The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1894-12-21
A CHRISTMAS CAROL.
BIZ LEETA sMYTH.

copyright, 1894, by American Press Associa-
toni
From window of u crowded apartment
house situated il the business district Of q
great city u woman with n PALE wistful
face was looking down into the street be-
low.
In spite OF her shabby black dress, there
was an aristocratic air about the tall fig
urc which impressed one that she was q
lady born, and in tho face now worn with
years Of sorrow could be detected traces of
what must once have been radiant
beauty.
1t was Christmas eve, and the street was
filed with persons hurryiug to their va
rious homes after the last day of holiday
shopping. Heavily laden express carts
were rafting noisily over tho cobble-
stones and groups Of small urchins were
adding to the festive din by footing Justify
on their car splitting Christmas horns.
But the palo woman at the window
neither saw nor heard all this confusion.
Her thoughts were in the faraway past,
when Christmas eve in the luxurious homo
of her childhood used to be tho gladdcst
time of all the year. But now she glanced
hastily around the small bare room and
shuddcrcd to think of the terrible change.
If only she could have bought few tri-
fling gifts for the children! But she had
not been able to spare penny from her
small earnings, and this year dear, faith
full Tony must go unrewarded and 6-ycar-
old kathio's strong confidence in Santa
Claus be shaken forever.
Just then the door was pushed open,
and her sad reyerie was interrupted by the
entrance of two children, Il tiny girl with
Of boip fpn ,i.,.,
cited little face and Il dark eyed boy about
2 years her senior
Mamma, mamma" the fairy cried,
rushing to her mother and throwing both
arms about her neck, Tony and mo have
bo-yu-ti-ful plan, just bc.yu-ti-ful! Tony
read about it in u EoGl;. and we want TO
do ito sing caVlk tonight under poo.
po's windows.
The mother drew quick breath.
And then when they open tho door to
find us wcli run away, just like the chill
drcn in the story.
-Ah, then her children had not yet thought
OF hc2g!ng at strange doors, and they
wanted to follow out The beautiful old
English custom simply for tho fun and
novelty!
And, mother" Tony was saying in
his grave way, perhaps they'll think it's
an angel when Kathie sings, she can
make her voice so soft. >"
The mother smiled. Her little daueh-
tcr's truly wonderful voice was ~ great
delight to her, and she hoped some day to
have it carefully trained
Yes, she would give her consent to the
frolic, and all through the scanty evening
meal the children chatted like vertable
magpics. Then, clad in their plain, warm
wraps, they set out after bidding thcir
mother n merry 9oodhy.
Hand in hand they hurried through the
crowded streets, past tho rows Of brilliant
ly lighted shops, gay with holly and ever
greens, not making u stop until they
reached wide avenue, where the shops
gave way to handsome private houses.
Now, Kathic, !" Tony whispered ny way
of signal, '''Whilo Shepherds Watched
Their Flocks.'" And Il moment later tho
childish voices were ringing OF tho frosty
air in clear, sweet treble. Before they
could run away, rs the story had said was
the proper thing to be done, "a group Of
children appeared at one of the richly cur
tanned windows, and catching sight of the
little singers out In the snow bcckoned to
them to come in. Tony shook his head