Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-25
HIS FAITH REWARDED
How a Little Boys Prayer Was An
swered by a Strange Lady.
A PRETTY CHRISTMAS SKETCH
All the Real Piaythings Were on
Hand Christmas Morning.
A MOTHERS GRATITUDE.
Written for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star.
''Only two weeks to Christmas, mamma,
only two weeks to Christmas, win Santa
Claus come to us this year. do you think,
mamma?'
And the eager little questioner rested two
dimpled hands on mammals knee, and gaz-
ed smilingly. trustingly, up into her face.
Such bright, beautiful little fellow was
he, with clustering golden curls. large. dark
blue eyes and a manly little air that be-
came his five years. Surely any mothers
heart would have given just such a throb
of loving pride as did this pale. tired moth
er's. as she laid aside her work. and, lifting
him to her knee. told him that there were
many, very many, children for Santa Claus
to visit. and he could not get around to all.
But, mamma" and a shade of disappoint-
ment clouded the sweet childish face,
Santa did not come to us last year. and j
do want some new playthings-oh! so much,
mamma; and / prayed God to send them;
and, mamma" throwing his little arms
around her neck and putting his little
mouth to her ear, Il prayed God. for Jesus
sake, to send my dear mamma a warm
cloak. Won't Santa Claus bring them.
mamma; won't he. when / asked for Jesus
sake?"
Clasping him to her heart and kissing
him fondly the mother answered: Santa
Claus will bring the new playthings. my
darling, God will send them for Jesus
sake There. run and play now. my pre-
cious while mamma finishes this sewing"
The little fellow bounded of to his play,
happy in the thought that soon he would
have some new playthings. while the moth
err wondered how she was to keep her word
to the child. With four children dependent
upon her, she found il hard at times to pro-
vide bread enough for their healthy young
appetites; how, then, could she hope to earn
enough to purchase Christmas gifts for
them? But she must. Not for the world
would she have her little one lose his beau
tiful faith. She must try to get extra
work; sit up all night, instead OF half; the
child should have his wish.
So early and late the mother stitched.
Christmas eve has come, Weary and faint
from unceasing toll and insufficient nourlsh-
ment, the poor mother carries her work to
her patrons. and as she eagerly counts her
earnings, finds after all that she has barely
sufficient for food and fuel; not a penny
can be spared for the new playthings. How
can she go home to see the four little stock
ings hung up 'all ready for Santa Claus"
Once more she pauses in front OF an i'm
mense toy shop, and again eagerly counts
her small store. Not a penny can be spared
or they must go hungry, and, with a sob. she
cries half aloud,
"oh! my darlings. of what avail your faith.
God has not heard your prayers. He has
forgotten you"
Not So" small gloved hand is laid on
her shoulder, sweet voice repeats Not
So"
Startled, she turns, and sees a lovely face
smiling into hers. There is something so
womanly sweet, SO sympathetic, in the beau
tiful face that. as the soft, mesmeric voice
urges, Il too am a mother, let us enter to-
gether" the poor mother obeys as one in a
dream. From counter to counter they 20. the
dense throng Of purchasers making way for
them, the obsequious attendants almost tum-
bling over each other in their eagerness to
wait upon the lovely stranger, whom they
have recognized from her first entrance. Be
fore our mother has recovered from her sur
prise she is being assisted into a carriage,
behind which follows an express wagon
laden with toys and playthings enough to
stock small shop. She rouses up to give
her address when asked. and soon she is
being assisted out at her own door.
After giving orders for the wagon to be
unladen quietly. so as not to awaken the
little sleeperS, the stranger enters also,
Tears fill the beautiful eyes as she sees the
carefully darned stockings, and pulling of
her gloves she unties packages and is soon
busiy filings stockings. With a mothers
instinct she seems to know just what to
put in. After the stockings are crammed
with candies, nuts and oranges. there are
two beautiful dolls, with complete ward
robes, books, work boxes and many other
things too numerous to mention for the
girls: a bicycle, sled, skates and snow
shoes for Clinton; and now she pauses be-
side our little ones stocking, while the
mother tells her of his prayer. and again
the beautiful eyes fill as her thoughts fly
to her own little son. the pride and darling
of her heart. who is sleeping i'm his luxu-
rious bed in he- palatial home. Doubtless
he, too, Is dreaming of the coming of Santa
Claus, and in her heart is a song of thanks
giving to God that through His great love
He has enabled her to not only crafty
every wish of her own darling's but also
to give of her abundance TO these. His
little ones" The new playthings' are
scattered with lavish hand around little
Arthur's stocking-a fine hobby horse and a
train of cars with a real engine. which
will bring forth glad shouts of childish 10Y
as his eyes rest upon them in the morning
Then, turning with a bright smile the
sweet voice wishes the mother "a merry
and happy Christmas" while she can only
clasp the extended hand, and bursting into
tears. ask God TO bless this beautiful wo-
man whom He has led to provide so boun-
tifully for her little ones. and forgive her
Like bright dream or a beautiful fairy
the lovely lady enters her carriage and
gives the order Home to -"
Yes, she Is the charming wife of the
young millionaire G.. In her prosperity she
forgets not the less fortunate and from
thankful hearts will go up many prayers
TO- her happiness. No need to tell of the
little ones happiness on that glad Christ
mas morning. and how his beautiful. child
prayer for Jesus sake" had been answer
ed, even to the warm cloak for mamma g"
+. A. A.