The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-25
HUBBARD STREET SANTA CLAUS
Mrs. Burkc's Little Ones Made Happy by
n Good Neighbor.

q Good Neighbor.
That morning, when Mrs. Burke. with
her old black shawl on her head. went
into Schmidt's store by the rear en-
trance and Intercepted ole with her
eyebrows as to whether old Schmidt
was In the front part of the store. she
went on a forlorn hope. Schmidt had
told her the previous Saturday that un-
til she Strengthened un her account or
some of IL he would be obliged to shut
of supplies. That is what he meant
to say. but he said much more and
OF a personal nature. Mrs. Burke lis
tened and said she'd 10 what she could.
not having any idea what she meant
to do.
Only one thing she could do-that was
not TO go to Schmidt's again while he
was there. but watch around until he
went to his meals or downtown and
then run i'm and ICON" ole out of a few
potatoes. She usually could dc this
with a few well chosen words. now Of
fering Mamie" to him for a wife
when she'd grow up. now inviting
him over when the potatoes should be
boiled.
Poor little Mrs. Burke. with all her
witchery and smiles, had a leaden
heart. she WASH; a beggar she told
herself hourly. she might go over TO
st. Columbkill's and the st. Vincent De
Pau society would send her"-but.
= AAhftths ~ NOhibl u
So Christmas eve found her once
more negotiating with ole for "a few
things. but even Ole. who clerked at
the miserable little grocery store all
day and practiced on a concertina all
n~ight-which showed he had a soul
even Ole drew the line this particular
morning. "Ay doan't know was all
he'd say. bu she understood thai he
had qualms of conscience about deal
ing out old Schmidts potatoes surrep-
~titiously.
wei. thin. bad luck to you. ole. and
may you never be happy she said and
turned and went out the back way
quickly.
ole never a any good luck to speak
of nor was he ever very happy. so he
didn't mind the throw"
Mrs. Burke returned to her little
home. like H~iawatha. empty handed.
heavy-hearted." Mrs. Briggs saw her
pass the window and knew instinctively
what had occurred. Mrs. Briggs was
married to a Protestant. hut. God help
us. she was a good woman and her peo-
pie were before her" The Protestant
had a job. so Mrs. Briggs might go in
at the front door of Mr.. Schmidt's. She
ran an account. to be sure. and she had
to almost walk IL sometimes i'm order
tn be able tn get anything besides vic
tuals. But after Mrs. Burke had en-
tered her hCme Mrs. Briggs wrapped
Cora i'm a big shawl and slipped out
TO the grocery store and Ole and aid
Schmidt waited on her with alacrity.
She carried what she bought home
with her and put IL out Of her hus-
bands sight.
In the Burke house three bright. talk
ative children went To bed hat night.
not cold. bUt hungry. and still with a
faith in the mystery of Christ
mas. Something would happen be-
fore morning. they all knew that. IL
always had before. SO they ven II
sleep very hopeful. That night Mrs.
Briggs shelled popcoTn and popped a
dishpan full. This and IL sticks Of
candy-lemon. cinnamon and pepper
mint-four sticks for each of the little
and an endless O e pop-
corn. She brought these tn Mrs. Burke
a little before midnight. Not the treas
ure brought by all the kings since
hlled so large a place as that dishpan
full nf popcorn n that dozen sticks Of
candy.
And when Christmas morning dawned
in Hubbard street. as II does the wide
world Cver on happiness N misery
and Joy and sorrow. there were happy
tears on the care-worn face OF Mrs.
Burke despite Ole end Schmidt and the
hard. grasping world against which she
would on the morrow again begin the
ba .tle.-ChicaGo Chronicle.