great cloud of snow
rushed in like frightened creature seeking
protection and she shut the window with c
crash and paced the floor nervously. Agar
Jessie ventured to speak:
"dother," she said, "haven's you got nc
notion where daddy is to-night"
W hat, amt you to sleep yitm was Mrs
angeles only reply as she approached tbs
c0uch and pulled the coverlet over the
chhds face; and then, as she walked up ant
uoWn, up and down, Jessie could hear hel
Lluttering something that sounded like
drunk again, aud locked up and fined to-
morrow. Jessie, poor little one, had nc
luea what it all meant-she only knew
oohce was not home, and she did want 81
mucn to see him then, and at last fatigue
soS It's way and she cried herself to sleep.
bnG MRS. Miggles was too angry TO forge
ueFSeI. Jonce had promised her faithfully
.ua1 ne would be home very early tDat even
Jug, and he had disappointed her. Fool SD,
heo been to put fai b in the word of such
man; 1901 she had always baen when he wa
concerned. But, at any rate, she knew
Muere be was, and in tho morning, Christ
. morning, she would 20, not for the frs
sIiue' and see the sergsant and borrow som
money, and have Jonce out and home an,
perhaps sober by noon, So Mrs. Mig
sieS thought on till midnight RAM
OUT from the church chimes on the mex
,eet, and ushered in the gladdest, bright
ess Jay IN all the year. Mrs. Migges stoppe
suUrS IN ner pacings, listened to the merr
lens ana then, moved by a spirit who's
eoucn she had not known for many days
saS down by the shaky old table picked u
the faded little Bible that .Tessie loved 5
t teaIly ana searched assiduously throug
sae length and breadth of the Old Testamen
lo i tne story of Peace on earth: goo
VA mln toward men," and failing to lind il
enTew down the tiny book and. with on
faS.t, uncomplmentary comment on til