The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-25

Pinard was 80 years old before he added
that experience to his stock in trade, ana
the affection he had for the woman who
was to add dignity to his humble calling
was nure in the extreme. But the fates
had their own ideas of what was best for
him, because, before he had progressed
very far in his love affair, she was lad TO
rest in the great cemetery or Fere Ia
Chaise where. sooner or later, the good
God gives the greater part OF Paris an or
portunity to expiate its many tollles. Ana,
seeing that she was one with death, our
good for naught came to think kindly OF
death itself, which, as you must own, is
sign OF great progress and wonderful
breadth.
AS he sat thinking of her, slowly slipping
his absinthe and watching the spasmodic
twitchings OF the proprietor's head, he
suddenly became aware of pair of black
eyes watching him intently. Looking up
he saw q tattered little match-girl stand
ing in the doorway, half afraid, yet long
ing to come in. The childs cheeks were
thin and pale, as though the wind from
the great wings had already touched
them.
Telling her to come in he took her upon
his knee, pushed the hair from off her fore
head and asked her who she was and what
she was doing there. "Sellin' lights, she
answered. "My names Susie, but the
kids call me Sue for short. Breath comes
high where l lives. Dyer want any lights?
Give yer all them for nick. Don't yer
smoker"
Something in the child's eyes reminded
Pierre Pinard of Pere la Chaise. Fishing
Il; 81 hi ,1Ool-.f ha, o1opod II in
her hand and told her it was Christmas
eve and that she was to keep it as pres
ent from him.
you're a sport, sure" said the child,
placing the coin in dirty piece of rag
along with two or three others. 1.-THE
kids was tellin me about Christmas and
all the toys some folks gets. seen 'em
in the shops and guess it's true or they
wouldn't be there, would they? Them
! Christmas trees is what catches me,
though. Think of them big ones on the
Plaza, where the China. kids plays, all
lighted up with candles and candies, and
US ones jumpin' about and gettin' things
off 'em!
LAS night / dreamed about em. All
the trees was a way up high, and the
stars was hangin' on the branches; and
pretty soon out comes one O. them angels
you sees in church-all white and pretty
aud she hands down and gives me chunk
O. cake with snow on it, an doll like a
dear little baby, only it didn't squeak any,
an pair of shoes. an a picture book, an
ticket for the chutes, an a"
But Pierre's heart was hurting him and
he did not want to hear the child tell how
her dream had faded away when the cold,
gray morning crept into the little attic,
and hunger drove her on to the street with
her sack of matches again.
He pressed her to his heart and told her
to wait while he finished his drink and he
would carry her home.
It was warm in the little barroom, so
Pinard did not hurry. Before he got
through the child was fast asleep. do not
know what God tells the children in their
dreams, but it must be something good,
because the look of premature wisdom
slowly faded from the child's face and she
even smiled. Pinard noticed it, and
wished that with men it were the same
we'll knowing that to sleep, with most of
US, is often less desirable than to be
awake. But the child's apparent happi-
ness pleased him, and he waited until it
was nearly 10 o'clock before he aroused her.
The proprietor looked wonderingly at him
as he passed out, bearing her tenderly in
his arms, and then began to close up for the
night.
The child drowsily told him where she
| lived-some little alley in the neighbor-
hood of Telegraph Hill-and then fell fast
asleep again. Her weight, together with
that of her matches, soon began to tax
Pinards small stock of strength, but as he
took his way through the foggy streets the
remembrance came to him of an old legend
he had once heard while tramping through
Brittany. The legend was that in the days
of long ago ferryman took belated trav-
eler upon his shoulders and carried him
across a stream-the boat having gone
adrift. When they came to the other side
the traveller was none other than the
| Savior OF Men and great blessings were be-
slowed upon the strong ferryman, who,
after death, was known as Saint Chris
| topher.
! Looking down upon the sleeping child,
| Pierre Pinard wondered if his burden,
too, might not be the Savior in disguise;
then, with frmer steps, he carried her
home and laid her, still asleep, upon her
little rag bed.
The other occupant of her attic, with
cred ola beggar woman, paid no attention
to him whatever, so he slipped quietly out
and fastened to the nearest grocery store.
Upon investigation he found he had
enough money for two or three days and
a little over besides, so he bought piece
of plum cake and some candies and re-
turned and laid them by the child's bed
side. Then he put a 10-cent piece on the
cake-"for the chutes, as be whispered
kissed the child and went out into the fog
hke-like man who still feels upon his
lips the kiss of his long-lost love.
| Lincoln and an Athlete