Middletown transcript., 1893-12-16

trimmed in the most delightful military
fashion with bands Of Persian lamb and
black frogs, and his iaunty cap set on
his fair hair, and bis fat hands protect
ed by fur-trimmed gloves, he went into
the park with his sled for romp. He
! ran and shouted and pranced until his
eyes glowed like stars and his cheeks
shone like apples, and everybody who
saw him said: "What handsome boyl"
Jack, of course, was looking forward
to Christmas, just as every boy and girl
who reads this is looking forward to
that day of all days. He expected to
have all sorts of fine things in his stock
ing, and with very good reason, for
Santa Claus had never neglected him.
Jacks father was rich. Grandmamma,
who was richer, was coming to spend
the holidays, and Santa Claus had been
telephoned on the subject of skates,
drums. games, swords, guns and sweet
meats, and there was every prospect
that when he called at Jack p home his
sleigh would be very full indeed.
Jack was like all boys who have no
brothers or sisters, trife selfish But
he was manly, kind-hearted little
chap for all that, and so, when he was
through with his play and was drag
ging his sled homeward and came upon
a scene OH street-corner which reused
his sympathy he paused to find out
what it meant.
A crowd of rough boys were torment-
ing poorly clad little girl, whose wan,
haggard face spoke too plainly of mis-
cry and poverty. She was frightened
and almost crying as Jack came up.
.'Here. nowl' said Jack, with sturdy
determination. t'you stop that or I'll
call p'liceman.
Fortunately at that moment blue
coated officer came in sight, and the
hoodlums fled with one wild departing
yell.
"Thank yon," said thk little girl,
timidly, "those boys allus are pickin'
on me. -
''What is your name?" asked Jack.
''Susie Greene"
swell, Susie," said Jack, with an
air of business, ''you look cold and
sick.''
81 amt very strong''-
And hungry" continued Jack.
Susie burst into tears.
That was enough for jack,
'tGet right on my sled," said he, de-
terminedly, land I'll take you down to
my houee and you'll have something to
eat.'
Susie obeyed, and the officer saw
with grim pleasure the young heir to
Mr. Newton's millions dragging of the
little waif to his home, 4 block away.
He do be foine chap, he do be-"
remarked policeman Mulyaney.
Jack took Susie into the kitchen and
gave orders she should be fed forthwith.
Then he hurried up to his mothers
room. She was there with his grand
mother, and in few words he told
them about the little girl he had res
cued.
"She's poor and hungry, and she's
got no decent clothes. Mamma can't
you fix her up2n
His mother looked at him a moment,
then asked, quietly: Jack, would you
rather have this little girl made com.
Portable or have big Christmas your
self?'
Jack hesitated. He thought of all
those presents he was expecting; then
be thought of Susie's thin dress and
bursting shoes.
"You can take the money you were
going to spend on my Christmas and
fix her up,n he bravely said. Then
his grandmamma, a stately old lady, in
black satin and white lace cap, called
him to her and kissed him. with tears
In her eyes,
~
Jack sat bolt upright in bed and rub
bed his eyes very hard. No. he was
not asleep. There was the open fire.
there his clothes on the chair there the
door into his mothers room.
It was Christmas eve. Jtck had
nor hung up his stocking, for he did