Oakes weekly Republican. (Oakes, Dickey County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1898, 1891-12-25

tried to 80 to sleep to pass away the time
until the older sister and head of the fam
lily should come.
Number Gunnison alley was always
cheerlcss in cold weather, and the top floor
back was especially cheerless, for Mary
Worrel was uut sewing every day, and
had to do her own housework ut night
There WAS ittl" fire in the stove this after
noon; the stove needed backing and some
ashes had f;:lle:i out over the hearth. The
principal article of the scanty furniture
was ;hc b@!st":,d on which Kitty had lain
for two years.
kitty coultlu't remember Il time when
they had not been poor at the lest. but
since they hal 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 tliere?" she called.
Tile visitor, no other than Mr.. Simon
Claus, replied: "a friend. Do Joe and
Kitty Worrcll live here?'
Eyes, but the key is in Mrs. Mullins
room ut the end of the hall. Pm locked
inn
When AIR. Claus had let himself in she
looked up at him without fear. the excite
,nc:t of Il guest making her cheeks flush.
$50 you're keeping house alone today"
he said
eyes. do every day, most, an,i they
lock me i'll lccause can't get up and walk
Th, y're afraid somebody might come in
tina, shouldn't"
"Why can't you walk:' lie asked
"Wcll, you sec, my back aches all the
time and my feet don't go right. Once
fell. and most ever since have had Il lame
back. But Joe knows some one that can
cura me-"
".Ah, yes; | came especially to see Joe
Where is lie:'
"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 lie can to
get that doctor. And guess I'll tell you
Il 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 prcsents:"
"Ics; | know he is" replied kitty's
guest, greatly touched.
When Mary Worrell returned the stran.
ger told her quietly what his crrand was,
received the needed direction and departed,
first puttinginto kitty's thin hand II purse
that Margaret had s"ut. 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 prof,
trite i'll sumptuous room. She was look
ing up at him as lie touched her body gent
ly, a world of faith in her great browi
eyes. 1t was little wonder his mild We,
strong countenancc inspired her conf
dence. The face was all she saw, but
her watchful parents had begun to hope
that here was n helper indeed, for the,
noted the scientific way in which the firm
hands did their work and the keen ules
tions which showed lis complete knowl
edge Of the disease to he treated. And vet
when Mr.. Claus found him, the man had
said: 81 am not u physician, but only Il
PHYSICIANS aid. help those whose bodies
are helpless merely by giving them out.
ward support"
The group in that lovely room formed q
picture, and the growing hope in the par.
ents' faces became JOY as they heard him
say presently, II believe she can be cured;
but it will take long time, and will
only act in connection with your regular
physician"
The child's look was triumphant.
Didn't tell you so, mamma? 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
heagreed to s,S ut 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 l am
playing Santa Claus this year. Butt
her voice grew very tender-"it isn't truly
Santa Claus ut all; it's the Christ-child,
he puts it into our hearts, you see, and
want you to tell Kitty about Him, will
you? Because can't go. don't think
she's so we'll acquainted with him as she
IL with Santa Claus. They have the Christ.
child In Germany on Christmas, and like
1t better than Santa Claus"
We'll, "Dr. Good" rs Margaret chose ia
cnll him, though he wasn't II doctor and
his nnme WIS plain Mr.. Goodsell, went to
OGunnison alley md made u favorable re,
port of kitty's cnse also. And SO touched
was he by Mnrgaret's request TINT he did
not forget to tell his new patient about her
and tho story Of the Christ-child.
After he llHh gone another knock sur
prised the Worrells, This time n colore,l
man cnme ''wlth Mr., SANTA Clans eompll'
ments, and lIe wasn't feslip able TO gel
round 70 GDBpisop alley, but would they
accent these, with his hest wishes Rnd hi
particular lops 10 Miss kittyf"
"Vhese" proved " In more things than
can be deserlbpd, lsdiblps, Of course
some wonderful toys Tor Kitty, " sDfi
afghan aud down pillows Tor her hal md
another pnpso, nor ~ MI like that ths
strange gen'IsmaD bad given bpr bpl
quite Nv well ,lllad,