Evening journal., 1898-12-19


mother of all this, although the strug-
gle in her mind was long aud severe,
aud she longed soroly for sympathy and
advice. She had grown so accustomed
TO using the yell that she no longer
thought Of it at all. She called out the
long word as she did that of "Paperi !"
and it had no more significance 70 her.
But on this particular day, this dreary
Christmas eve as she stood mechanical
~ repeating it, thinking meanwhile Of
she added pleasure for her mother and
sweetie which every penny meant, she
was startled by light touch on her
shoulder and turned her head TO see a
kindly face looking down into hers.
"Where do you say the accident hap
penedY queried the tall pleasant faced
man who owned the hand which still
lay on her ann Ibid you say Borrio-
boola Cha? / have heard great many
queer cries used by newsboys," " he said
with o whimsical smile at the pretty
face, which bent away from him, but
| yours is the most peculiar l have ever
known. Did you borrow it from Dick
ens?'
eyes, sir, " she whispered, blushing
still deeper, and hurrying breathlessly
into her explanation. "Yes, sir. You
see, the boys said I'd have TO make up
a roar if was going 10 sell papers, and
/ thought that was honest anyway"
Poor little kidd" he thought later,
as he heard her cry ring out under
his window as he sat in his comfortable
room at the hotel "Poor little kid l
wish l could do something for her. She
reminds me Of Jennie, somehow. Poor
Jennie" And in roveries Of his dear,
lost sight Of sister he forgot all about
Maggie, and thought no more Of her
until he heard her again the next morn
ing-Christmas morning.
"Not a cheerful day for a fellow
who's got nothing but money to help
him enjoy himself and no on to share
that with, he thought as he dressed
slowly, drearily, for the day promised
to be long and barren. "Is 1 only had
Jennie and her babies to help mo out
| By JoveW and he quickened his move
ments with look of sudden interest,
"I'll hunt up Little Borrioboola Cha
and give her a jolly Christmas. She
looks as though it wouldn't do her any
harm, and 1 can play pretender,' as
Jennie's baby used to say, play that she
is one Of Jennie's children.
Hastily completing his toilet, he dis
posed Of a hearty breakfast, his pulses
quioSening as he thought of the pleas
ure which lay before him, the pleasure
of giving happiness TO another, the one
pleasure which neither the world, the
flesh nor the devil has the power TO
mar or spoil.
Meanwhile tho object of his thoughts
had finished selling her papers the night
before and gone slowly homewaTd, 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 a few pon-
nios to buy a flower to 90 to the hos
pital with her ard the baby tomorrow
afternoon and laying enough away tC
buy her stock the next day she had got
straight into bed.
W AAAA NAAl AMhANf At was hANAA Ahl
light, the shining light of Christmas
day, which has never seemed quito like
that of ordinary days since that first
wondrous dawn nearly 1, 90G years ago,
and she sprang up with the sweet
Christmas joy in her heart and face, in
spite Of her aching toes and lonely con
dition.
"Now for cup of coffee and a
doughnut, " she thought as she hurried
ly fastened her garments, land then foi
my papers"
"Well, Little Borrioboola Cha, " sale
the Same kindly voice which had greet
ed her the day before, "merry Christ
mas TO you 4"
Same to you, sir" she answered
shyly, glancing up at him with the eye
which reminded him so forcibly of hi
sister. Paper, sir?"
"Well, yes, ! suppose so" he re
sponded, reaching in his pocket for a s
bill. "How are you going to spen,
your Christmas?"
"I'm going to the hospital to set
mamma after l get through selling,
said Maggie who, with a child's Quicl
intuition, had OWNED that this was
man to be trusted. "And I'm going &
take Sweetie with me.
} "Who is Sweotio?" was the mex
D question, asked with a sympathetic in
tonation which somehow expressed al
. the kindly words he did not say abou
z her mother. And Maggie, whose hear
! opened easily 20 any one who used tn
r key Of "Sweetie" wherowith to unloc
b it, grew talkative at once
i 'Sweetie's my sister, =" she prattled
! forgetting her wares in the joy of tell
z ing her love to some one. "My bab
{ sister And she's been specially min
ever since mamma got sick and had {
, so TO the hospital. Auntie and Uncl
b Stewart have got her now, she wen
4 on, not noticing the start the gentlema
r gave, "but I'm going to set her back I
% live with us just as soon as mamma ca
!. come home.
Il Is Auntie Stewart your real aunt;
{. queried her listener, strange intere
e in his tone and manner. "And what
i your mammals nameY
!, NO. Auntie Stewart is an old frien