The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-12-24


CIT IS NY DREAM"
Yes, but the key is IN Mrs. Mullins
room at the end of the hall. Pm locked
in"
When Mr.. Claus hal let himself in she
looked up at him without fear, the excite
meat of a guest making ller checks flush.
SO you're keeping house alone today
he said.
Yes. | do every day, most, and they
They're afraiL somebody might come in
thar shouldn't"
"Why can't you walk" he asked.
"Well, you see, my back aches all the
time and my feet don't 60 right. Once ]
fell. and most ever since have had a lame
back. But Joe knows some one that can
ours me-" -ss
4 'Ah, yes; I came especially to see Joe.
Where is hee'
"Out selling 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 I guess I'll tell you
a secret" she went on. "Joe wrote to Santa
Claus and asked him to bring me some
thing for Christmas. That isn't 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 denarted,
iirst putting into Kitty's thin hand purse
thu. Margaret had sent. She could not
wait until Christmas to begin playing
Santa Claus
lowed the physician outside to tell him
how it was. II had to PROMISE in order to
quiet Margaret If she forgets, | shall not
remind her. he said.
''.-he viii probably not forget" replied
DIR. Montague; land, my friend, if | were
You, I'd do whatever she asks. Only kcer
me informed"
"When did you send the letter, Joe?'
1.-TWO days ago, Kitty
did you put a real true stamp on it,"
YES, and dropped it in the post box
It'll go all right, Kitty. Don't worry O.
you il make your head ache"
was ben =; over q child who lay pros
trnte in Il sumptuous room. She Was look
ing up at him as he touched her body gent
ly, world of faith in her great brown
eyes. 1t 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
bands did their work and the keen ques-
lions which showed his complete knowl-
edge of the disease to be treated. And yet,
when Mr.. Claus found him, the man had
said: Il am not a physician, but only a
physicians aid. help those whose bodies
are helpless merely by giving them out
ward support" =. .515%: -e' 20.
The group in that lovely room formed a
picture, and the growing hope in the par
ents' faces became joy as they heard him
I say presently, 81 believe she can be cured;
but it will. take a long time, and Z viii
only act IN c2nnsetion =, with your regular
physician. go - - - = :.
j. The 'child's, look was: triumphant.
E."Didn't tell you SO, mammas 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.
1T is Christmas eve," cried Margaret
Tell her you came from Santa Claus, for
YOU really do, you know, because | am
playing Santa Claus this year. Butt
her voice grew very tender--''it isn't truly
Santa Claus at all; its the Christie child
he puts it into our hearts, you see, and
want you to tell Kitty about him, will
you9 Because | can't go. l don't think
1. 4.
is with Santa Claus. They have the Christ
child in Germany on Christmas, and like
it better than Santa Claus"
Well, DIR. Good" as Margaret chose tt
call him, though he wasn't Il doctor anG
his name was plain SSir. Goodsell, went to
8 Gunnison alley and made a favorable re
port of kitty's case also. And 80 touched
was he by Margaret's request that he die
not forget to tell his new patient about bel
and the story of the Christ-child.
After he had gone another knock sur
prised the Worrells. This time coloret
man came with Mr.. Santa Claus compli
ments, and he wasn't feelin able to ge
round to Gunnison alley, but would they
accept these, with his best wishes and hi.
particular love to Miss Kitty"
i "These" proved to he more things thar
can be described. Edibles, of course
some wonderful toys for Kitty, sof
afghan and down pillows for her bed ant
another purse, not at all like that TIN
strange gentleman had given her, bu
quite as we'll filled. s pee
! The spirit of Christmas was lowering ii
the air that night, for in the midst of Joy
Gus gift making in richer homes, the ring
ing OF Christmas bells in towers ant
ed steeples and the remembrances for child
hood throughout the world, some geo,
angel found time to bring dream t.
weary, happy Kitty. She saw-not SAINT
Claus-but a beautiful child, who held GU
LANDS full 10 overtlOTing with gifts AM
blessings, SAVING, Tie Christ-child send
tncm.'
y year passed. II was Christmas ev
eg%lu, and there was an air OF expectauc
'loiiccablc in Mary and Joe Worrell a
t!ey moved about their humble home
Kitty was too ensrossed in Z picture boo
- see it. She sat IN :; reclining chair-M,
Claus and his wife had spared no pains t
make her comfortable-aud was so interes,
t. that she never heard the rattle of wheels
> II. left The room and went down to hel
ii .rc,,e,.. There WAS sound of peopl
(, uJ!u- tie stairs: a vision of lorelines
Of l,Gatin, feathers and iowny furs: the
Rosy faced naid placed child before th
tor AM stepped to one side. Joe leane
. III the other ard gave Il sounding knocl
j. S,l> part OF the plan that when it opene
!-.,ly should see no one but Margaret he
e t;:ynd and benetacJor. who had grown abb
y 20 out and WAS come to see her for til
inst time.
Larry threw the door vide open, ant
: smiling, Margaret stepped forward, he
hands full of packages. The figure in th
> cA,air looked up. and never noticing ID
slight limp and bent back, results OF d
disease which time would cure, gave
l xladcry
= 1T is my dream, my Christmas dream,
she said. at is the Christ-child.n
: mo. dear. it is Margaret" said Mar
! gently, with tears in her eyes.
~ saw It Just as plain" Kitty went o,
'and ! never forgot how Il looked. Al
you sure this Is Margarets"
,, A merry laugh from the child herse
! settled the question, and the two lit
friends went straight to work to get bett1
acquainted over the contents Of sundl
Christmas packages.
Ii you want the latest novelties in Fl,
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