The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-25
HUBBARD STREET SANTA CLAUS.
Mrs. Burke's Little Ones Made Happy by
m Good Neighbour

Mrs. Brrke's Little Ones Made Happy by
Good Neighbour.
That morning. when Mrs. Burke, with
her old black shawl on her head, went
into Schmidt's store by the rear en-
trance and Intercepted Ole with her
eyebrows as to whether old Schmidt
was in the front part of the store, she
went on foIlorn hope. Schmidt bad
told her the previous Saturday that un-
til she Strengthened un her account or
some of 1t he would be obliged 20 shut
off supplies. That is what he meant
to say, but he said much more and
of personal nature. Mrs. Burke lis
tened and said she'd do what she could.
not having any idea what she meant
to do
Only one thing she could do-that was
not to go TO Schmidts again while he
was there, but watch around until he
went to his meals or downtown and
then run in and con- Ole out of few
potatoes. She usually could do this
with a few well chosen words, now Of
fering Mamie to him for wife
when she'd grow up. now inviting
him over when the potatoes should be
boiled.
Poor little Mrs. Burke, with all her
witchery and smiles, had a leaden
heart. she wasn't beggar she told
herself hourly. She might go over to
St Columbkill's and the ST. Vincent De
| Paul society would send her"-but,
| there-.'indeed, she wouldn't"
| So Christmas eve found her once
| more negotiating with Ole for "a few
| things" but even Ole. who clerked at
| the miserable little grocery store all
day and practced on a c0ncertina all
night-which showed he had a soul
even Ole drew the line this particular
morning. "Ay doant know" was all
| he'd say, but she understood that he
4 AZ af q h1ilt deal
| ing out old Schmidt's potatoes surrep-
| ttiously.
well. thin. bad luck tc you, Ole, and
may you never be happy" she said and
| turned and went out the back way
quickly.
Ole never had any good luck to speak
| of nor was he ever very happy, so he
didn't mind the throw"
Mrs. Burke returned to her little
/ home. like Hawartha, empty handed
/ heayy-hearted." Mrs. Briggs saw her
pass the window and knew instinctively
what had occurred. Mrs Briggs was
married to a Protestant, but, God help
us. she was good woman and her peo-
pie were before her The Protestant
had job, so Mrs. Briggs might go in
at the front door of Mr.. Schmldts. She
ran an account. to be sure, and she had
to almost walk it sometimes in order
to be able to get anything besides vic
| ludlS. 1ul dI1EI ME- oui fNN idd -
tered her home Mrs. Briggs wrapped
Cora in big shawl and slipped out
! to the grocery store and Ole and old
| Schmidt waited on her with alacrity.
She carried what she bought home
with her and put it out Of her hus-
/ bands sight.
In the Burke house three bright. talk
/ alive children went to bed that night,
not cold but hungry. and still with a
sublime faith in the mystery of Christ
mas Something would happen be-
fore morning. they ell knew that. 1t
! always had before, SO they Went to
sleep very hopeful. That night Mrs.
Briggs sheIled popcorn and popped a
dishuan full. This and II sticks of
| candy-lemon. cinnamon and pepper
| mint-four sticks for each of the little
| Burl.es and an endless amount Of pen
corn. She brought these II Mrs. Burke
a little before midnight. Not the treas
ure brought by all the kings since
| flied so large a place as that dishpan
fun Of popcorn and that dozen sticks OF
candy.
And when Christmas morning dawned
| in Hubbard street. as it does the wide
| world over on hapipness and misery
and Joy and sorrow. there We're happy
tears on the care-worn face of Mrs.
Burke desnite Ole and Schmidt and the
hard. grasping world against which she
would on the morrow again begin the
bastle-CnicaEo Chronicle.