Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-12-24

cherries In cola weather, ana Cne top moor
back was especially cheerless, for Mary
Worrell was out sewing every day, and
had to do her own homework at night.
There was little fire in the stove this after
noon; the stove needed backing and some
ashes had fallen out over the hearth. The
principal article of the scanty furniture
was the bedsJead on which Kitty had lain
for two years.
Kitty couldn't remember a time when
they had not been poor at the best, but
since they had been orphans they had
fallen gradually down, down in the mat
ter of comforts, and even necessities
Soon after Joe went, Kitty heard knock
who's theref" she called.
The visitor, no other than Mr.. Simon
Claus, replied: "A friend. Do Joe and
Kitty Worrell live here?"
"Yes, but the key is in Mrs Mullins
room at the end of the hall Pm locked
in"
When Mr.. Claus had let himself in she
looked up at him without fear, the excite
meut of guest making her checks flush.
so you're keeping house alone today"
he said
YES do every day, most, and they
lock me in because can't get up and walk.
They're afraid 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 go right. Once !
fell. and most ever since have had lame
back. But Joe knows some one that can
cure me-"
"Ah, yes; came especially to see Joe.
! Where is he?"
"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 guess I'll tell you
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; | know he is" replied kitty's
guest, greatly touched.
When Mary Worrell returned the stran-
ger told her quietly what his erraud was,
received the needed direction and departed,
first putting into Kitty's thin hand purse
that Margaret had sent. She could not
wait until Christmas to begin playing
Santa Claus.
The benign face of middle aged man
was bending over a child who lay pros
trate in a 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 wacchful parents had begun to hope
that here was a helper indeed, for they
noted the scientific way in which the firm
hands did tiei! work and the keen Ques-
tons 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 physician, but only a
physicians aid. help those whose bodies
are helpless merely by giving them out
ward support"
The group in that lovely room 40. ,..,>. a.
picture, and the growing hope in the par
ents' faces became joy as they heard him
say presently, Il believe she can be cured;
but it will take a long time, and l will
only act in connection with your regular
physician"
The child's look was triumphant.
Didn't tell you so, mamma? And lie
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 70 at once to Gunnison alley
to examine Kitty, as Mr.. Claus requested
him to do.
ut 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. But
her voice grew very tender-''it isn't truly
Santa Claus at all; it's the Christ-chiId,
he puts it into our hearts, you see, and
want you to tell Kitty about him, Will
you? Because l can't go. don't think
she's so we'll acquainted with him as she
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 to
call him, though he wasn't doctor and
his name was plain Mr.. Goodsell, went to
GunnisOn alley and made favorable re-
port of kitty's case also. And so touched
was he by Margaret's request that he did
not forget to tell mis- new patient about her
and the story of the Christ-child.
After he had gone another knock sur
prised the Worrells. This time a colored
man came with Mr.. Santa Claus compli-