The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1900-12-21

Sup seven pairs Of stairs our little
Elsie lived. They were not the hand
some, polished stairs OF modern build.
ings. Nor were You whisked al0ft IN
a silent elevator that creature OF un-
seen power, which so often calls up
our sympathy for the dazed China
men IN the streets 0f San Francisco,
who can only murmur as they watch
the cable ears skim over the lofty
hills; ''No pullee, no pushee. Him
go ale same 2 These were rickety.
worn out stairs, covered with dust
and haunted by squeaking mice; aud
day by day Elsie and her grandmother
had 10 climb the whole 'seven pair
The antlquated building had been a
fine one IN its day, but 'ts gloTies
were long departed, and now the
lower part was occupied by stores OF
an indifferent class, and the other
stories by miscellaneous assortment
Of cheap dressmakers aud cheaper
dentists doctors. and music teachers
The seventh story was where our
little Elsie had lived her whole sweet
life. The only bright. Young creature
in the house, she glided up and down
the stairs talking 20 the mice, the
dirt and 10 the lOdgers as they came
and went Singing always when
alone, she seemed 70 gather the sun
shine around her. which, as il fingered
among the rafters, lit up the dusty
c0Owehs until they glistened like the
gold Of her lovely hair
The grandmother, a seamstress. was
poorly paid, since failing eyesight pre-.
vented her from doing work finely
and delicately enough 10 bring good
prices Her life had been spent In
poverty aud the friction OF passing
years bad left many scar on face
and character and set a natural re-
ilncmenr had kept her from making
aeQuaintanccs among course people.
Elsie. however, had one faithful
cnmpani0n-"J "Jim.n He was mes
sengcr Ia q gigantic bank His salary
was sar too small for q young man OF
his tastes, and, in consequence he was
In chronic state 0f "brOkc, which
impecuni0us condition was consider
ably aggravated by the willy ianitOr
OF the hank, who was Ia The habit Of
advancing the employees small sums
of money for the slight con-
sidoration q two for one on pay
day On those frequent accasions
when his money was an gone, Jim re-
turned home 10 his room IN the attic
Elsie always watched for him, and,
as he would come slowly up the stairs.
his great head hanging, tired OF him-
SELF tired Of his CAV companions.
tired Of the useless wasteful life he
was leading. az the head OF the stairs
a baby sunshine would he waiting for
him. and little 0utsiretchcd arms
would wind around his neck.
''l'm 40 glad you've come, Jim, dar-
ling.
And he little golden head world
nestle ,i0ser - the ovcrgrown shoul.
derS aud closerar0und his neck would
cling fhc little dimpled arms
With an bis wild ways the boy loved
this wee waif. who had no claim upon
lim or any one else ln the wide world.
except the grandmother stitching
wearils away 'n the other r0om. His
l0yc, however, was not strong enough
10 make him change these wild ways.
And yet there must have been a good
and loving soul somewhere within
him. or else The little one would not
have layished upon him the love of
all her baby heart.
Christmas was coming soon. and
Elsie. like an the rest OF the child
world, was Oiled with bright hopes
of US coming pleasures Some kind
lady Who found her among the rub
bish Of she old building had taken
her 60 sunday school There she had
seen the beautiful church. heard the
beautiful hymns. and been told OF the
Christ love fof little children. How
Tie bad once been a little child Him
self. knew an their hearts and ways.
and when they prayed to Him lie
w0ald listen and give them what
they asked fer Esie's eyes would
open wide when she heard OF this
NNAMNlAMN ANANNNr ANNMINI MiAA
b1ttcr than Jim The teacher told
h0w Ho died for Us, watched over
aud cared for even the little sparrows
that nestled among the caves Of the
cifys tall houses
"Grandma, does YOU love God?n
''H-m.n mutfered the old woman.
sGmndma. God loves you. Why
don't you ask him for some Of his
booiiful things?n
'sNeyer mind, child; don't bother
your head with such thoughts"
And the lines about her wlthered
face hardened and she stitched on IN
silence She was always kind to the
child. AID gentle, but she seldom
talked. and laiely, as the days grew
shorter ia darker, she became more
silent than never Her eyes were too
weak a see bg andlelight, and as
the winter SHOWS fell the store Of
money became very low. The SYM
pathetic child well knew that grand
mother a ad and that many