The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-25
A DOLLAR
.hatCOuldNOt
Stop.
TENE MENT XMAS.
How the Holiday Comes in
the New York Slums.

1T is too bad said Mrs. Lee, and
she put down the magazine in which
she had been reading of the poor chill
dren in the tenements of the great city
that know little of Christmas joys; mo
Christmas tree! One Of them shall have
one, at any rate. think this will buy
it, and it is so handy to send Nobody
would know that there was money in
the letter" And she inclosed a coupon
in letter to a professor, a friend in
the city, who she knew. would have
no trouble in finding The child, and had
it mailed at once.
The letter Travelled all right, and in
the morning it was aid at the pro-
Tessor's breakfast plate. The professor
was kindly man, and he smiled as
he read it. ITO procure one small
Christmas tree for poor tenement"
was its errand
Little dollar" he said. Il think 1
know where you are needed"
Downtown went the professor; but
instead of going with the crowd that
was setting toward Santa Claus
headquarters, in the big Broadway
store, he turned off into d ouieter
street, leading west. 1t took him to a
narrow thoroughfare, with five-story
tenements on either side. Into one of
the tenements he went and cropping
ms way through pitch-dark hall,
came to a door way back, the last one
to the left at which he knocked An
eXpectant voice said, Come in" and
the professor pushed open the door.
The room was very small very stuff
fy, and very dark, so dark that a smok-
ing kerosene lamp that burned on
table next the stove, hardly lighted it
at all, though it was broad day. A big,
unshaven man. who sat on the bed.
rose when he saw the visitor. and
stood intentionally shifting his feet
and avoiding the professors eye. The
latter's glance was serious, though not
unkind as he asked the woman with
the baby if he had found no work yet.
No" she said, anxiously coming to
the rescue mot yet; he was waitin' for
a recommend" But Johnnie had earned
Two dollars running errands, and, now
there was big fall of snow, his father
might get job of shoVeling The
Woman's face was worried, yet there
was cheerful note in her voice thar
somehow made the place seem les. dis
couraging than it was The baby She
nursed was not much larger than A
middle sized doll. It's little face looked
thin and wan. 1t had been yerv sick
she explained, but the doctor said If
was mending now That was good. said
the professor, and patted one of the
bigger children on the head.
Ihere were six Of them. Of all sizes
from johnnie, who could run errands
Gown. They We're busy fixing an
christmas tree that half filled the room.
Inough II was of the Very smallest.
PICTURES from the colOred supplement of
a Sunday newspaper hung and stood
on every branch, and three pieces of
colored glass, suspended ON threads.
that shone in the smoky lamp light.
lent color and real buty to the show,
Ihe children were greatly tfckled
John put it up" said the mother. by
way OF explanation, as the professor
eyed 1t approvingly. There amt moth
ing 10 eat on it. If there was it would
MT be there minute The children he
always a-searchin' in it.
But there must be, or else it isn't a
real Christmas tree" said the profess
sor' and brought out the little dollar.
rms is a dollar which a friend gave
me Tor the childrens Christmas, and
she sends her love with it. Now. Won
puy them something and a few candles.
MRS mrs ferguson, and then a good supper
Tor the rest of the family. Good night
and a Merry Christmas to YOU"
Inc professor was not very far on his
way pei ~ Mrs Ferguson was at the
grocery laying in her dinner A dollar
goes long way when it is the only one
in the house; and when she had every
thing, including two cents worth of
filter gold, four apples, and five cam
dies for the tree, the grocer footed up
her bill on the bag that held her pota-
toes-ninety-eig cents. Mrs. Ferguson
gave him the little dollar.
What's this?" said the grocer, his
fat smile turning cold as he laid a re-
straining hand on the full basket.
That amt no good
It's a dollar, amt it?" said the
woman, in alarm. It's all right.
know the man that give it to me"
1T amt all right in this store" said
the grocer sternly. Put them things
back. 1 want none O. that"
The woman's eyes filled with tears
as she slowly took the lid off the bas-
l1et and lifted out the precious bag of
potatoes. They were waiting for the
dinner at home. The children were
even then camping on the door step to
take her into the tree in triumph. And
For the second time a restraining
hand was laid upon her basket. but
this time it was not the grocer's. A
gentleman who had come in to order a
Christmas turkey had overheard the
conversation, and had seen the strange
bill
1T is all right" he said to the gro
Ger. GIVE it to me. Here is a dollar
bill for it of the kind you know"
The gentleman held the door open for
Mrs Ferguson, and heard the shout of
the delegation awaiting her on the
stoop as he went down the street
Il wonder where that came from
now he unused. Coupons in Bed
ford street. l suppose somebody sent
it to the woman for a Christmas gift
Hello! Here are old Thomas and snow
flake. | wonder if it wouldn't sur
prise her old stomach if / gave her a
Christmas gift Of oats. If only the
shock doesn't kill her Thomas Oh,
Thomas!'
The old man thus hailed stopped and
awaited the gentleman's coming. He
was a cartman who did odd iobs
through the ward thus picking uD a
living for himself and the white horse
which the boys had dubbed Snowflake
in a spirit of fun. They We're a we'll
matched old pair, Thomas and his wife.
One was not more decrepit than the
other
See here" said the gentleman, as
he caught up with them Il want
Snowflake to keep Christmas, Thomas,
Take this and buy him bag of oats.
And give it to him carefully. do you
hear?-not all at once, Thomas. He
isn't used to it,"
Gee whizz!" said the old man. rub
bling his eyes with his cap as his
friend passed out of sight, "oats for
Christmas! Glang, Snowflake; yer in
luck"
The feedman put on his spectacles
and looked Thomas over at the
strange order. Then he scanned The
title dollar, first on one side, then on
the other
Never seed one like him, be said.
Pears to me he is mighty short. Wait
til l send round to the hockshop."
The man at the pawnshop aid not
need a second look why. Of course