The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-12-24
A CHRISTMAS STORY.
SAswaag Hsw o.s Css.A r1eA : salvss
lAn1n4.

sAswaag Hsw 0as CsssA neA : salvss
B1 MAnaA1n LR
Nwas lovely. bright Deeemher UoeR
ing. The shops were overdewing with
pretty and elegant things suggestive OF
Christmas presents, and the usual gay
crowds thronged the New York streets and
stores. Master James Desmond, famil.
isrly know a. JIM" found himself walk
Ing. he could hardly have told why. up
Broadway and toward Fifth avenue.
Why he was saunterin9 In this direc-
ton. when all his little interest lay In an
other. will always remain . mystery.
Perhaps tho luxuries, ike the famous
grapes. attracted him to take . nearer In
spection Of their beauty. He was cor
tainly out Of place In the neighborhood,
and when he dattened bis poor. little.
starved features against q pane OF plate
glass. and viewed the temptations b.
yond. there was something pitiful In tho
contrast thus unconsciously shown. For
Jim was ragged. bare-footed and dirty,
Jacket several sizes too large for him gave
curious dwarf-like effect to his figure, aud
his hungry brown eyes. He kent his cold.
dirty hands In the pockets OF his rusty
trousers, but there was nothing to feel In
them-nothing. He had no money TO In.
vest In papers; behind him were tho back
streets. their squslid population. and ths
garnet whore his mother WAS lying alex
and penniisos. Before him lay tho
beauties of wealth and taste: 20 Jim kept
on.
From the various restaurants In the
neighborhood OF the Fifth Avenue Hotel
came eppetizing odors. and Jim walked
moro slowly and glanced In at the enviabls
beings seated at the bright. little tables.
Despair cannot always be road on the
features. or certainly this child's face
would have won the pity Of ono OF the eie-
giant persons rustlinG by. No one saw In
him . chance to keep Christmas in q deed
OF love and charity. Christ presented In
the form Of Q ragged, starving child 10 co
most people unattraottve.
So Jim walked on UNDECIDED. Near Thir-
Heth street his attention became dxed
on the handsome eQuipa. dashing Gown
the avenue. Even hunger gave way to
admiration. and on the corner he stood
still in amazed delight.
reached him, and he looked behind him. A
nurse, frightened by an approaching car
Hiage, had started for tho pavement. leav-
ing tho wagon. In which was q lovely
smiling child, standing In the middle OF
tho street.
Jim dashed forward as he took In the
situation, caught the back Of the wagon
and pushed it from him out OF harms
way, the plunging. rearing horses just
grazing his back and ankles as he followed
1t. 1t was done In . second. The child
was safe, the carriage had passed By. and
Jim stood alone on the sidewalk looking
after the departing nurse, whose "merci
merci," was puzzling his returning senses.
Poor Jiml He did not realize the grand
| eur of his act, but not even to receive
thanks seemed strange TO his confused
notions Of politeness.
The door Of tho house behind him Was
now opened, and . lady called to him In q
very light voice: Come here, little boy !"
Jim entered the froscoed vestibuie. and
was asked . perfect catechism Of ques-
lions, Ill Of which he answered simply
enough. There Was not much to tell
4 II cannot 60 to see your mother this
Y week, because have eli my time engaged.
but next week will try to find your room.
Now. - know who owns the Child you
saved. want you to come back here to
morrow and see Its father and mother.
They will help you. But / will give you
some money now. 90 that you eau get
your poor mother what she needs"
Tho lady gave Jim little card with her
name and address on 1t, and rolled Q i've
dollar hi4 In paper. and put It in IN old
parDs which she savs him.
jim felt daaed. h walked Of refra6lns
hiD stepo, from tlme to tima foellng t:l
purse q ~ Areast poahsk afraid 70 los1
Ct It. lest Il Might take WINGS q some on
might stsal It.
After . while, hunger again assaulted
him; and Jim thought OF Fulton Market
and it's stores of good things. II be
] could 60 there first and buy some food
how surprised his mother would be! Til.
doctor at the dispensary had recommends
h good beef soup and steak. At the time
I diamonds would have been as possible
| Now. Jim had visions Of steak. brOilet
\ over . little coal fire in the stove be ha6
3 loft empty In the morning. and In imsg
+ inAtion he tasted the soup. thickenet
s with deur and adorned with floating
} vegetables.
The long. weary walk was mysteriouslI
/ shortened ay tho play OF imagination. ant
\ Jim reached the market. and boldly ap
! preached q colossal butcher who eyet
Jim sideways as IL expecting to see hin
Il run of with one OF his tempting cuts.
How much IL porter-house steak!
asked Jim: staring at the meat on tn
block.
"Thirty-fve cents pound. Who sen
you here?''
"No one; want a steak. and piece 10
soup. and hurry up, will your
Come. get out, I'm too busy for fun"
Wont you give me them2 I've got tn
oney here" and Jim touched his pocket
"Let me SEQ itT'
II aud Avhfhtfou
his prize.
II guess you can have the beef." sal
the butcher, proceeding to cut tue steal
while Jim watched admirfngly. Tn
knife went straight through the arm ret
nssh and solid. yellow tat, then pisc
was chopped small for soup. the whole Wa
wrapped In coarse brown paper. and Jir
put &c carefully under his arm. while tn
butcher changed the bill. He gsve Jill
several half dollars and quarters In silvel
which bulgod out the sides OF the wor
pocketbook, and threatened to burst II ]
pieces. Jim started out Of the building
passing quickly aloag the marrow. dirt
streets which to h3D home.
He was quite unconscious Of hsvin
been watshed while In the market By -,
/ older. While thin king Of the price Of cot
by the pail. and the capacity OF the oil
/ one that had gone many times too often
/ the corner grocery. Jim's hat wac knocke
! forward over his eyes, sIs1 his arms wer
! held to his sides, while . hand sought
[ reach his inner pocket, where sale an
4 warm reposed bis little mine.
| Jim kicked and screamed. aud freein
| himself by desperate effort. dropped nj
( beef, and sought to defend his moro walt
3 able treasure.
( The struggle was too unequal to lai
h long, and by the time Jim's strength ga,
h out, and he stood painting, bleeding an
\ more ragged than ever. trying to kee
1 the tears from running down his pa
! cheeks, q policeman had seen the crow
l and was bearing down upon It.
Jim hardly felt the rough grasp on b
/ poor. old jacket, or the jerk that accom-
j panied 1t. The boy whom he had Tough
Z was much worse of than himself for jill
1 had had the most to lose. and a babel c
z voices was telling some remarkable storie
| to the policeman. What Jim realized va