The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-25
LITTLE PENNY'S CHRISTMAS.

Gust think of it! Eight children and
no Christmas!" Penny ran up to her
scantily-furnished room, half falling over
| the old rag carpet that covered the STAIRS,
as she went.
On reaching the door she stepped in,
went over to the little window, looked at
the passers-by, crying as she watched
them: 81 do think it real mean some
| people are so rich, and We are SO poor.
If papa had only lived !" and here the
sobs came so fast as to check speech alto
gether.
"Oh! boo-hoo-hoor came dismal little
wall from behind the old lounge; land we
amt to have emmy Christmas at ALL" was
walled moro dismally still from the dark
corner.
my goodness. arc you there. Patsy?"
| cried Penny as she hastily wiped her own
tears away. fearing that her little sister
might see them. "Come out and I will
tell you lovely plan I've got so we can
have a little bit of Christmas after ALL"
Patsy came out, very forlorn little OBJ
iect, her head smothered up in big ging-
ham apron; but as Penny began telling
her plan the Bingham apron dropped and
the face was radiant with happiness, BEAM
ing with smiles.
ooh! Penny" she cried. do you think
we reaIl and truly can do it? How jolly"
~ think so, Patsy" and this was what
her plan was.
They were to take all the children, and
there were only eight, including the pet,
| the baby, to see the pretty things and the
frosted trees laden down in toy shop vim
dows-they might, perhaps. look into the
| large fancy dry goods stores: for they
ha aH fn hfIv i'm
Just as she finished telling her plan
there was vigorous kicking at the door
| and the cry came, 'Oh, Penny! Pennyi
let me in" Upon Penny suddenly open.
| ing the door the little fellow fell headIong
| into the room, having heard the last few
Penny's motherly oversight, all were soon
| ready to start, on the, to them, journey
| into fairyland Of wonder and delight.
They started off, each showing joy in an
| individual way; one whistling, another
| shouting, others anticipating in childish
ecstacies, until they reached Croft & May
nards large store, in trice it seemed to
| them, SO short was the time.
| Their eyes Toasted upon the goods dis
| played. They scanned the crowds surg
| ing to and fro making purchases. The
| novelty and excitement pleased them, and
they were warmed and cheered by it all,
| until the thought of poverty came into
| the mind of the elder ones.
Out they went into the cold again to
visit the next store, all but little Curly"
so called for his bright golden locks. Find
| ing himself alone In strange crowd, be
set up such a scream as to bring all close
| around him.
One old lady, bending over him, asked,
"What is the matter, little boy2' 81 have
| lost my pennyl 1 have lost my Penny!"
| walled Curly. "Ohl never mind Penny,
YOU shall have bright new nickel"
| opening her purse and handing 1T to him.
| II don't want that, l want my Penny, I
| do" Maybe he wants his own penny
| more than the coin. so We Will look for 1t;
perhaps it has fallen into one of the cracks
| in the floor" said a small girl, as she
stopped to look for it.
| Just then the big sister came with all
| the children at her heels. Curly, spying
her, cried out, "There she is! There's
| my Penny"
mo wonder he wanted his penny; but
| he shall have something anyway" said
| the old lady, as she put bright silver
| dollar into his hand.
After this they all started home; the
children had so much to tell their mother
| all talked at once. and she scarcely heard
! word: but she was happy that they were
| so taken up with what they rad seen.
| 1t was the night before Christmas, so
| often described, when all through the
| house not creature was stirring, not
/ even o mouse tor the children were
| asleep, dreaming of filled stockings and
| old father Santa Claus.
! The mother and Penny were seated by
! the little parlor window when loud peal
| of the front door bell startled them.
/ Penny ran quickly to answer the sum-
| mons. but no one was there! As she
| closed the door a tiny white note fell at
/ her feet. Opening it to read she fastened
! TO her mother and said, "Oh mother,
! dear. shall / go overW
| First read the note to me-" said her
| mother. And this is what it said:
dear Penny: Come AZ once across the
| street and do something for the Old lady
! you met down town"
Certainly. my dear" said her mother,
! and soon she was in the house across the
| way.
! The old lady met her at the door, and
said: Come up stairs. Penny, and help
| me take some things out Of the house"
| When Penny reached the second door, CO.
| ing into the sitting room, she was amazed
| 10 see the table covered with toys OF all
| sorts.
Now, my dear" said the old lady,
"gather these things up and take them
| over 10 your house, for this is my Christ
| mas present for you al"
Penny hesitated, then said: 'Ohi I
couldn't do that. Mother doesn't know
about it," Her mother, coming in st that
moment said she knew all about it.
So, after ali the worrying to know how
they were 10 have any Christmas at all.
| they had splendid one.
ELLA Laura HOPES.
LAS delicious as Cudahy's Rex Brand"
Is by-word among ladies in comparing
beet extracts. ASK your grocer for Rex"