The morning call., 1892-02-15
A CHRISTMAS WITCH.

ing Of laugh ami jest! such uippiug, biting,
tweaklnz cold blown out Of the far north
west! AL, the .aden carts seemed rafting
and rumbNng founder than ever before
And how through g.are OF torpedo and
rocket the restless horses tore! The very
air. in some strange way, seemed filled with
a faint sWee. stir. like the echo of small,
far reindeer hoafs and fairy chariot's
'Whjr,
Then every eye was bright with a smile,
as far as one could. see; yes, all, eXcep.-
why who's this?
"Oh. Just a waf from Italy" says the
bustiug croNd-and it bustes on-whAe
another sweeps ia place. But who has time
10 heed q lad with a heartbreak on his face
"NeHo. the little fdd.er-boy,' they call
him on Dismal Row. at the farthest end Of
Drear side street, where D. c turned just now
10 go. For there is the dark and bare little
room. which is all lie has known Of home
since he and TeSsa-the little Sjs.er-l0dged
IN the streets of Rome.
He and Iessa are orphans, and have been
since either knew; TesSa says they were
orphan-tOTn, ana lie hall believes IT, TO.
But. nevertheless, when lie has had luck
they have never gone hungry long for there
has been always the YlOln-aHd sometimes
with it a song t. coax I'D penny-nOW here,
now there-tiil at the end OF a busy day,
with buns and coffee for Iessa aud him, II
was worth ones While 20 play,
Tie busiest day lie had ever known had
been this Christmas eve, tired and hungry,
and cold enough-he had never dared TO
leave the streets where tile glad thrOngs
came aud Went-fOr they seemed more
pleased today by the paintYe tones that
the music tOOk-whateVeT he sought to play
He had sought to give them his meTTIest
tunes but they fed beyond MS viii; the
Ion giugs that sWelltl his heart 1t seemed,
toe, lI, violin loved 20 ill. Yet. strangely
enough, the crowd looked pleased, so he
PLAYED on there TIL night; for what but
good warm dress for IesSa should mean
those peuuie. bright now tucked away IN
his POCKET derp-a dress. and mayO
shaw .-aud-and-just morsel for both
tO-night-if the money would do for all!
At last with these glad Thoughts I'D his
mnd-as faSt as he Well could g Tor the
Gro wi on the cross IuE-ne turned his steps
In tae way Of Dismal Row. The streets
were 0laZ uE WIKI co.0red H[hts-tle toy
bombs bursting louQ-WAat wonder the
horses If careless riders SHED az the noise
and crowd. Such one was IL mat, spuETed
straight on by his rlderas though possessed,
boie then toward tile suTgius crowd,
through which young NeI9 pressed. An
instaut's jostle and knocking abOut-the
next, as the pe0ule rushed the violin lay
meath the horses h0gls-int0 splIuteTed
Ills violin. He could make no m5an,o1e
little EaSuuC cry. Laf starting cut from
lIs uaTa 1-d-ug throat seemed GA his tongue
t. die. Half Of tie people not SO much rs
saw, some others said: lymph. that's
smashed, The little boys htde.'
Wei. Wei, thought we all should be
masEeG.'
"NobaIy's kilIed!' said one, with a laugh,
mob .dy's kiled-but fiddle" The face
Of the little lad bending above It's wreck
was an unread riddle.
As one In a dream went Ne00 home. but
his lanIIa lady. Mrs. MHiOy, meeting him on
tin steps, stopped short In dlsmay at sight
Of the boy, for lis ewes were tued with
deep despair, and size saw, Rugged mp to his
chm. what seemed Ike the handle and
bTOk bits IF a worn old VIOLA!
How her kindly heart tried all known
WAYS to S0Othe his grief, Wien she heard!
How Iessa gave comfort OF klss-caTess-
and every soft, loving word! But the YlO-
I'm lit had been part ( hjmself.-aud the
friend that had brought them bread. It
was Christmas eve!-bUt he s0bbed himself
to sleep on his pailet-5ed.
To a bright-Iit, handsome uptown house
good Mrs. MUllJy all day had been helping
the maids with their many chores, and had
only just stolen away TO give the old man
bit Of a sup. as she said, and that being
preparations for next days fun.
A rich woman lived in this beautiful
h0use-a woman the world called cold. IL
was said that she cared for one person alone
her daughter just years Old fair little
maid Who, with blue eyes stretched, stood
listening while Mrs. NollOy. perChed on a
step-ladder, hung up the greens and told Of
the "Eye-taiian boy
"Why, num-" concluded Mrs. Molloy TO
the lady near, wreathing green, she was
F.kyF az fro. a f-.rl-
sInses had left him clean. indade aud he's
cause to feel bad, worse luck for It's them
will be put TO their wits wild sOrTa mOu'fUl
but comes from tie Gddle, and that's jst
bToEen to bits -
"Oh" cried the little girl TREMENDOUSLY.
"On Christmas eve, Mrs. Moll0y? So
WTetcbed as that tonight?
Mamma, suppose be were your little
boy! II Iessa we're ne, and NellO-mY
little brother that died.'
She went over quickly with tear-brimmed
eyes and stood al her mothers side.
When / think Of their crying themselves
70 sleep" She said, Il can't feel glad that
It's Christm time-fOT suppose 'twere me
and my little brother so sadi Mamma
'tw0uld he easy to send downtown. II
you'd only let me take to Neil0 tomorrow a
violin, for little Reggle's sake!'
The rich woman reached out her arms TO
the child al the name Of her own lost boy,
and bUokenly said;
1t Is yOu-just you-are your mothers
good angel, FloyP
It was Christmas morn; the sun had
scarce had time 10 salute the snow, when a
little tap was heard at the room Of an attic
10 Dismal Row, and as Nell0 opened the
door what then should greet his wondering
sight but little ,ir girl with silken eurls,
all fluffy in furs Of white, who asked:
" Are YOU NellOY and smiled so sWeetlv.
with dimples IN chin and cheek, that he
scarcely dared answer the spTite in such
poor English as be could speak.
But, he n0dding, She all smiles, entered
the room, unWTaDped and laid on a chair
the Odd--haped bundle she held in her
arms, and called him to please come
there"
He saw an old time violin case; the tears
would rush to his eyes; but the little maids
smiles grew still more bright and her look
more arch and wise.
"Open it, Nell0!" she cried with glee
=" IL has something for you within"
He Obeyed like one in a dream, and there
lay a rare old violin! So like the one he
had used so long-only by far more fine. He
looked at the fair little girl before him.
''Nell0's?" he murmured. ''MineW
How happy her eyes! How bright was
her hair!
care you fairy ?" he said.
The little girl laughed.
Santa Claus wouldn't come, 60 he sent il
Dy Hib luSledus WAS I'll Lndb sue tOlQ niul,
but Tessa then CHANGING tc bring In good
Mrs. MollOy, that lady exclaimed in aston
ishment great: why, glory! Here's little
Miss FiOyl"
] must add how. that evening, two happy
waits stood by Christmas tree blooming
with everything good. How Tessa a pretty
dress found on that tree, and Nello a suit Of
clothes warm as could be- How all sorts of
goodies completed their joy, and how, glad
dest of all, was that little witch, Floy.-
Philadelphia Times.
A NEW STAR.
Harvard Astronomers Have nsstional