Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1894-1895, 1894-12-21

''She's poor and hungry. and she's got
no decent clothes Mamma. can't you fix
her up
His mother looked at him moment
then asked. quietly: Jack, would you
rather have this little girl made comfort
able or have a big Christmas yourselfT
Jack hesitated. He thought of all
those presents he was expecting; then he
thought of Susie's thin dress and burst
ing shoes.
You can take the money you were GO
ing to spend on my Christmas and fix her
up" he bravely said. Then his grand
mamma, a stately old lady. in black satin
and white lace cap. called him to her and
kissed him, with tears in her eyes.
Jack sat bolt upright in bed and rub
bed his eyes very hard. No. he was not
asleep. There was the open fire. there
his clothes on the chair, there the door
into his mothers room.
1t was Christmas Eve. Jack had not
hung up his stocking. for he did not ex
pect any presents. Susie had been
warmly clothed and her wretched home
had been frightened by the visit of Jack
and his mother. The boy was satisfied.
He had made his choice. and expected to
abide 10y it.
But. marvellous To relate. as he looked
toward the fire. he saw Il crowd of tiny
people hurrying and fusSing about on the
| fur rug before the fire. Three or four
] had miniature ladder which they were
| putting up against the side of the fire
| place. Several others had hold Of one of
Jacks long stockings. When the ladder
was in place. little man. with eltish eyes
and Spider-like legs. climbed the ladder
dra S=ing Jacks stocking after him. and
| hung ii on Il hook. and then coming down
/ put his hands on his hips and surveyed
his work with great satisfaction.
That's what call good job. he said
Now. hurry up. YOU folk. and get your
| presents in there before st. Nicholas gets
| along.
Then fairy after fairy climbed the lad
der. and put in his presents. There was
Il fat brownie. who brought basket of
nuts from the woods.
Il have worked all day" he said.
looking under hedges and dead leaves To
gather these nuts for the boy who was
kind to Susie
A quaint little fairy in a curious foreign
gown and cap approached. Il have come
clear from the borders of the Black For
| Isl III NrtIillilllA. slit Sdlu. 10 DTllG tUlS
music-box for the boy who was not
ashamed to look after poor little girl
There was quite Il stir as a remark
able fairy approached He was copper
tinted and had a feather stuck in his
black hair. and he bore on his shoulder Il
beautiful bow and arrow.
Prom the lands of the setting sun
have come" said he. Il am Puck
wudjie, an Indian fairy. but l wanted to
bring an offering to the young paleface
who has good heart"
A merry little man in green climbed the
ladder. hauling up beautiful toy sword
which he had brought from England for
Jack. Then there followed one of the
good people of Ireland with drum
which he had brought from the Emerald
Isle. 'Shure it's hurryin' l must be after
dom" he cried, ito be back before day
break
In the midst of all this excitement
there came a paving of tiny hOofs over
head and jingling of bells. and voice
down the chimney cried, Whoa very
loudly.
At this every fairy vanished abruptly
But the stocking was left hanging there
| and presently. with Il scramble and rush
down the chimney came the good Saint
himself. Jack knew him directly from
his pictures. He examined the stocking
attentively.
$50 they've been here ahead of met
| he observed. That's n great ideal
never was left before. Well. no matter.
There are n few things they've forgotten.
Here are the skates. the games. the box
of caramels. the books" and as he talked
! he piled the packages up on table near
the fireplace.
Jack eyes were so heavy he couldn't
hold them open. He shut them for an in
slant. and when he opened them again it
| was Christmas morning.
He sprang from his bed and rushed to
the fireplace. Yes. there hung his stock
ing full and running over. and the table
near by was loaded with gifts.
And, if you were to argue forever, you
could never make Jack believe that there
is no Santa Claus such things as
fairies.
Il know better" he says. with de-