The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1898-01-19

cambridge. Mr. Rlls gives the fol-
lowing description Of actual scenes on
Grand street.
Al the corner, where two opposing
tioe8 Of travel form an eddy. the line
Of pushcaris de6ouches down the
darker side-sireet In lts gloom their
torches burn with a htful glare that
wakes black shadows among the
trusses OF the railroad structure over
head A woman. with worn shawl
drawn tightly about head and shout
ders. bargains with a peddler for
monkey on stick and two cents
worth Of nitter-gold. Five nl-elad
youngsters hatten their noses agalns,
the frozen pane Of the toy-shop. In
ecstasy al something there. which
proves 70 he milk-wegon. with
driver. horses. and cans that can be
unloaded. Il Is something their minds
can grasp. One comes forth with a
penny goldfish Of pasteboard elutehed
tightly In his hand and casting eau
uous glanees right and left. speeds
across the way to the door Of a tsne-
ment, where a little girl stands walt
Ing. Its yer Christmas. Kate" ne
says. and thrusts Il into her eager hst.
The black doorway swallows them up.
Across the narrow yard. IN the base
ment Of the rear house. the lights q
Christmas tree show against the
grimy window-pane. The two children
are husily engaged fixing the goldfish
upon one Of lie branches Three little
candles that burn there she'd llght
upon scene OF utmost desolatlon.
The room IL black with smoke and
dirt. In the middle Of the floor oozes
an oil-stoye that serves At once 70
take the raw edge on the cold and cook
the meals by. Half the wlndowpa acs
are broken. and the holes stuffed with
rags. The sleeve Of an old coat hangs
out OF one. and beats drearlly upon
the sash when the wind sweeps over
the fence and ratiles the rotten shut.
tiers. The family wash, elammy and
gray. hangs on a clothesllne stretched
across the room. Under Il. at a table
set with cracked and empty plates. !
discouraged woman sits cycling the
ehildren's show gloomlly. Il Il svi.
dent that she has zen drinking. Til,
peaked aces OF the little ones wear !
iamished look. There are three-ths
third and infant. put te bed in vhai
was once a bahy-csrriage. The two
from the street are pulling Il around
10 get the tree In range. The baby
sees Il, and crows with delight tn,
boy shakes branch. and the gold
hsh leaps and sparkles IN the candle.
light.
See. sister, he pipes: see SAINT.
Claus" And they clap their hands Ii
giee. The woman at the table wake
out Of her stupor. gaEes around her
and bursts into a o. q maudlln weep
ing.
The door FALLS TO. Five flights on
another opens upon a bare attic roon
which a patient little woman Is ssttlnl
TO rights, There are only three chairs
a box. and a beds,ead In the room
but they take q deal Of careful arrang
ing The bed hides the broken plas
ter In the wall through which the via
came In. each chair-leg stands owe
a rat-hole. az once 20 hide Il and kee
the rats out. One Is left. the box {
FOR that The plaster OF the ceiling
held up with pasteboard patches.
know the story OF that attic. Il /
one Of cruel desertlon. The woman
husband IL even now living In plenty
with the creature for whom he forsool
her, not a dozen blocks away. Will
she keeps the home together Tor "a
children" She sought justice. but a
lawyer demanded a retainer: 90 sh
gave Il 40 and went back 10 her llttl
ones. For this room that barely keep
the winter wind out she pays four dol
lars a month. and Il behind with n
rent There Is scarce bread IN N
house. but the spirit OF Christmas Ia
found her attic. Against a hrokel
wall is tackled a hemloek branch. th
leavings OF the corner grocers htiing
block: pink string from the packing
counter hangs on Il IN fes,oons
tallow dip on the box furnishes N
illumination. The children sit up 4
bed. and watch Il With shining eye,
We're having Christmasl" the