The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-11-05
She was cold, she said, and wanted some
negus and mince-pie like Agnes had cot for

PoP"
And as usual she had her own way, and
sat on the rug b! Drifts side TIL she fell fast
asleep, her pretty dark head Graded on his
warm coat.
Then with a CHEEKY good night, Pierce
picked her up and carried her to her little
bed. AS he laid her down she whispered
drowsily:
Papa, will Santa Claus bring the pretty
lady a present to put in her stocking?: See
she hangs it out have mine. Kiss me
goodnight"
The dark lashes swept the rosy check,
and in a second the dear little one slept
and dreamt of beneficent Christmas fairies,
fine gifts, and Christmas cheer.
Pierce thought OF her words. Why should
not the poor outcast be remembered kindly
by himo
He picked a bit of holly, all ruddy berries,
and hastily going to the best parlor, he pick
ed his only flower, a Christmas-rose grow
IN a terra-cotta pot, painted with swallows
and wild roses.
This he bound together with a piece of
cord, and sat down to write a Christmas.
card.
"When you wake you will find yourself
among friends who do not want to question
Soul paSl, Dul OllS WISH 10 lltlp dllu sue
cor you. God bless you II restore 0 to
happiness, is the sincere prayerof your true
friend, PIERCE PENFOLD.",
When Dorothy woke next morning, the
Christmas bells were ringing merriIy, the
frosty sunlight Shone in, and showed an
old-fashiOned room, eXquisitely clean and
neat, with a look Of comfort and LONELINESS
about it.
On a tiny table by her bedside stood a
piece of shining holly and a Christmas rose
In a glass, beneath which lay a Christmas
card, prettily painted, and upon it the reas-
surfing words Pierce had written the night
before.
Childish laughter sounded in the hall and
the patter of childish feet.
Dorothy sat up i'll bed hastily, and caught
sight of herself in the glass panel of the
wardrobe, and for all her sorrow laughed
outright at the queer figure she cut in old
Agnes's nightcap, and much befrilled bed
gown.
Her head was a little dizzy, and her limbs
ached, but otherwise she felt. little the worse
for that fall in the snow-drift, which must
have proved fatal but for the timely help of
her generous host and his dog.
She took the flowers tenderly, and read
the kind words written on the card.
Then She united her cap, sat up, and rub
bed her eyes.
The memory of the night before at first
was dim and indistinct, then it gained force
and clearness, and stood wildly out before
her, dyeing her cheeks with shalned GRIM
son.
She was still regarding the card with CRATE
full tear-dimmed eyes, when a knock came
to the door, and i'll reply to her timid "Come
ill.," little Ally, in all the glory of crimson
sash and stockings, and white cashmere
dress, flew in, her arms full of toys.
Agnes followed, her kind old face flushed
with cooking breakfast.
She carried a tray covered with a snowy
cloth, on which was a cup of fragrant tea,
fresh eggs, and a tempting kidney, and put
it down beside the bed with the hearty: "a
merry Christmas to your so dear to old En-
gland.
Little Ally climbed upon the bed and
showed her Christmas gifts, saying IN her
pretty way:
"We are all glad to have you here. Papa
our Savior's birthday everyone is welcome
for his sake. Eat your breakfast, and come
down ~quick-sharp; papa Is waiting to see
YOU"
agnes has ironed your clothes and Patty
has put them outside all clean and warm.
Why did you come so late"
Il came when your kind papa brought me.
What is your name, little one, and how old
are YOU"
81 am five next birthday. My name is
Ally Penfo!d, and | am papa's sweet pet"
With a kind nod, after putting down the
tro1- aid r,,oc hronrlt ~, a., ~, IS, - H.
and left her masters guest to the entertain
ment OF his little daughter, who was dis
posed to be very friendly.
"Where is your mamma, dear little Ally?"
Gone away for always in a mysterious
whisper.
HAS she gone to God, dear? Isshe dead?"
II don't know. But once papa said she
was worse than dead. What did he mean?''
II cannot tell you, dear. Some day he
will explain, perhaps"
Dorothy ate some breakfast, and dressed
hurriedly, watched all the time by the child's
bright eyes.
When she put on her pretty black dress,
that Agnes had freshened up SO cleverly,
she stood perpleNed by her short sleeves
and bare breast. Just then a knock came to
the door, and old Agnes entered with a
white lace tichu on her arm, and a pair of
crimson mittens in her hand.
See here, my dear; this will make your
dress more suitable, and here is a piece OF
flannel to fix across your chest"
Dorothy took the things gratefully, say
ing:
How good YOU are to me! shall never
forget your kindness"
The old oma patted her cheek kindly,
and said:
Nonsense, child; l am only too pleased
to see you able to get UP. l feared yor