The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1893-12-22
and Susie. who werc such little things

BY and bye the diphtheria came and
Lefty was sick, and they sent me up tc
the lodging house, and wien / went
back they were both gone; both my
sisters. The house looked ST. empty
and mother was there al alone, and
that look you know l told you about III
her eyes, only worse, she stretched out
her arms and | laid my head i'll her lap
and we both cried together a long time.
Then she said Well Jack. l will try
to put it away and not pile the clonds
any thicker on your young head lou
see she forgot herself and thought spec.
ial Of me i'll the midst OF that awful
trouble.
But somehow she could not forget il
much, though she did try. Her eyes
grew bright but that look that came
when father died never went away,
and her face grew thin and by and bye
she could not 90 about any more.
They took her to the hospital. and
the Sisters said she was so patient and
good that it wasn't any trouble to take
care Of her.
l used to go and see her every day,
and she grew thinner and thinner and
weaker and weaker, and she used to
talk to me and hold my hand in hers,
that was SO thin and hot.
One morning they sent for me carly.
There was a light in her eyes just rs
If the morning that was just beamins
in the east, was a kinllln' in them too
She kissed me and She says My poor
little Jack. be Il good boy; be a good
and true man Just such IA your father
wanted you to be and when | see him
l will tell him you have always been
good and l am sure You will always
be honest and true. Then she kissed
ME again and pretty soon mother was
gone. too. and | was all alone. Nobody
left Nobody
They said mother died of consump-
ton. but | know she died because her
heart was broke. she couldn't live on
that way any longer no how.
When they buried her somebody
brought lots of lovely white flowers
ana laid en- her coffin Wasn't l glad?
But they weren't no whittier not a bit
than mothers whole life had been.
tell YOU Ben the whole world seem
ed empty then Nobody nowhere for
mo and / inst wished | WAS dead too.
Then | began to think what father
and mother had said: "Re a true man.
The world looked awful black. but
playing the coward and wanting to
creep ont before I had call to 90
wasn't what they wanted me to 10
So, | said there was something to live
for. To do what they wanted Inc to do
So l am going to rustic. Expect IT
will be rough shedding, but Ill DO my
very best. and I don't believe it will
be for nothing; any way, III try. But
4 il does ennln i7aitai harl Wh91 thipk
K tomorrow is Christmas, and such lots
Of boys and girls have so many to love
them. | don't care SO much for the
pretty things, but it makes me think OF
the difference, you see
X gentleman had halted little way
eff. He caught something OF what
Jack was saying, and became interested.
He listened, then he came up, and hand
ing Jack a card. said: After you have
eaten your turkey tomorrow, come to
that address, won't you? | would like
to see you by daylight and talk a little
with you Will you Gomez
YES, sir." answered Jack prompt
ly. 4 amt very pretty. but can stand
the daylight. I'll come, sir.
Jack went. 1t was a beautiful home
in an aristocratic quarter and its lux.
urions appointments he thought must
look like the palace Of king.
Mr. Phillips the man whose card he
had taken. assured him that he thought
he did not lose anything by being seen
in the daylight, and that il he would
be true to the convictions he heard
him express the night before, he thought
he could help him carry out the wishes
Of the good father and mother whose
men ory he was glad to know he rev
erenced.
n md i,, 4ho YrNn r IL
heart OF Mrs Phillips he found a warm
corner which no children Of her own
had come to fill
The years are rolling past and though
when Christmas comes the holy memor-
les Of the bitter past sweep over his
soul, Jack knows there is something tt
live for. something in heaven, and
something on earth knows that there
are strong earnest, tender hearts in
his beautiful home, that care for him
special
TOmmy's Enjoyable Christmns.
Il had a boss Christmas" said Benny
Rloobumper to Tommy Hoiack.
so did l." replied Tommy.
II had as many oranges and as lnucl
turkey as / could eat" Benny wen
on
Get any presents?" asked Tommy.
Yes Papa gave me pair OF skates
mamma gave me a pair OF ear-muis
and Uncle Henry sent me book.
WAS that all" asked Tommy
why, yes; that was about all" re
piled Benny, with some misgivings.
Then just listen to what | had. PoI
gave me safety; MON gave me {
magic lantprn had a hiu hOx Of ca MI
from Aunt Sue, and drum from Tn
Il. L L.. L. -