St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-12-25

| in the white lead factory and thome-
| timeth he don't, and then he don't come
home till late and maEeth mamma cry,
and she workth very hard to keep
Mamie and Bobby and me and baby.
But we have alwayth had enough oat-
meal porridge to eat, eXthept oneth
when poppa threw it out of the window.
But" 0his deprecatingly), "he didn't
what he wath doing. One day poppa
came home and gave mamma the me
woney and she wath very glad. and we
had meat that day and 1t wath very
nithe. | wish l could eat meat twithe a
week"
The little girls eyes assumed far
away look, as if she were dreaming or
an impossible happiness.
While she was yet telling her story
little group formed around a very
homely, red-headed saleSgirl whose
eyes fairly danced with good nature
The chink of coin rose occasionally
above the. animated whispers OF those
who made up the group.
Presently Spots" as the auburn
haired young woman was named,
planted herself before Rosy. She held
something in her tightly clinched fist.
Say. sissy" she began, what 'ud
yer like to git fer yer Chrismers, If yer
was ter git anythin' T. all? Hey?"
Rosy looked up at her in puzzled
way and then at the others. Put at ease
by their rcasSuring chances she began
to assume an extremely pensiYe expires
sion indeed. and assisted her cOgitatlon
by putting finger into her mouth.
"Well?'' asked "Spots."
'sWel1, now" said the little one at
last, there IT'D two thingth ! have been
NJ inn I
Furtht," here she began TO smooth
down her poor little patched dress,
'furtht, | really need a new dreth. and
then-then-let me see-Oh, yeth, |
would altho like o have big pair Of
diamond earrngth."
A peal of laughter greeted the eX-
preston of her modest desires, and
Spot" exclaimed: ''Jes' look at her.
Don't you want no sealskin sacgue ter
set off dem dimuns?" Then. noticing
the evident chagrih of the little one, she
said to her good-naturedly: "Oh, don't
start er crying, Rosy; nobody is goin'
ter hurt yer. Don't you mind them
jays; dey don't know what dey are
laffin' about. tell yer now. you JeS'
go over ter de dry goods department
and get er sample O. der kind er goods
wot you want fer dress. See?"
Rosy looked Inquirlhgly at the speak
er, who gave her a knowing wink with
the left eye. Mr.. Dubbs helped the
little one down from her high perch and
patted her head. As She moved toward
the stairwar leading to the dry goods
department he whispered to her:
"Stop at the jeWelry counter and bring
me the kind of earrings you want"
Ten minutes later Rosy appeared
with sample of brilliant green and
pink cloth and pair OF enormous
rhinestone earrings.
Mr.. DubbS bought her the diamonds"
which, on account Of their unstable
size, were sold to him at bargain, and
the fund of which "SpotS" was trustee
more then sufficed to pay for ready
made dress of the cloth selected by the
little cash girl.
In fact, "Spots" reported "surplus
on hand" the disposition Of which she
was willing to put to vote of the con-
tributOrS.
The young man with the small head,
lerge ears and high collar was for re-
distribution Of the uneXpended balance
among the giverS, but his proposition
was Immediately voted down by an ovei-
whelming chorus of female voices.
Several other suggestions were made
and quickly rejected. until at last mo
ton put by "Spots" was Immediately
adopted by acclamation, and in accord
ance with it the remaining money was
invested in nice, juicy leg of mutton
"for yerself am de rest o. de kids" as
''Spots" expressed it in her improvised
presentation speech to Rosy.
The proprietor of the large store fig
ured up his enormous profits as he sat
in his carriage on the WaV home.
Trudging along on the slushy side
walk were two female figures. The
taller, very homely and red-headed, had
an irresistibly good-natured twinkle in
her eyes; the other was very little,
wore a pink and green dress and pair
of enormous rhinestone earrings and
carried a large leg of mutton wrapped
in brown paper.
They looked up as the proprietor's
carriage rolled by. but they had no envy
for him, because they were both just as
happy as any one would want TO be,
even OIL Christmas eve.
NJ. DE LIPMAN.