The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-12-17

many apples TO be pared ana POUNDS Oh
raisins to be picked over.
At 9 o'clock they hurried up to their
chambers. each had little candle IN
tin candlestick. Loreny's room was OPP
posite Tommy's. She was Just taking the
Adj ont OF the bed. when she heard a
sweet wheeze from the concertina- She
few across the entry: Tommy WOOD
she whispered. ''you stop this minute'
She'll be up here" .r
Tommy himself looked frightened. Il
won't do It again" said he, Il couldh
help IT," III ~.
Finally Tommy went TO sleep with the
concertina in his arms and borehy wiz
the doll. once in the night she awoKe
suddenly. for she heard the concertina
She listened in a panic, but she oiu nut
hear II again, and went 10 sleep.
The next morning there was a sort Oh
feeble merriment about the almshouSe'
There were no Christmas presents put
the dinner. that meant a great deal MIS-
Palmer even smiled YEARLY as she sur
red the plum pudding. Tommy ana Lo-
reny were kept very busy all the MOTH
ing but after the grand Uinner' when
,bev had eaten the roast turkey and
chicken and plum pudding and All the
paupers had feasted, they had little
time 10 themselves.
Ioreny stole upstairs TO her own room.
She got a pink calico apron In whlcn her
heart delighted out OF her bureau draw
er, and she dressed the doll In IL. IL was
a cold Christmas and the window was
thick with frost, but she stayed there
with the doll all the afternoon She got
her hest blue hair-ribbon and tied the
mink apron round the dolls waist. she
kissed its pretty face. "Ain't going 70 let
YOU freeze this cold weather, dear child
she whispered.
AS for Tommy, he was out In the snowy
pasture behind the almshOuse, sitting on
n rock which pierced a drift. playing ms
concertina In the freezing December VIM
He actually picked out little tune -"hlcn
he had heard sung in Sunday-school' and
he was I'm rapture. lie did not Itei
the cold. but he was so numb that ne
could scarcely walk when he slowed away
the concertina in the coat pocket ana re-
turned 10 the almshouse
When he had hidden away his treasure
he went down 10 the kitchen, where Lor-
eny had just gone. She was warming her
little blue hands over the stove
Serves you right for staying up there
in the cold so long said Mrs. Palmer.
Presently Mr.. Palmer came in. stamping
his snowy feet He had been down To the
village and had some news.
Deacon Alden's hired man lost heap
of things out of his cart yesterday after
noon" said he. split them out or the
back The horse was kind OF risky ana
ne never knew till he got home. Then he
went right back. but the things were
gone. Somebody had picked EN- up.
IT'S Just as bad as stealing SAID Mrs
Palmer. severely. Just as bad
Loreny turned white. Tommy sat with
his eyes downcast. AS soon as she coud'
I.orenv pulled him out into the entry.
Tommy Wood" she whispered. I'VE We
got to carry EN- back. It's stealing.
when can we?'
Tonight. We must 20 down the back
stairs real still, after they think we've
gone TO bed"
II was half-past o'clock when two
small. dark figures ran down the aims
house hill. one was Tommy, with ms
coat pockets bulging, the other was L"T-
eny. hugging the doll, which was sth!
wrapped in her pink apron
II was a mile to Deacon Alden's house
II was bitter cold: the full moon was up
and the snow creaked under foot. Ihey
ran most Of the way. When they reached