St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-12-25
BUNCOED ON CHRISTMAS.

Puck
In a neat but humble room on the east
side of the city, Mary Sawdust sat with
her sewing on her lap, and her children
playing on the floor beside her. There
were traces of tears on her young face,
and culver in her lip as she diligently
piled her needle. for it lacked but two
days of Christmas. and she had no
money with which to buy presents foS
her little ones.
Mamma" said little Ethel, suddenly,
placing her hand on her mothers knee,
do you think kind papa has caug hit
sucker on the bridge today?"
Il do not know, darling" replied
Mary SawduSt; 1--WE must hope for the
best; but if he has he will work him for
all he is WORTH"
She turned to her work again with
deep sigh, and little Ethel ran off to join
her brother Willie in merry game of
Catch the JAY"
1t was late when Henry Sawdust re-
turned to his home, wearied with his
hard days work on the Brooklyn bridge.
AS he hung his dinner pail on its &C
custOmed hook, and threw himself into
a chair, his faithful wife noticed that
his cheeks wore a hectic flush. while
there was strange glitter i'll his eyes.
ut is nothing, he said; lit will pass
off" But the next morning he awoke
in raging fever, and poor Mary Saw
dust realized that her Christmas was
likely to be even Sadder one than she
had looked forward to.
You must be very quiet today, little
ones" said she to her children, "tor
Door papa is very sick, and l cannot
leave his bedside"
little Willie was still and thoughtful
for some time after his mother left the
room. Then he said softly to his sister:
Il wish | were big man, so that I
might help papa while he is sick. L
have often ask him to let me go with
him to carry the gold brick and the d.
rectory of bank cashiers, but he says |
am too little. l know what l will do.
l will go out on the bridge and try to
viii be if l succeed; and what nice
Christmas presents we would get ~
Putting on his little ulster and hat. he
set forth GU his mission. AS he was
walking down the Bowery he encoun-
tered man who wore a broad hat and
a coat of a quaint pattern, and carried
in his left hand an oId-fashioned carpet
bag.
"Please SIR" said the child. grasping
the strangers right hand in his tiny
fingers, show are all the folks in Che
nango?"
''HeyI what?" gasped the astonished
provincial, turning his gaze from the
tops of TIE houses to the childish face
before him.
''Oh, SIR" continued little Willie,
''poOr papa is sick, and am trying to
earn money enough to buy him a new
ulster, and some dye for his mustache.
Won't you please let me steer you into
the Joint? 1 am such little boy that l
cannot work you myself; but Thirsty
Bill, dear papars friend. is there, and he
can win suckers roll every time in
great shape"
"Well, l swamp exclaimed the stran-
ger; "Pve had 'em try this on me every
time Pve come to town tor the last ten
years; but this is the youngest one l
ever seen in the business"
''Oh, sir" pleaded the child; "Christ-
mas is coming, and we have no pres
entsl Papa is ill, and so poor that he
had no benZine to put on his siiker yes
terday when he went out on the bridge.
Won't you please come and be bun
coed and then dear mamma will be SO
happy"
The stranger seemed deeply moved
by Willie's simple tale.
Take me home with you, child" he
said, land | will try to help you"
In few minutes he was standing in
Henry Sawdust's cheerful parlor, talk
ing to the faithful wife, and learning
from her lips the story of their poverty
and suffering. Would you like to see
my husband?" she said. leading the way
TO the little bed room.
The sick man stirred uneasily on his
cot as they entered, and feebly muir