New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-12-20
4 LITTLE BROTHER.
THE STORY OF HIS CHRISTMAS MORN
ING
BY ELIZABETH c. WINTER


knew. and 1t is not likely he had any other He
had known neither father nor mother. and 80 far
as he had thought on the subject he was OF
on,nion that he had come into existence without
them The only home he knew OF was the aims
house and no one there had been able to give
him n hint az to his antecedents before the night
when he was found in Its cold entry. wrapped IN
an old shawl and naked, hungry. forsaken HaV-
ing neither father or mother to begin "itn' OF
course he had no other relatives. ana that must
have been why the first and latest longing ne
was conscious Of was 10 possess something OF
his very own.
The arrival % Scraps at his first known
residence had created some disturbance. 1t was
not a home for infancy, and he was 'he H'S'
guest Of tender age who had ever been receI'eu
there; nor could it be truly said that ne was re-
ceived for his advent was regarded with loud
protest and much general dissatisfaction. bu'
as there was no founding institution IN 'he VII
lage nor any place. save the almshouse' Ior '"e
destitute and homeless of whatever age ne was
reluctantly suffered to remain, as even the sour
,emnered matron was obliged to admit that 1t
would be form of murder to put him ou's'de '"e
door She put an end to further discussion by
giving him drink of milk the richness OF which
was tempered by warm water. and rendered at
sugar bowl.
II was a small half cup of milk. being all tha'
was left from that days supply. and it began
that niggardty mode of subsistence which was
the means of fixing on the little founding the
name which ever after chung to him. From the
first night of his residence there the inmates or
the almshouse took ii in turns to assist III the
bringing up of Scraps: and though no one Vi
them was actually cruel TO hiih he''"ei
was any kind to this little waif. every tehurh vi
whose heart reached out for something 10 c''"s
TO: but the old paupers were not nice creatures
Indeed the best feelings of human nature are
seldom developed by almsgiving or by aims
Notwithstanding else Is needed WIFI inc
aims not only for the sake OF the recipient pu'
also of the giver. And these wrecks on mes
darker shores had become sadly battered broken
and callous.
Poor little Scraps had need to be thanKlui .ha'
Indifference or neglect was the worst he had to
bear. and he was grateful Tor such negative
blessing. But his heart craved something more
1t was not a big dinner, or piece OF pumpkin
ME at Christmas or Of turkey at Thanksgiving
q was inst something with which he might share
tho daily SCRAPS piled up on his tin plate some
live thing to which he might whisper the vague
longngs Of his starved soul
One day il came TO him.
He was in the lane behind the almshouse. dig
ging in the earth. building castles In the air OF
which the mud foundations appeared TO MN as
beautiful as marble inlaid with gold for he mad
the gift of imagination. and he had once heard
a sermon about the New Jerusalem and house
not made with hands. Suddenly he was brought
back to earth by the sound Of confused ana
terrible clatter mingled with hoarse cries. shrl
laughter and prolonged shouting. he couid
make no guess at the meaning or IT, but the
sounds were so horrible that tingling or pam.
full apprehension passed over him. ana there was
a choking in his throat as If his heart were try
ing by that outlet TO burst its bounds. AT the
same moment some frantic thing jumped over
the fence that separated the lane from the neld
beyond and landed with renewed clatter In the
midst of the foundations OF his airy castes'
knocking them into heap of mud Then
dozen or more boys came into view. tearing
through the field and also about to leap the fence
when Scraps turned upon them with voiceless
INDIGNATION and waved them back with out
stretched arms and the mighty bulwark or MS
small person thrown between them and the pant
ing dog. already half dead with pain and rear
and maddened with torment.
II was surprise alone that caused the village
roughs to pause and stare at Scraps; then' as
the absurdity of his championship broke on
their sense Of humor. they saw prospect OF
more fun in tormen'rg the boy than they had
yet had with tn, dog: and Immediately their
energy passed into the new channel or amuse-
ment Hello Scr ape. Who's yer father? IN
ou;rcd the largest bully of the crowd. shout
of laughter greeted this remark. which was IN
s,antly followed by another of the same kind
where's yer mother. Scraps? Does she know
you're out?" was the next pleasantly. which
wi lmin off
greeted with shrieks OF approving merriment
while a third votary at the shrine OF Menus
cried out:
who's yer tailor, Scraps? Interduce us
We're goin' to order spring suits.
Applause and cheers rewarded this witticisn.
and so delighted the listeners that they would
have forgotten the dog entirely had not Scraps
bent over the trembling creature in the effort to
remove a couple % tin cans which had been
tied to his hind legs. the clatter OF which. com
bined with the sticks and stones that had been
hurled at him. had driven the creature into
condition almost dangerous as actual mad
ness. although for the moment he was too much
exhausted even to moan or bark. and lay help
less. silent and painting.
But this was not to be borne, and the persecu-
ton which Scraps had momentarily diverted to
himself was Immediately transferred to its first
object In moment the whole crowd had
flung themselves over the fence and rushed
upon their two victims endeavorng 10 drag the
boy from his effort to release the dog. while
kicking and shouting at the creature to force
him 10 break away. Scraps. however. kept
bravey at his work Twice the maddened anil
NAL turned and bit him till the blood streamed
over his hands. but not a sound escaped his
lips while his effort continued till the rope was
united and the dog was free. At the same in
slant. as II by a preconcerted movement the
back door OF the almshouse opened. and the
matron. accompanied by several of the inmates
came hurrcdly forth. having been reused by the