The herald., 1893-12-25

ing house, up the staircase aud into ner
room. Rags covered the Gocr. A largo
heap of rags made bed, smother heap
served as seat. A horrid stencil filled the
place, but Sally was accustomed to the
smell, and she never opened the window,
saying that she liked to be warm and
comfortable" While she was raking the
cinders together in the CRATE and patting q
black cat that had raised its back 10 well
come it's mistress, the door was opened and
Tins mother came in with the baby in her
arms and Bill hanging TO her skirt.
sally" she said, II was drunk when I
did it!'
'Yes, yer wos,n said Sally, land yer'd
best make yerself scarce, for the p'ieece as
been told, and if yer don't take yerself or
yer'll swing for itF'
"Will he die?"
1.-THE doctor says C uli."
"Will you mind the children bitt'
Eyes till Christmas"
The woman placed the baby on the heap
of rags and vanished
At last on Christmas eve when Sally
went to the hospital at about7 o'clock She
found Tim himself again.
She sat down beside him, smoothing out
her ragged dress and trying to make her
Grape bonnet sit straight upon her head
Tins white face frightened her and she
could not speak. She did not want him to
see that she was crying.
A great fire blazed opposite Tins bed,
and around the fire sat boys and men, read
ing, playing games and discussing politics.
Nurses fitted about, decorating the walls
with ivy and holly, while they chatted to
one another and laughed with the patients
No one seemed to be very ill except Tim,
but single glance at his face told Sally
that he was dying.
Tim, my son." she said at last, "this is
beautiful place. amt it1"
EYES," answered Tim family; Its like
'eaven."
Neither spoke again for few minutes
Then Tim pointed to some toys on the bed.
''Take 'em 'ome to the children" he said.
when wos young l set my 'eart on top
like this un 'ere what I've got for Christ
mas. Take it 'ome to Bill"
The old woman pretended to admire the
toys, while her tears dropped on the blan-
ket.
sally" said Tim presently, docs you
remember when we went 'opping?"
Eyes, my son."
"Well, that wos like this 'ere 'ospital it
wos like 'eaven,"
Tim lay with his eyes shut, thinking of
the time when he had gone hopping. Then
he saw old Sally beside his bed, dressed in
the same ragged dress and the same old
Grape bonnet she had worn when they went
into the country together. Sally had al
ways been good to him, and he knew that
she never broke promise.
Sally" he said, when Pm gone yer'll
look after the childrenP"
YES my son." said Sally, II ull."
Tim gave sigh of relief. He closed his
eyes again, and by the time the nurse had
finished singing he was asleep, with one
hand under his cheek and the other in Sal
ly's horny fingers
The next morning when the sun was shin
ing and the Christmas bells were ringing
Sally went again to the hospital.
Don't go up stairs" said the porter aft
er Sally had climbed the hospital steps,
your little lads not there any longer"
where may 'e bei"
"I'll show you"
Shefollowed the porter along the passages
| and down staircase.
rs e deadp' she asked when the porter
stopped to unlock an iron door.
Eyes; I've just brought him down here"
said the porter.
Old Sally went into the mortuary, and
stood crying while the man uncovered a
| uUblo COlIu. luero lay LII, WIFI d bInlle
on his face and his hands holding bit Of
holly, because it was Christmas
For a minute Sally looked silently at
him. Then she bent down to kiss his fore
head. Tim, my son." she whispered, II
won't forget my promise"
1t is several years since little Tim went
home to the cemetery. His mother has not
been heard of since. The children live in
Sally's room, with the cat. Bill has de-
veloped genius for sorting rags, and the
baby has been taught to pick out the pa
pers from the rubbish Sally finds in the
dust heaps.
Somehow or other the old woman man
ages to pay the rent and to provide food for
the children. How she does this is only
known to herself. She has not forgotten lit
tie Tim. Often at dusk, before she lights
the dip candle, she calls the boys to the
fire and says:
Now, my sons, I MI just tell yer 'ow yer
brother Tim kept is last Christmasp