The Van Buren press., 1894-12-22

Midget pleaded. u don't care about
Santa Claus and won't hang up a
single stocking, for know he would
never come to hunt me in this far.
away place. He will look for me back
at home, and, when he finds | am
gone, will give my presents to some
little poor girl"
''ies, you do care, Midget, darling,
but in your brave little soul you try to
hide your disappointment that it may
not grieve mamma. No, darling, l
fear good Santa Claus will hot find
You this time. as, he has done etery
other Christmas since your birth, and
it breaks my heart to think you must
be SO neglected
Don't you mind it bit, mamma,
for just amt going to care. If you
will only smile and look happy like
you used to, 1t will please me more
than anything good old Santa could
bring me in his great pack"
The mother drew the little one to her
bosom and kissed her fondly, and she
started when a deep sigh, which Midget
tried in vain to orepress, escaped from the
baby's breast, Her face wore look
of desperate resolution as she released
her loved one and said:
Midget, darling, you will hang up
your little stockings tonight, as you
have always done, and. good Santa
Claus may come here when he visits
the few children in this dreary town.
somehow feel that he will do SO, and
when you go to bed tonight you must
ask God in your prayers to tell the
good children's friend where you are.
He may find you. darling, but II he
does not you must not grieve too
greatly over it. Mamma is going out
for little while, and you must stay
close to the stove aud try to keep
warm until she gets back. will go
to the post office, and may hear from
the Denver manager to whom wrote
for an engagement. Gooa-by, baby,
and try to think that Santa Claus may
find you. even in this cheerless place. ;"
II the thin muslin wall which sep
arated her room from the adjoining
one had vanished Mrs. Maynard would
have seen sitting near it great big,
rough miner. with tears sparkling like
diamonds in his honest eyes. She did
not know that, ns she left her room,
big John" Rogers, as he was known,
quietly arose and followed her from
the house and wadcd after her through
the deep snow in the street.
He saw her enter the post office, and
few minutes later come forth again
with look of distress and disappoint-
ment on her face. She raised her eyes
to look about her. and he noticed that
they were full of tears, but, when just
across the street, they encountered
three gilded balls, her face frightened
and she seemed about to start toward
them. Then q cloud of pain swept
over her features and she stood with
bowed head, as If irresolute. She
stood thus for several moments, then
her lips compressed, and, rapidly cross
ing the street, she entered the pawn
brokers' shop.
"Big John" read the story Mt glance.
Some cherished keepsake was going,
in order that her baby daughter might
not miss the expected visit from Santa
Claus-and how dear that keepsake
must be, for what an effort it required
to bring herself to the determination
to part with it. The warm heart OF
the miner was yet swollen from the
conversation which he had heard be-
tween the mother and daughter, and
he crossed over to tender his assist
ance, when the shop door opened and
the woman came forth. Addressing
him, she said:
"Can you tell me, sir, If there is a
shop or store in the town where toys
and candies are kept2 Such things
as children like for Christmas, you
know?"
The great-hearted miner was about
to tell her that he had overheard her
conversation with her little girl, and
that she must go right back to the
house out of the cold and have no fear
that Santa Claus didn't know his busi-
ness, but her pretty, intelligent face,
musical voice and air OF quiet refine
ment awed him, and he feared ten
! der of assistance and confession that
he had been eavesdropping might Of
fend her. SO he bluntly answered.:
"Yes ma am, the big store right where
you see that awnin' packs all sich
truck"
She thanked him and walked hur-
riedly away, and the miner entered the
pawnshop.
"What did that woman put up here,
Sol?" he asked.
IA ring, Shon. A heavy gold ring,
worth not less than twenty dollars.
That woman vas lady. Shon, and
vas sorroy now took dc pledge from
her. She kissed it before she handed
it to me. and l baed you hundred dol
lar it vas her marriage ring and she
don't rot no husband some more"
"How much did you let her have on
it?'
1.-TWO dollar. l told her she could
have five, but she didn't would take 1T.
She said she might not be able to raise
SO much to redeem it."
"Now look here, Sol, you know me,
an YOU know l wouldn't do anything
that's crooked" John said. "Ill give
Won ten dollars fer the ring, and I'll
nromise YOU that the woman will wear
it in its old place on her finger to-mor
row" :.
"Oh, my gracious, shon, l couldn't
do dat. Dc ring is pledge und vas