The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-01-20


 This unlocked for embarrassment, in deed, presented itsele as a sufficiently self-evident fact; for not only were the business mans parent and sisters al that moment seated around the festive board, but he business man himself in his capacity as chef de cuisine, was SC successfully concealed behind a grimy and time worn apron, tied around his back for the protection of his sole ap- parel, as to present a truly remarkable appearance.
 Come in" said he. affably. adding in explanatory aside to his mother, Its me friend"
 Now, may God judge us leniently of our comforts and successes. if this household be an example of much that we have about us, yet refuse to see! What use if, like Jeshuruns of the lat ter mode, we wax fat and kick, if we kick not against the wall of prejudice and base social dictation, that in this day of limitless abundance dares to eountenance such povery as this?
 This mother had been unable to work for not far off four months: for much of that time. or until the army lass found them, the four members of this household had subsisted in everything rent clothing, food, fuel,-upon the daily Dittance brought in. by an H. years-old newspaper boy. Happily, by dragging herself to a free dispensary, the mother could get medicines for her ailment without cost, bu. one by one, such poor non essentials as the modest off T., atr fn the Shylocks of the poor, until to-day literally there was not an article in the rooma for which 8 pawnbroker would have shown So much consideration as to give them an estimate.
 T don't know how we are to thank you" said the mother, when the re- porter had explained his errand, and the parcel being opened, the children were exclaiming over the gifts of their unknown friends. Il don't know how we are to thank you, but when l get my hands again-"and she paused, with look of proud humility, as of one who would repay.
 But a small portion of the contents of the Christmas basket had been cooked; half the chicken lay outside tLC WlHuOW Oll d bll OI DloWH PdpcIt the peas had not been touched, and one or two parcels were still unbroken. There was so much, the mother ex- plained, that in this cold weather it would last long, and with care the food of many days was assured them The peas alone would make the dinner for one day; the remaining half of the chicken would keep unil next Sunday when Jakey, not having evening papers to sell, would have ample time to en- joy, and indeed to cook, hearty din ner. So of the other things; many lays dinner was potential In them.
 Truly, thought this reporter, this Christmas bounty of a generous people oy the distributive hands of the Salva- ion Army has not gone amiss in this instance at any rate. And at that mo- nent occurred an incident that for oathos and broad humanity could with lificulty have been matched on the genial feast day anywhere on the American continent.
 There came a tap on the door, and l child's voice called; Mrs. So-and-So! Mrs. So-and-So"
 "Oh!' said the aproned head of the |
  louse at the moment engaged in clear way the remnants of the feast from he table, T know" And straightway le opened the door.
 It was little girl, wee, wiZened, | harp-faced little thing, and in her | land was a tin bucket, which she | ave to the boy
 My mas ever so much 'bliged," said he and turning, ran away
 For an instant, to his shame be it aid, Visions of the ''growler'' and of | eer surreptiously introduced Into this eporters mind. Then the rheumatic voman spoke with certain depreca- ion, very fine to see.
 "'Tis a poor woman on the floor bove; she doesn't know where her usband is, and she's got no friends, nd didn't let on to any one about he Salvation Army; so when the din- er was cooked, here was enough and lenty, and I sent some up to her and CT little girl, that vel! knew had no inner at all.
 Look you good brother of the half ollar that went carelessly into the poor 1an's Christmas pot, or you, brother of
 large opportunity, from whose hand anne the check that perchance paid or many a family basket: look you, ow-if twas your money that bought ne wherewithal of this family's din- era dinner so sufficient that out of IS limitations flowed a supplementary nd independent charity to even a oorer poverty-was your money well oent?
 "To be poor and content is to be rich nd rich enough" said wise man of Id, but to be poor, and out of ona's overly to find a content hat makes zen a greater poverty rich-is not lat to be rich and much more than oh enough?
 The purveyor Of news to-day cries IS wares jubilantly, conscious not on- of good dinner for some days to ,me, and of warm pair of new init ,na covering his frost-btten knuckles nd a new cap that at need may be 'lded down over his small ears, but appily conscious as well hat at home ie kids now sit comfortably clad to ay with their brand new dolls, and S mother with her poor hands warm bandaged, for the time being at least lffers no more the added misery of ar childrens pitiful need. And these results, good brother, came rth of Salvation Army Christmas lsket,-War Cry