The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1894-12-21
heard my prayers and would answer

heard my prayers and would answer
them"
Bless your trusting little heart
you arr great comfort % me. .tiA,.e,
inc mother replied. lin, FOR v.ur
sweet, Cheering lords w3all give nm
an nope aai pray God t. take Us beth
home 10 your angel papa We have
only God u look to in orr ,ro,hias
daughter, and we mus; not lose our
faith in the dear Saviour waose birth
Will be celebrated all over the world
tomorrow.
u, mamma, is tomorrow Chris ="
lhe little one had looked M With a
quick. hopeful glance, then as She
checked The speech upon her lips n
shade OF pain swept over her face and
her eyes dropped. The mother caught
the changing expression on the little
one's features, and her heart swcllcd
almost to bursting. as the tears came
anew into her swollen eyes
~. mamma, don't-plcasc don't"
Midget pleaded. II don't care about
Santa Claus and won't hang up a
single stocking, for know he would
never come 10 hunt me in this far
away place. lie will lock ios me back
ut home. and. when he iinIs | am
gone. will give my presents TO some
little poor girl"
Yes. You do care. Midget. darling.
but in your brave little soul you try TO
hide your disappointment that it may
not grievc mamma. No. darling.
fear good Santa Claus will hot find
you this time, as he has done every
other Christmas since your birth, and
II breaks my heart to think you must
be so neglected"
Don't you mind it bit. mamma.
for just amt going to care. II YOU
will only smile and look happy like
you used to, it will please me more
than anything good old Santa could
bring me in his great pack"
The mother drew the little one 10 her
bosom and kissed her fondly. and she
started when deep sigh. which Midget
tried in vain to repress. escaped from the
baby's breast Her face wore a look
of desperate resolution as She released
her loved one and said:
Midget. darling. you will hang UP
your little stockings tonight. rs you
have always done, and good Santa
Claus may come here when he visits
the few children in this ireary town.
! somehow feel that he will do so. and
when you go 10 bed tonight you must
ask God in your prayers to tell the
good childrcn's friend where you are.
He may End you. darling, but IL he
does not you must not grievc too
greatly over it. Mamma is going out
for little while. and you must stay
close TO the stove and try TO keep
warm until she gets back. / will 70
to the post Office. and may hear from
the Denver manager 10 whom / wrote
for an engagement. Gool-by. baby.
and try TO think that Santa Clans may
find you. even in this cherries place
III the thin muslin wall which sep
arated her room from the adjoining
one had vanished Mrs. Maynard would
have seen sitting near il great big.
rough miner. with tears sparkling like
diamonds in his honest eyes. She did
not know that, as she left her room.
Big john" Rogers. as he was known
quietly arose and followed her from
the house and waded after her through
the deep snow in the street.
He saw her enter the post Office. and
n few minutes later conc forth again
with a look Of distress and disappoint-
mcnt 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 gildcd balls. her face frightened
and she seemed about % start toward
them. Then cloud of pain swept
over her features and she stood with
bowed head, as II 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 at n glance.
Some cherished keepsake was going.
in order that her baby daughter might
not miss the expected visit from Santa
Clars-and how dear that keepsake
must be. for what an effort il required
TO bring herself to the determination
to part with il. 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 10 tender his assist
ancc. when the shop door opened and
the woman came forth. Addressing
him, she said:
''Can you tell me, sir. II there Is a
shop or store in the town where toys
and candies a.c kept? Such things
as children like for Christmas you
know"
The gr.at-hcarted miner was about |
to tell her that he had overheard her |
conversation with her little girl. and
that she must 60 right back to the
house out of the cold and have no fear
that Santa Claus didn't know his BUSH
ness. but her pretty, intelligent face,
musical voice and air Of quiet refine
mcnt awed him. and he feared ten
der Of assistance and a confession that |
he had been cavcsdropping might Of |
fend her, SO he bluntly answered:
Yes ma am. the big store right where
you see that awnin' packs all SIGH
truck"
She thanked him and walked hur-
riedly away. and the miner entered the
What did that woman put up here.
Sol?" he asked.
"A ring, Shon. A heavy gold ring. |
worth not less Than twenty dollars
That woman vas lady. Shon. and