The age-herald., 1899-12-17
A TRUE STORY OF
 CHRISTMAS TIME

In small house on the Southside near to the beautiful residence portion of the South Highlands lived two little children who had been for several weeks eagerly looking forward to the coming of Christ mas and the visit of Santa Claus.
 Their mother this Christmas eve had sadly watched their animated little faces as she thought of how many pleasures which should come into their young lives and of which they, of necessity, were de- prived.
 She guessed correctly that the little ones were talking, and planning in their child ish faith of the coming of the wonderful old myth, whose imagined visit would glad den and brighten so many of the already bright and happy nurseries in Birmingham on the morrow, and her poor heart aehed almost to bursting as she thought of the anticipated delight of her precious little ones being changed to a bitter disappoint- ment, for too well did she know that the man, her husband, who had, as some one laughingly said, been getting ready for Christmas, had forgotten her pleadings Of this morning for few extra pennies, with which to buy some cheap candy to please the children tomorrow.
 He was comparatively sober then. and some way his heart, or that tiny speck of it that was left. had been touched as she tenderly and gently reminded him of some 1Hl istiudS SCtiCS III HlS OWll lhlloCSiA o4iAAu- hood.
 He replied to her kindly and said: "Why, yes, Mary, the children must have Christ mas, of course. Joe Dorson owes me dollar and half; you may take that and get such things as you need, and with what's left get something for the children's stockings. Poor little chaps, wish it were more, but luck is so hard since lost that last job. It does look as if I shall never get another good one"
 Mrs. Garnock was grateful and though so often she had been disappointed, she still trusted him, and fondly hoped he would do just as he promised.
 She would gladly go hungry for several dinners in order to see her darlings joyous and happy, as other children are who are not under the shadow of a curse.
 The foolish little woman sat and planned. and tried her mathema tical genius to the utmost limit, to solve the problem of won derfully long division to make one dollar and fifty cents go into flour, lard, bacon, coffee, coal and still have one quarter left for her cherished purpose
 Having accomplished the remarkable mathematical feat, she began subdviding that quarter, and as she began to see how many things 1t would buy, her eagerness to the chidren's delight was greater than that of many mothers who spend fifty dollars for handsome presents to please or satisfy their pampered darngs.
 Mir. Garnock's intention was to do just as he promised his wife; but-oh shall tell it? Yes, for you should know his weak ness.
 He began the morning we'll He had no work, and but a few cents in his pocket: these he came near handing to his wife this morning to buy needed food, but checked himself in time, saying: "No, she'll manage. I must have one or two drinks to- day, and I shall give her every cent of that dollar-ifty that Joe promised to pay me
 He honestly thought he would go home sober today. and. except Just two or three, or maybe four drinks, he had held to his resolution. Even after he had gotten the dollar and half, he still held firm, that the wife and children should have it; and at the early hour of he started home, that Mary might run out and buy the much needed things
 He passed one, two, three, four saloons, all brilliantly lighted, in festive array, at tractive, aluring enticing, still held with pitiable endeavor to the pitiful sum he had promised Mary, though the devil in him demanded a drink.
 No, this time he should conquer: Mary shall have the money for the children. But here is another saloon! The last corner. The best music that the city afforded was going on inside; the bright lights made the glasses and decanters glitter, and the mir TOTS reflected to him, out in the cold, the inviting fire within. No, he would pass, and turning his face half away, with one desperate struggle he was about to succeed in conquerng that tyranical appetite that held him its slave; but just then MT. Tar rant, an elegant cultured citizen, a church member, chanced to see him. He was him. self going in for-just a Christmas drink you know. He saw Garnock, and suppos- ing, of course, he was bound for the same place, he called out: Hello, Garnockl come in and I'll set up the drinks this time. Just once year, you know, to make a fellow feel good for Christmas
 Garnock, of course, has no thought of declining "a set up," but resolves, even then, that he shall take the proffered treat, but more. Mary shall have the money in his pocket.
 They go in together and drink. Friends all around are merry and jovlal! Another stands treat, another and then another. Poor Garnoel is no longer possessed of the one remnant of his manhood. Now his on- ly thought Is drink-a drink!
 Two hours later friends take him to his waiting wife.
 Let us go ahead, however, and peep in a moment before he reaches home.
 Ah what happy scene. Willie and May have been out and picked up coal where the wagons had dropped humps here and there, and with it they had built bright fire in the Srate. The mother had gotten some old stockings long ago past mending, and was putting them together so that they might hold the good things old Santa Claus should bring.
 Her heart was lighter than for many days, for the children's enthusiasm yves catching; and then she trusted him and he had promsed
 The children, with clean, earnest faces upturned to her's listens as she tells them the sweet old, old story of the first Christi mas morn.
 They have forgotten their hunger, and when she finishes that beautiful story they soon began to chatter about tomorrow and to talk of the mythical legend of the child ren's friend.
 How happy they are! But listen
 Willie flies to the window and says, "Mother. it is father His face tells the rest. Indeed words are not necessary, for she had heard Her light-heartedness Is gone. Lead it has become before the door is even opened, for she knows 1t all
 70, God help me. I pray!" she calculates and then goes to meet him.
 Shall we stay longer? Shall we witness