The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-12

way 10 the door. She had a market bas-
Ket on her arm, but even Harrys eye
could see that it was ominously light. She
was pale, sad-faced woman, stin young
who had once been pretty, but the pref
tihess mad all been worn away by trou-
Die; and there was no answering smile
upon her lips as she entered the cottage
and shut the door behind her.
have you got the Kismas presents?''
Katie lisped.
er?' said Harry, watching his mothers
face
Mrs. Derrick set her basket down and
turned her back on the children for a
minute or two. Then she tried to speak
cheerfully, but the cheerfulness was rath
er a dismal failure.
The lady has gone out of town." she
said. "She won't be back until after the
New Year, so we must manage as well
as we can till then. We must have our
Christmas presents another day"
She began to take a few-very few
packages out of the basket and set them
on the table as she spoke II have brought
some bread and bacon" she said. land we
have some tea and sugar left, so we shan't
starVe at any rate. l could not get any
thing else. You mustn't mind, children
Will get you the oranges and things an
other time
Wont Santa Claus come then?" said
maize, Win dropping lips.
Not he" said Mrs. Derrick, rather Bit
terly. He comes to rich people, not to
poor ones like U.S.
Katie began to cry, more on account
OF the strange accent In her mothers voice
than because Oh the desertion of Santa
Claus. But Harry comforted her and did
his best to comfort his mother also. But
even he was, perhaps, little disappoint-
ed, because when Katie had gone to bed
he said to his mother in "a ther ~
tone:
Don't you think, mother, that as the
lady didn't pay you and as Santa Claus
has gone away, the Christ-Chiid himself
might come and bring us a Christmas
PRESENT."
But Mrs. Derrick only sighed and sbool,
her head
The Christmas night was very stin.
There was no wind and the joy-bells from
the old steeple in the town had floated
across the void. even to the little cottages
on the edge of the moor. Mrs. Derrick "
ing wakeful and watchful in her bed,
heard them and wondered whether the
message that they spoke were true for
her and hers-"Peace and good will to
men" For the joy of the children's Christ
mas had been spoiled by he cruel
thoughtlessness of a rich woman, who had
gone away to amuse herself with her
friends. leaving the pale seamstress I'M
paid although she had toiled for days at
her sewing machine to finish the work
that was wanted. before Christmas dav.
Mrs. Derrick knew that she dared not
complain, for if she did, she might lose
the work which was her chief support
Things were bad enough as it was. and she
could not take the bread out of her chill
dren's mouths by making fuss about that
unpaid bill. But she was sore at heart,
not only for her children's disappointment
but for the. scanty fare which was not
likely to put much strength into their
young limbs or bring the color to their
cheeks.
Tired out. she at length fell into dream
less slumber, but she had not calculated on
the fact that the children would be awake
long before dawn, in the hope that Santa
Claus would after all bring his accustom-
ed tribute Itlwas Harry who woke first
and sat up for some time in his little
truckle bed, wondering and waiting for
something to happen-he scarcely knew
what. Katie stirred uneasily in her sleep
as she lay by her mothers side, but was
suddenly reused by a touch from her
brothers hand and a whisper In her ear
Katie, get up" he said. Don't wake
mother. Let's go downstairs. L believe
we shall find something there"
His eyes were wide with excitement He
had already partially dressed himself and
in the cold winters morning he was care
stockings and to muffle her up in a big
shawl before taking her hand to lead her
down the dark, wooden stairs.
Mrs Derrick slumbered peacefully and
the children were careful not to disturb
her When they reached the foot of the
stairs Harry paused and listened.
Il heard something" he said. 81 heard
1t when l was upstairs, and that's why l
got up. Don't you hear it, Katie?"
Katie stared round her in the darkness.
She was too much excited to be afraid, al
though there was scarcely glimmer of
light in the passage.
There" said Harry, lifting his finger.
Don't you hear?" And certainly slight
sound came 10 their ears, but it was more
like the cry of a child than any other
sound.
ut is a baby crying" said Katie at
is Mrs. Jarrolds baby next door"
mo it isn't" said Harry in great ex-
element. Il believe it is the Christ-chiId
that, mother told us about, and that He's
come to bring us some presents. let's
look into the kitchen and see If He's
there"
''They opened the kitchen door. Harry
clambered up to the mantelpiece and found
the matches, then lighted a candle and
looked round. There was no sign of any
visitor.
Again the faint cry pierced their ears
ut is-it is He,' said Harry, breathIessly.
He may be waiting for US to let Him
in. Wait a minute, Katie. You stay here
until while go and unfasten the door"
But Katie, with her thick grey shawl
trailing behind her, would not be kept
back, and peered out of the open door
into the snow-covered world, where the
faint dawn had scarcely yet begun to
make itself felt
Mrs. Derrickss cottage had a small porch
before the door and rough wooden seat
inside it, On this seat, which was COM
paratively dry and sheltered, something
that looked like a bundle of clothes was
now lying. Carefully shading the fame
of the candle with one hand from the
draught, Harry went down to examine it,
and at that very moment the little cry
came again from the bundle. Evidently
IL contained q child. He unfolded a cor
ner or two of the red shawl which was
tied around il. A little baby face appear
ed, with pair of sleepy eyes, staring at
the candle flame, as If fascinated by the
brightness.
Harry instantly turned toward the gar
den to see whether some one did not lin
ger in it's shades. Then suddenly recol-
lecting himself, he uttered an ejaculation
half of amazement and half of pity.
'tOf course, 1t is the Christmas present