The sun., 1898-12-18
No CHRISTMAS IN THE NEST
Santa Claus Heard Of it and
Braved the Snow to Brighten
the Day.
A STORY FROM REAL LIFE
Written Exclusively for 1.-The Sun"
by "Clarette," SO Well Known to
the People Of This. County
in Which She
Lives.
A STORY FROM REAL LIFE

| Lives.
| In her home in a western village, two
weeks previous to Christmas, Mrs. WAY
sat in deep reverie, which seemed lonl
undisturbed, until a sigh broke int
words upon her lips, Il shall be glat
when the day is past" she said. IF
could only manage to give them somt
Christnasl"-She arose and passed into
the adjoining bed chamber, where hel
two sleeping children, Edwin and Roy,
lay peacefully unconscious of hel
troubled state of mind.
"How happy all my early Christmas
were. she thought, so unlike any thing
like this, and ! have managed before to
give them some Christmas-but this
time"-she bent and placed kiss on the
lovely curls of Roy strewn over his pill.
iow-he was her hearts treasure, and
60 like his father for whom he was
named. The older boy of twelve, seemed
most manly in his ways, and her pride
and comfort, but how young and de.
pendent they both seemed to her as she
stood there, her thoughts counting with
the moments which passed.
She seemed to the outside world com.
Portable enough, but her own heart
knew how closely she must count each
dollar spent. To this village near an
extensive mining section, her husband
had brought her two years previous, and
lite seemed bright enough before her
then-he must return east for short
period to sottle business matters more
fully, when he would Join them, where
everything pointed TO prosperity before
them. Bot terrible railroad accident
bad taken his lifesand life for her now
had reached the place of struggle. For
9 period after her husbands death, Mrs.
Way met life bravely and the money she
had lett from coming west assisted her,
until ROW only her own resources were
left available. She was growing Door in
the real sense Of the word.
Tonight her thoughts turned once
more 10 the business firm with which
her husband had dissolved before coming
west, andeshe despaired NOW of soon
having theifinal settlement made, which
when it came, would make her comfort
able until her boys could assume respon-
si0ilities for themselves. But only one
word reached her from them, that moth
ing could be done until a acertsin new de-
~eloppnent' I'M the business was reached,
which would greatly increase her portion
'and which in time was sure. And while
ehelr letters to her we're comforting as to
the future. yet she understood, and they
Eidnot" know just aow poor she xas
and. in need of assistance
'Ehe had friends near her in q yaw.
but she had seemed to them comfortahle
since her husbands death, and all alone
she seemed tonight in her really great
seed. The firm held MIR. Way i'm very
'lagh esteem, aud they were desirous of
ssaking for his fannly the very best set.
Element possible, and Mrs. WAY knew of
this honest purpose of their hearts and
fnHy respected It.
rShe, would write to them more fslv
tonight, and see if something could aot
be done at once. She would rather pnafit
10 a less extent and have it nov. So re-
turning to her room, she took her pen
and wrote this letter from heart which
'ould plan the, words only as they ,casne
% her.
" Ahh1A, ~. u.
CHEi RAYMOND FRRG PLANT.
lREsPBCTED FRIENDS How little feel
hat you know of my present situation
rom your recent kind letter i'm which all
'our' words betoken your kind esteem of
Is and of my husband g association with
ou. But II feel tonight that must
cake a fuller plea for the early forth.
oming OF this settlement, even at q sac.
lice. we are very poor. 1 haze not
DID you this, for the words starte even
re. For a time L seemed comfortable .
nough, but failures attend inv efforts
ow, and L am in need Could YOU look :,
pom my~sleeping boys, as I have Just =
0Od and know that unless some return
ON my effort in writing is Forthcoming
'on, there will not be any Christmas
r'them or nae, you would more fully
now my need. Not questioning nv !
,sband'si judgment in coming here, I
ish tonighttfor my pleasant home in
e Warren Valley. trust in Code
'eplpg, 'andinyou to assist me when
~ learn my need. / have not told you '
y atuation,thinking that settlement !
ould soon be forthcoming from time to {,
ne as have heard from you. Believe q
IN true esteem, your friend, q
GRACE WAY. Q
When this letter reached the RAYMOND g,
me, everything else was forgotten for o
time In their sympathetic feeling for tt
rs. Way. Mr.. Raymond reflected v
emily and long and then said to his b.
fe, Nellie, how would you like a 2,
'ristmas trip MestP Grace Way is in
cd ofour presence as we'll as our aid"
went a chorus OF voices, Ethel, Ned re
d Sue, all declating themselves ready IL
start, and we shall take them plenty 10
too. How comfortable we OF
are dear," said Mr.. Raymond viewing in
pleasant home and family. II feel W
y thankful just now for life's bless. if
q. When l think of Johns family in pc
I'd my heart prompts me to this visit. to
II know We were to visit them in his ca
me there, as was his wish, and this pr
vi be as unto his memory" to
hi
Tc
T was TIE day previous to Christmas to
Mrs. Ways home, and once again, ar,
eat rejecting on the morrow. Her w
rt had been lighter since receiving hil
Raymond's reply to her letter, that REF
ore Christmas day she should hear sig
n him in more helpful way, And