The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1891-12-26

A Little Story fo- the Christmas 6eas
| son.
it was about the middle of the after
noon. The car was full OF suburbanites
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 n seat there
was only one other to be had. 1t was
by the side of a large nan with close
" cropped beard. The little girl was
duly installed in that scat, her pack.
ages disposed of to her satisfaction,
and as the train started off she began a
conversation with the large man. He
had smiled at her and taken a part Of
her load on his W lap.
Awful hard work buying so many
Christmas things, isn't it?" she OBJ
served.
"Yes. it must be hard work"
But / like it I'd most rather buy
Christmas gifts than to go skating, and
Id rather go skating than do anything
else 'cept eat candy-and go to Sunday
school" she added, pulling down the
corners of her mouth as if with a sud-
den fear hat she was giving out an
impression of personal giddiness not
warranted by all the facts in the case.
That's my mamma over there that
lady with the brown hair. It's all her
own hair, too. Don't You think my
mammals nice?"
Indeed / do"
$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?"
"Hm-no; none too big"
swell, l guess that's what papa
| thinks. Hes 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 | 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 glcefully.
"No. I'spect he's got a lot of candy
for me. Guess again"
"A necktic?'
mo. 'Tisn't that. Mamma tends
to his neckties, and they're always
nice"
I've no doubt of it"
You'd never guess I'll have to tell
you It's n mustache cup. It's just
the ~loreliest one / could find, and it's
awful pretty. Papa. he's got a great
long black mustache. Wouldn't You
think it would be dreadful unhandy to
kiss anybody with a long mustachc?"
"Why-"
well, it isn't. You get used to it,
you know. When you want to kiss
anybody right bad You amt going to
let L mustache stop you"
A young lady on the seat Immediate
ly in front vas seized with a violent
| fit Of coughing that made her face very
red, and she pulled down h blinds to
keep the sun out of her eyes.
Most everybody in this car is load
| ed down with Christmas things, amt
they?" went en- the little girl. Its a
| good thing your seat isn't, or I'd a had
to stand up. Don't you have any
| Christmas at your house,"
"Yes- We always have Christmas
in some shape"
MAY be you haven't got any little
folks?"
"Oh. yes I've got a little girl about
your size"
rs she a good little girl?"
Indeed she is"
doesn't she ever pout?"
"Never."
We'll, / do sometimes when they
won't give me another piece of cake.
Doesn't she ever go 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 lear little girl Don't
you love her very much?"
"Yes-0b. yes"
Then why haven't you got your
arms full of Christmas presents to take
home to herr"
''She doesn't need them, my dear"
said the gentleman, gently strokIng
the little girls glowing cheek. "She
has gone to live with the angels
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