New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1891-12-23
"a SHORT sToRYFoRcHRIsTMAs

.AsHoRT STORY FOR CHRISTMAS
The Little Girl and the Big Man
With a Beard.
It was about the middle Of the
afternoon. The car was full Of sub
urbanites returning home laden with
purchases for the holidays. A lady
entered the car, followed by a little
girl. Both had as many bundles as
they could carry, and when the lady
had been provided with seat there
was only one other to be had. TWAS
by the side Of d large man with a
closely-cropped beard. The little girl
was duly installed in that seat, her
packages disposed OF to her satisfac-
ton, and as the train started off she
began a conversation with the large
man. He had smiled at her and
taken part Of her load on his own
lap.
lawfully hard work buying SO
many Christmas things, ism .iit?o she
observed. -, "
eyes, it must be hard work.
:'But like it, I'd most rather buy
Christmas gifts than go skating, and
I'd rather go skating than do any
thing else 'cept eat candy and go to
Sunday SCHOOL, she added, pulling
down the corners Of her mouth as if
with a sudden fear that she was Civ
ing out an impression OF giddiness not
warranted by all the facts in the case.
"Ihat's my mamma over there
that lady with the brown hair. It's
all her own hair, too, Don't you
think my mamma S nice?''
Indeed l do" .+As.-..-
$50 does papa. He takes mamma
on his lap sometimes, just like she was
a little girl. Don't you think she'd be
a pretty big armful?'
''H'm-no; not too big"
''Well, I guess that's what papa
thinks. He's a big man-most as big
as you are. And he's just as strong!
He carries me round on his shoulder.
Sets me up on it, you know, and I
hold on by his head, and amt a bit
afraid. You can't guess what I've got
for my papa in this bundle"
"a pound OF candy?"
The little girl laughed gleefully.
"No. aspect he's got a lot OF can
dy for me. Guess again.
"a necktie?''
':No. 'Tisn't that. Mamma tends
TO his neckties, and they're always
nice"
eve no doubt of it,
"You'd never guess. I'll have to tell
you. It's q moustache cup. It's just
the loveliest one could find, and it's
awful pretty. Papa, he's gotta great
long black mustache. Wouldn't you
think it would be dreadful unhandy to
kiss ss1H anybody with long mustache?"
"Well, it isn't. You get used to it,
you know. When you want to kiss
anybody right bad you amt going to
let a mustache stop you"
Ayoung lady on the seat Immediate
ly in front was seized with a violent
fit OF coughing that made her face very
red, and she pulled down the blind to
keep the sun out o. her eyes.
GHOST everybody in this car is load
ed down with Christmas things, amt
they?" went on the little girl. ats a
good thing your seat isn't, or I'd q
had to stand up. Don't you have any
Christmas at your house?"
eyes. We always have Christmas
in some shape. .-... ...- ..
MAYBE you haven't got any little
folks?"
20, yes. I've got little girl about
your size.'
els she good little girl?"
:Indeed she isl
doesn't she ever cry or pout?"
Never" @
"Well, do sometimes when they
won't give me another piece of cake.
Doesn't she ever 60 off in some corner
and throw herself down on the lounge
and kick the floor with her toes, and
say she's mad and hates everybody?"
"Never"
''Never acts a bit cross and
naughty?'
"No-never."
''She must be a dear littlegirl. Don't
you love her very much?'
"Yes-O, yes"
"Then why haven't you got your
arms full CT Christmas presents to
take home to her?'
''She doesn't need them, my DEAR"
said the man, gently stroking the
little girls glowing cheek. ''She has
gone to live with the angels. '-Chicago
Tribune. j.