The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-12-22
LITTLE PHIL S CHRISTMAS.
written by a Lad Aged Ten Years.


Christmas eve was drawing near,and
every body was very busy preparing for
the holidays. The streets were crowd
ed with people coming and going The
windows of all the leading stores were
beautifully decorated and gave a
pleasant appearance to everything
around.
1t was at one Of those windows that
our little hero, Philip Knight, was
standing looking at the beautiful
things and happy faces of the passers
by and seeing all the children with
their parents. His heart grew sad and
heavy as he stood watching all this,
for he was thinking Of how happy he
was last Christmas and how different
this Christmas would be. His mother
whom he loved sincerely all his life
has taken sick and died only a week
ago, leaving Thil all alone in the world,
for his father had Gicd when he was
small child, SO he had no one left to
care for him. He did not know what
to do; he had no place to 60. The little
home where he and his mother lived
and what little furniture they had had
been sold by the landlord. SO 1t was
that Phil was wandcrer in the
streets.
1t was growing dark and he was
| about to get on the train (not knowing
what else to do) when a policeman
caught him roughly by the arm and
said sternly:
Here, boy, where are you going?"
Phil could not speak, he was so
! frightened; then he remembered he
had an uncle living in New York and
he said.
Il am going to uncles"
Have you any money to pay your
! fare?' asked the officer.
Philip had just two dollars so he
| said Yes, SIR He did not tell him
the small amount he possessed nor did
he tell him how unhappy he was, for he
was anxious 20 get on the train. So
the officer passed on.
When Phiip entered the car it was
crowded. He got a seat to tn" front Of
the car. All eyes were upon him as he
! looked SO bad and hadn't enough
| clothes on him to keep him warm. He
| saw every one whispering to each 9TH
| er. His eyes filled with tears. lie be-
! gan to sob aloud. \ kind lady who
| had been watching him since he en-
! tered went over to him and asked him
| what was the matter. Phil soon told
! her his sad story and when she heard
it she, too, began to weep. At last she
| said,
! ''DO not cry my child I will take you
! h1me with me where you will spend a
! happy Christmas, for l have two little
! boys like you and hey will he kind
! to YOU and | will be a mother to you.
! So don't cry, you will never be alone
! again"
These knd words spoken by the lady
cheered Phil and he dried his tears.
The train stopped lust then and the
| lady told Phil to follow her. When they
| got off the car they walked two blocks
and then stopped at a beautiful house.
! She said: This is your home" Phil
! looked at the beautiful place which
was lit up with lights; he was so eX-
cited he couldn't speak but his face
told how happy he was. When thew
entered, the children were surprised to
see the little boy with their mamma,
and when they heard the story of little
Fhil they clapped their hands with joy
| and said Phil was their Christmas
present. AS for Phil l need not tell
you how happy he was for he was in
his UnCles house. Charles Lotus, 1906
Monsey avenue, Scranton, P;.