The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1898-12-15

had finished selling her papers the night
before and gone slowly homewaId, re-
sisting the temptation to stay out IN
the brilliantly lighted streets because
of her mothers well remembered re.
quest to this effect, and after buying as
much candy and fruit for Sweetie as
was consistent with saving few pen
MES to buy flower to go to the hos
pital with her and the baby tomorrow
afternoon and laying enough away to
buy her stock the next day she had got
straight into bed.
When she awoke, it was broad day
light, the shining light of Christmas
day. which has never seemed quite like
that of ordinary days since that first
wondrous dawn nearly l, 900 years ago,
and she sprang up with, the sweet
Christmas joy in her heart and face, i'll
spite of her aching toes and lonely con-
dition.
"Now for cup of coffee and q
doughnut, " she thought as she hurried
Iy fastened her garments, "and then for
my papers. -.....
"WeIl, Little Borrioboola Cha, p" said
the same kindly voice which had greet
ed her the day before, "merry Christ
mas to you.
"Same to you. SIR" she answered
shyly, glancing up at him with the eyes
which reminded him SO forcibly of his
sister. paper, sir?''
"Well, yes. ] suppose so," he re-
sponded, reaching in his pocket for 81
bill elbow are you going to spend
your Christmas?''
"I'm going to the hospital to see
mamma after l get through selling"
said Maggie, who, with child's quick
intuition, had OWNED that this was a
man to be trusted. "And I'm going to
take Sweetie with me
"Who is Sweetie?' was the next
question, asked with a sympathetic in
tonation which somehow expressed all
the kindly words he did not say about
her mother. And Maggie, whose heart
opened easily to any one who used the
key of "Sweetie" wherewith to unlock
it, grew talkative at once.
"Sweetie's my sister," she prattled.
forgetting her wares in the joy of tell.
ing her love to some one. my baby
sister. And she's been specially mine
ever since mamma got sick and had to
go to the hospital. Auntie and Uncle
Stewart have got her now, !" she went
on, not noticing the start the gentleman
gave, but I'm going to get her back to
live with us just as soon as mamma can
come home. "
"Is Auntie Stewart your real aunt?'
queried her listener, strange interest
in his tone and manner. "And what is
your mamma s name?'
emo Auntie Stewart is an old friend
of mammals and papa's," answered
Maggie, tucking her papers more tight
~ under her arm, land mammals name
is Jennie Brownell. -
"Jennie Brownell!'' gasped the man
at her side, grasping her arm so tightly
that the tender flesh was bruised. "Jen
ME Brownell! And what was your
papas name?'
"Papa S name was Arthur Brownell, F."
said Maggie, wondering more and more
at this mans odd behavior. "But he's
been dead long, long time, and mann
ma took care of us until she got sick
and was big enough. .
"You big enough exclaimed her
listener excitedly. "You big enough,
you poor baby Why, how old are your"
''I'm just ! 8, " said Maggie proudly,
land, indeed. sir, I'm big enough.
Why, I've taken care of us for nearly a
year now, and Sweetie would rather
stay with me than with Auntie Stewart.
! give her such nice things to eat, she
finished innocently.
''To say nothing of the love you evil
IDENTIFY lavish upon her, /" murmured the
gentleman to himself "Well, Little
Borrioboola Cha, what do you say to a
change? I think you must be my niece. !"
sob, then you must be Uncle Jack, :"
said Maggie accepting this new and
wonderful state of affairs with child e
innocent faith and belief in all things
wonderful and bright and good. "Yes,
you do look like mamma. She's talked
of you so much that feel quite know
you.'' she added quantity.
you're not going to sell papers any
more, said her uncle, as they crossed
the street to his hotel. "And now for a
merry Christmas. It won't be possible
to do any thing about clothes today, {"
with rneful look at Maggie's gar
ments, "but We'll do something nice
anyway. What hospital did you say
your mother was atf''
''St. Luke's,' answered Maggie,
smiling as happily as though the griefs
of the morning had never troubled her.
care you going to see her too2"
eyes, said Uncle Jack, smiling
down at the eager face, 'we're going
there right away, but we'll stop and
buy some flowers first"
And they set forth, only to find dis
appointment awaiting them at the hos
pital. Mrs. Brownell had left the hos.
pital that morning in the care of a
strange gentleman who had brought a
carriage for her.
"Was it Uncle Stewart asked Mag
gle, and the kindly girl hesitated be-
fore replying, catching the busy nurse
as she turned away.
"Uncle Stewart |" she said at length.
1.-THE old gentleman who came here
with her and sometimes brings the lit
tie girl? No, it was a much younger
man.
''Did mamma know him?" asked
Maggie, with shade of sadness darken-
ing her expressive face in a manner
which did not escape her uncle's notice,
and again the good natured nurse staid
her steps to reply.
Eyes, F." she said, with pleasant, if
hasty, smile, she was delighted to see
him and went with him at once''
Maggie turned away sadly, tear
falling on her shabby frock, and she
did not refuse the comforting pressure
of her uncle's hand as they walked
down the long ward together.
''Let's 90 to SWeetie. . suggested her