Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1892-03-17
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uia Home Down iu Elizabeth Street and
the Present for the Little Girl.
If YOU crass City Hall park in the
evening you will likely encounter little
Tom. There's a something in his voice
az he cries out TO make you think Of
nighs bird--a tremulous. quaveriIg call
that attracts your attention over all
other sounds. Tom and went int
partnership last fall after the first
freeze up. got the shoes and hat and
suit and he wore them. II did him
proud. and now and then an envious
fellow newsboy would have thiluped
him out of spite if hadn't kept an eye
on him and bribed policeman to do
the same.
went down home with him once
down in Elizabeth street--and ! found
ne had oIe armed father. who found
it hard TO get along. and a mother who
worked hard and kept hoping. and - sis-
ter Kate. ten years old. The gill met
with a fall years before, and was sc
crippled that she had not been out OF
the house for long years. It was a0 fll
TO realize Of what she was deprived and
of the bitter poverty still further to be
endured. but she was trying to be b. we
and cheerful and make the best Of fate.
"Tom," | said one day after that -
want to buy Kate Santa Claus present
when Christmas comes. You keep quiet
but find out what will please her most
and she shall have it."
suppose that little chap worked and
worried harder over that thing than
over anything else in his whole life he
came TO me time after time with sIg
gestions. One day it would be book
the next slate the next a new dress OF
pair of slippers; but when he was al
the point Of giving up in despair we de
cided on q hand glass. brush and cont
in red plush box.
"That's it-thats the checkerW shout
ed little Tom, as took him into store
one day and made a selection. de
mimah Whit but when Kate gets tha
she wouldn't trade places with the rich
est girl in New York;
took the box TO the Office and alnos
every day the lad came up and we hat
IL out for another look. He couldn'
have been more elated had he known
that he was to get fifty dollar bill il
his own stocking expect he had
hard time of it at home to keep tn
secret, but he managed to do it.
Just week before Christmas it'll
Tom came up stairs one day just as
was going home with an attack OF tn
grip. | made it up with him how h
was to get the box if was laid up, ant
so, when the days passed and ] was s6il
housed up, felt that the little crippl
would not be disappointed after all All
that night before Christmas how man
little hearts were made glad in this grea
city! And how many thousands wer
made happy on Christmas day by th
gifts which public charity bought an
distributed.
IL was on Christmas day that | wen
down into Elizabeth street and climbe
to the top floor Of a tenement 10 wis
little Tom and his folks u merry Christ
mas, and to SEQ il the crippled girl ha
safely received her muchtallted-of an
much-looked- present. found gloon
and woe where had looked for smile
ana SUNSHINE. 4 ueTo WtIe lSdib hu
sobs and lamentations in those povert
stricken rooms, while everywhere els
in New York there were shouts Of 10
and exultation.
Little Toms mother led me into bee
room without word. On the bee
dressed for her coffin. was the cripple
girl--dying quietly and peacefully th
day before. On the stand beside her wa
the red plush box, which she had novt
beheld They had taken out the com
and brush to arrange her chestnut curl
and from thenceforth forever nothin
win be held more sacred in that honS
hold than the gift which ProvidruC
willed should not be given. There ma
come hunger and cold and rags and sicl
ness; they may sit in the darkness fc
want Of light; they may be evicted fC
the need of few shillings, but that re
plush box will bo held as sacred ms I'll
grave itself,
And poor Toni When the night SIX
banks up with tho gray snowclouds an
winter gusts hurry pedestrians acro'
the park, hear him calling and calling
and know that there are tears in h
big blue eyes as his voice goes out ini
the darkness. New York World.