The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-12-21

see strangers ike US
A0h yes he would" cried Joe, bis
dark eyes flashing. "Ifhe's as good As
they say, an know he IS, we're the very
folks he'll be sure to come an see. An If
he comes. Maggie, an wasn't to 6nd any
stockin's, then he'd be in FIX"
Maggie drove the nails in silence.
Within the last two or three hours her
face had grown pale and drawn, as it
might have looked after severe illness.
Later in the evening Joe demanded
the stockings, and climbing upon chair,
hung them on the nails himself Hav-
ing done this, and stood back to admire
the effect, he wanted to be put to bed.
For if We go to bed early" he said,
maybe Sanity Claus II come along here
first, before he gives all his things away.
Maggie could not stand it. She seized
the old shawl, iung itover her head aud
shoulders and fed out Of the house, tow
ards town.
sobody noticed her-nobody. People
with baskets and bundles hurried by
her, or jostled against her, but none Of
them paid any attention
She went slowly along and peeped in
at the window where she had selected
the little toys that were TO have filed
those empty stockings at hons. Some
Of them were still there. A man was
buying one Of them as she paused, and
was saying in big, hearty voice:
my little ehap'd think the world was
comm TO an end if be didn't get his
stockin' foil every Christmas.
Maggie wandered Cd, the loneliest, the
most desolafe creature in al the land
Presently she heard the sound Of chill
dren's voices. II came from the base
ment Of a fine residence. The basement
was on a level with the sidewalk, and
Maggie, pausing before the glass door,
looked wistfully in. A Christmas tree,
glittering With tiny wax candles and
bright with tinsel ornaments, stood on
table in the center Of the room. Four or
five prettily dressed children were
marching about il singing a Christmas
song, and the table and chairs were
strewn With the handsome and costly
presents that they had received from
the gift-laden tree.
Il was Just a moment-sueh things
leave 50 little room for thought. One Of
the DANCING children Jared the table
little and tiny candle lost its hold On
the branch and fell. II lodged among
the 6my folds OF s little girls white
apron and before she could move the
biaze ran up and embodied her in
dreadful embrace.
She stood still, screaming, and the
other children ran here and there with
Wild shrieks But, suddenly, some one
came bursting in from the street, threw
an old shawl about the struggling child
and knelt there, holding her fast.
It was into her mothers arms that
brave Maggie gave her,
a don't think she's hurt" she said
simply, and was about to 20 cut on the
sidewalk again, wholly unconscious Of
anything heroic in her action, when the
chiId's father captured her and the moth
er threE her arms about her neck and
kissed her pale l.ee, her own eyes vet
with grateful tears.
Yesl yes God bless you, my dear"
cried digni6ed Judge Barr, shaking hands
with her for the hundredih time. "Aud
you were standing on the sidewalk look
ing in? Thank God for that. Poor lit
tie, lonely girl. You'll never stand on
the sidewalk again and watch my chill
dren play. You'll be right here in the
house with them Just to think hox
near it came I wish 1 could DO some
thing TO- you right now-to-night 1
can't wait until tomorrow :"
Then suddenly Maggie turned and
stood before him, her hands elasped and
her face fun of passionate appeal.
"Oh" she gAsped, could you fill two
little stOckinis2" ?"
~T~O? Twenty-6ty Of f'em.-why,
where did she 90, wife ?"
But Maggie was already half way
home. She was not conscious of run
ning-she flew. Such look was in her
face as she ran in and jsrked down the
two little stockings that her mother did
not question her. Back again and into
the basement where hey Still awaited
herl She held up the poor, worn, mend
ed stockings, one in each hand
Here they are" she painted ''Joe
hung EN- up, his an Susie's. an never
had nothin' to put in en-
The judge was profoundly touched
'Do you hear that, wife? Do you hear
that2- be said. "Tm going home with
this little girl tonight You want 10 20
along2 1 thought 50. Fill these stock
iags up, dear, and send sam in I have
some things that want him tocarry."
Papa" whispered one Of the chill
dren, "let sam take our Christmas tree
70 little Joe. We don't need It any
more"
"Well done, little man" cried his "a
ther; and the tree was despoiled Of is
lights and carried carefully out by San
Magic Eent with the Others ike one
in dream. In a dream she saw the
Christmas tree placed on the table at
home, with all its candles and ornaments
in position, ready to be iighted in the
morning. In dTesm she saw the stock
ings hung. each on its own nail, both OF
them nearly bursting with their load,
and with the dearest little toys pinned
all over them and even hanging to the
toes. In dream she saw bundles and
baskets laid at her mothers feet
When they had all gone away, too. il
must have been in a dream that she
heard her father coming home, steady
and sober, fer be came and put hissrms
around her, and said
Maggie, my girl. I'm sorry have Ia
ken your money. ] lowed to get on
drunk with il, but I couldn't do il, some
hoE, and walkin' roun', tryin' to 6ght!it
of. lit on = job, deIiverin' Christmss
goods; an I've bsen q. work all day.
What's more, believe the jobs steady
one Here's yer money an a dollar be
sides"