Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1893-01-04
"Never mind, child; don't bother
your head with such thoughts"


your head with such thoughts"
And the lines about her withered
face hardened and she stitched ON
in silence. She was always kind to
the child, and gentle, but she seldom
talked, and lately as the days grew
shorter and darker, she became more
silent than ever. Her eyes were too
weak to see by candlelight, and as
the winter SHOWS fell the store of
money became very low. The SYM
pathetic child we'll knew that grand
mother was sad, and that many
nights she went to bed hungry in
order that the little one might have
her bread and milk. Even baby
eyes could see the pain in grandma's
eyes, and her little heart was griev-
ed.
One evening, as Elsie sat on the
broad sill of the high window,
watching the night come on and
the twinkling stars as they twinkled
at her one by one, she thought of
the wonderful home in Heaven
which the teacher had told about,
and how Jesus was looking down
on her. She saw the silent moon
come out and shine so brightly on
the tops of the high houses, and
dreamily winked herself asleep.
She dreamed the stars were bran-new
nickels, and God was pouring them
out through the moon to all the
poor people. As the shining pieces
came down pell nell, showering
over everything, she awoke with
start. The grandmother had knock
ed down tin pan in looking for
their last piece of candle. BY the
feeble light little Elsie could see
the weary look fasten itself deeper
upon the tired face.
Grandma, dear, let me pray to-
night?" and as the old woman
busted herself with preparations for
bed the child-yOice made its first
prayer to God.
please, good Jesus, send grand
ma, for Christmas, three new nick
els and me a new set of dishes.
Good night, dear grandma. And,
as the little hands smoothed down
the wrinkles:
"See, grandma dear, God can look
right down upon us through the
window. He will give US what we
want, cos / have axed him."
Her faith was perfect. Had not
the teacher made her repeat over
and over again the verse: ASK
and it shall be given YOU" So
every night she prayed again, and
all through the day she would re-
peat as she sang and danced:
"Please, God send grandma three
new nickels and me a little set Of
dishes"
This was her idea of riches. The
nickels, she knew, took the care
from grandma's face, and set of
dishes for herself! Oh, what bliss
She tried to keep the secret from
her grandmother. She wanted to
s'prise her"-but she confded all to
Jim" She spoke with such GER
tainty of getting those things that
Jim supposed some one had prom
ised them to her. So as the little
one prattled on gayer than ever, he
sympathized with her and together
they built plans for the tea parties
they would have on the new dishes.
Christmas was coming nearer, Jim
was more away than ever, having
found a friend who had some money
to spend, and the child was much
alone, but singing, and merry al
ways. "Oh, grandma, Christmas
will soon be here and we will be so
happy" Christmas eve came
Grandma, we will hang up our
stockings tonight. Tomorrow is
almost here" and the hands clap
ped with delight. She laid long
awake that night thinking of Gods
beautiful city and trying to count
His nickels shining in the sky.
Christmas morning came and went.
Jim and his new friend had been
out all night having a glorious
time, but now when the day was
nearly gone and the money more
than gone, they were coming home.
Slowly as was his wont, came Jim
up the squeaky, rickety stairs, and
away up there, standing in the
glare of the setting sun, he saw the
sheen of the tangled golden hair.
But what a woeful, pitiful face
peered from within it! And when
he reached her the little arms
clutched him convulsively as she
sobbed:
"Oh, Jim, darling, nobody loves
me but you."
jim carried her quietly to his |