The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-12-24
Respecting a Christmas Tree.
Which Never Brought Joy to
Baby Eyes, and What Became
of Ii.

the episodes of life just when they occur
There are happenings. daily, affairs
which the reading public would con-
slider sensations could they be made
aware of them And yet there is a lv-
ing conscience among the news gatherers
on the STATS OF the dailies, and though
they may know of domestic troubles and
political scandals. there are occasionally
special reasons why they are withheld
and the real truth OF the affair kept from
the public. whose curiosity Is often nor
bid. or idle.
Fifteen years ago this season there
happened in this city a real tragedy. the
details OF which were known only 10 the
immediate relatives and friends OF the
family. The Christmas season Is alSays
one of festivity and convivialitv. The
children especially are then remembered
and nothing is left undone 10 make This
occasion one of res9lendent m ,mories 20
the little ones" that each family may
harbor. At the time mentioned above
there lived in this city young man sad
his wife with 2-year-old boy On that
Christmas season so long aEo the Esther
and mother had arranged an elaborate
Christmas for their first born. They
were TO have an evergreen Christmas
tree and on it we're 10 be hung the pres
ents most fitting for the baby boy. HIS
neighbOrhood companions were 10 be n
vited and all 10 partake OF me h1e odg-
lay of entertainment Everything Was
in readiness and there seemed TO he Nc
shadow over the pretty<view in p-osrcc.,
Two days before the Christmas the
baby boy was taken suddenly ~ and me
best physicians in the city were sum
moned and at midnight, Christmas eve,
a council was held and the general erin
ion Of the doctors was that the baby
must die. A severe and critical brain
trouble had attacked the little ons and
for hours he was watched over BY care
full attendants and nurses. hu. at Day
break on Christmas morning .Ie was
dead
In an inner room was the Christmas
tree, already prepared with its Lxuri-
ance OF toys. candies and baby trink, Is.
resplendent with lights OF candles ard
colored lamps. There It stood as tsCuKh
ready 10 welcome the childish warmth
OF enthusiasm, and only too anxious 90
be torn of its ornaments. so long as the
little one was to enjoy &. But that little
one! He lay so cold out in another room
and grief-stricken parents were mourn
ing with a sorrow that knew no solace
and would accept no consolation
Husband and wife stood that night over
a pretty white casket in the parlor
awaiting the funeral services. which are
expected as A general custom. but which
mean so little to those who are grief
stricken and heart-wrung At midnight
on that Christmas eve one only stood as
like stone over that baby casket The
father. worn with grief and watching.
had laid down for a little rest. The
mother. though equally worn. still re-
tanned that wondrous vitality which only
motherhood knows. There she stood. with
clasped hands. gazing vaeantly into the
coffin where rested her first born. lie
was part OF her very self And he was
dead. She had watched over him and
nursed him and deeply planned FOR his
future Yes. and now, a. this festive /
season. she had warmly felt for his pres !
ent pleasure and had 50 many anticiDa- /
tons OF the coming event For hours 4
she stood there lowering over that cas- I
ket in which rep0sed the Ise,ess body or /
him for whom she had been Willing 70 /
give her very life. There Pc lay so cold 4
and so Indifferent 10 her terrible woe. 1
The little curly head rested costly on the q
pillow and the piuchod and drawn face 4
seemed yet 10 smile ~ % her. though /
the eyes wece closed and no sentiment 4
being there. Twice she stretched herself /
over the coffin and clasDed her dear one
in her arms With fierce energy. She
could not give him up. He was parr
OF her very aeIf and not a mere liGod 4
relative. lie must not 50. and he VIII
not. Yet there he lay and he vouif To: 4
respond 70 her efforts to speak 70 him
The funeral was held in due course Or
events and the benumbed parents re-
turned 20 the home stln IN that inner
room stood that Christmas tree no longer
beautiful IN effect, for Il now seemed
combre statue of mourning The young
mother hung over Il hour by hour COB
binK out IN bitter tears her very life and
as the needles Of the tree dropped she
seemed 70 see in them ever recurring re-
minders o. what might have been. There
was anxiety In the household. for l. was
came 10 comfort her and tried 70 cheer
her W. He recited 20 her the aEe-old
axi0ms about resignation. humble &c
20 Divine workings. and sll the
rest Of the stage DeTformloZs bgt stii
there came no solace, aE3 there could
come none. The family doctor kindly
gave her resting powders. and ether ren-
sdies 70 quiet her. and Etll she silently
endured and hung % the ltt.e triukets
which invested that Christmas tree. she
ualed and sank and dwfrd.e3 rnUi 20
last she. too. was takea from that room
where yet posed the evergreen tree sn8
vas laid OF her last resting colch. she
smiled un 20 those Who we're bending over
her and said 10; a Word y farewell. there
vas none 20 saF- That elaborate Christ
mas entertainment prepared Nit5 81 mzra
care had come too late f1r t1s enc lt ~aa
planned tor.
Other refuge have Z none.
Haagz ny he.V,ess soul ~ Thef-f
This zas sung over her grave ana she
ard the other 1srf ~ Der. ere Hrt,s -azy
ared asy. were ls35 assay sa The game
grave. oat ia the cemetery zhars "is fhs
-zHltatlon ~ ths sstert anse. t7ese En5
- tstars ard are ulogr1ea - tae IT,
ing
And Pr gears ths tree ftoo1 rasrs f.
ne rosn closed - al bas ere sasaazs
sa3 father Mo wsH isfl its sssdsra
strevsS ne Geor. ifs fziEs e-rles sa
eng d-yuszs, fhs nsta ass re flrs1e.
-ainEs 70 skelsrazs the rar1zs a-seaFrlss
wlth 6zat ard Bert NllA ihs beat, t1r
sr-s-n- hsa5s ea re 5asF-s taT parped
znh sEe. W5en ;be hssasns ne-t aHag
sas;. nerer 10 - ur1- ere rsEt er-uazH.
LII L. 80. ..ara ar.n---.es u