The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1894-12-20
A CHRISTMAS CAROL.
BY LEETA SMYTH.

copyright, 1894, by American Press Associa
ton.
From a window of crowded apartment
house situated in the business district of a
great city a woman with 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
ure which impressed one that she was a
lady born, and in the 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
filled with persons hurrying to their va
rious homes after the last day of holiday
shopping. Heavily laden express carts
were rattling noisily over the cobble
stones, and groups of small urchins were
adding to the festive din by footing Justify
on their ear splitting Christmas horns
But the pale woman at the window
neither saw nor heard all this confusion.
Her thoughts were in the faraway past,
when Christmas eve in the luxurious home
of her childhood used to be the gladdest
time of all the year. But now she glanced
hastily around the small bare room and
shuddered 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-year-
old Kathies strong confidence in Santa
Claus be shaken forever.
Just then the door was pushed open,
and her sad reverie was interrupted by the
entrance of two children, a tiny girl with
of boir fro q
cited little face and dark eyed boy about
Q years her senior
Mamma, mamma" the fairy cried,
rushing to her mother and throwing both
arms about her neck, TONY and me have
a be-yu-t i-ful plan, just be-yu-ti-ful! Tony
read about it in book, and we want to
do ito sing carols tonight under peo-
pies windows
The mother drew quick breath.
land then when they open the door to
find us We'll run away, just like the chill
dren in the story"
All, then her children had not yet thought
OF begging at strange doors, and they
wanted to follow out the beautiful old
English custom simply for the fun and
NOVELTY
land, 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 daugh-
ter's truly wonderful voice was a 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 veritable
magpies. Then, clad in their plain, warm
wraps, they set out after bidding their
mother merry goodby.
Hand in hand they hurried through the
crowded streets, past the rows of brilliant
~ lighted shops, gay with holly and ever
green's, not making a stop until they
reached wide avenue where the shops
gave way to handsome private houses.
snow, Kathie, Tony whispered by way
of signal, ''While Shepherds Watched
Their Flocks. q" And moment later the
childish voices were ringing on the frosty
air in clear sweet treble. Before they
could run away, as 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 beckoned to
them to come in. Tony shook his head