The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1897-12-22

did not belong to the opulent class OF
society, for, though scrupulously neat,
their clothes were Of cheap material.
and several skillful patches on the gar
ments of the boy indicated careful econ
omy. There was weary and anxious
look on the woman's face as she bent
down and whispered something to the
child, who was whimpering and tug
ging at her dress, casting longing
looks at the lunch counter.
To a close observer the situation was
perfectly plain, for there was no doubt
that the boy was pleading for chance
at the edibles, and the mother, with
out the means of relief, was trying to
pacify him. OF course, in selfish and
greedy world it is no uncommon thing
for some to go hungry, for when so
many are actually starving to death it
seems hardly worth while to waste
sympathy ON those who are only fast
ing little, and yet what is more pitt
full than helpless mother with hun
CRY child?
Among the crowd of passengers who
had hurried into the station came Reu-
ben Bullwinl1le. The discomforts of
the journey had no apparent effect
upon his invincible good humor. "Din-
ner is now ready, ladies and gents!" he
shouted. "Table de hote, or a la carte,
all the luXuries of the season at prices
within the means of any millionaire.
Never mind the cost. A full stomach is
better than full pocket book, and you
can't have both together in this ranch.
Walk right up to the festal board and
enjoy your Christmas dinner"
After this outburst of dime-museum
eloquence RUDE looked about him for
some evidence of appreciation, but
every one was too busily occupied in
the scramble for food to heed his
vagaries. But no, not every one, for as
Reuben's eyes wandered over the room
they observed the forms of the lone
woman and her little boy standing idly
by the stove.
Reuben was an old and experienced
traveller, and withal shrewd observer,
and it did not take him long to read the
pathetic story of this group of two.
There was no doubt in his mind that
they were faint with hunger and with
out sufficient money to pay for food.
ing hat to the back of his head and
scratched his bald pate as he held
secret consultation with the angelic
and interior Reuben. "Rube, old fell
low, what are we going to do about this
business? We can't enjoy our Christ
man dinner knowing all the time that
hungry eyes are watching every mouth
full of food we devour; no, that's out
of the question, but what can we do?
That woman is no pauper, and she
would probably scorch us with glance
if we presumed to offer her money, or
even to blow her off to dinner. But,
great Caesar! they must be fed some
how. Now If we could manage TO
scrape up an acquaintance with the boy
think we could make the deal; so let's
see if we can hypnotize him."
Agreeable to this resolution Reuben
fastened his gaze upon the child until
he caught his eye, then smiling the
same old smile which had won him
friends from Boston to California, he
addressed him: Flows this for
Christmas, little boy?" But the little
boy only chung closer to his mothers
skirts and scowled at the presumptu-
Gus stranger.
"What's the matter, little friend,
can't you find seat? You just come
with me now. and if we don't find
place I'm much mistaken"
The boy ceased whimpering and
looked inquiringly at his mother.
Reuben thought he could detect the
conflicting emotions of the woman in
the struggle between womanly pride
and motherly love. He saw her tighten
her hold on the hand of the boy and
turn slightly away.
Slipping forward and politely doff-
ing his hat, he addressed the woman:
Madam, I beg your pardon, but you
see have taken notion to that boy
of yours, and as I am far away from
my own little ones (this was rank du-
plicity, for Reuben had neither wife
nor children, near or far), and as this
is Christmas day, am>feeling little
lonesome. You, being a parent your
self, can appreciate my feeling, for
doubtless were you away from your
boy you would naturally be interested
in any child which reminded you of
your own. Now I beg you to permit
your little boy to be my guest and eat
his Christmas dinner with me-"
THE woman lifted her downcast eyes
to the honest face of the stranger, then
blushing slightly, without either for
bidding or consenting, replied diplomat
ically: Tommy is afraid of strangers"
However noncommital this answer
was, it was equivalent to full consent
when made to a knight Of the grip, and
either owing to the hypnotic power