New-York tribune., 1900-12-30
Ml "a On
S&1S-acSsAS..c. S..c.ss.S G-
lcHlLDRENS CORNER.
yal&w&w
DTSKT.


She didn't know that she was race problem nor
think of anything. just then. but that her little
head, with its spikes of tightly braided hair.
so tired. Poor little Dusky! Somebody's careless
ness had made her a cripple. Unless her head
fastened to her chair it would fall forward. and
Nanny tied it securely before going off to her
scrubbng and cleaning. Sometimes there
good hot supper, but more often only bread and
scant pattern of that 1t used to be good times
when Nanny had regular work, but since she
took cold and then had the misery in her bones
she could only &C for odd jobs.
If there was only something to see out of the one
window! But. no. 1t looked out the blank brick
wall of the next house. DUsky knew every crack
in the old ceiling and every crevice in the smoky
wall. Every day it was just the same-nothing
different. She thought of the days when she hoped
and skipped like other children and about the
Mission Chapel. and. oh, once the Christmas tree
and dear Miss Van Arsdal" Dusky loved her sweet
teacher with all her heart. When the dark came
early she would fall asleep and dream Of angels:
sometimes they had bright nimbus about their
heads, and again long, sweeping feathers like
those on Miss Van Arsdale's hat. 1t was ever and
ever so long ago since she had any good times.
Miss Van Arsdale had gone far away. and after
that Dusky had been terribly hurt
Now the wintry days seemed longer than ever to
the little girl. though Nanny kept saying how
short they were, and that it almost Christmas.
Could it be that the Christ child had forgotten
Dusky? She thought all one long day in the dreary
Christmas meant-Christ's love in the heart that
set one doing something to make others better and
happier.
Just Nanny had climbed the long
steep stairs and caught her breath, Dusky cried
out: oh Nanny! Lemme mex Christmas for
de poor chilluns."
'G'way chile Mammy's got no money. De Lawd
clean forgot yo'."
But I sho'ly kim" persisted the child "Jes yo'
cut de ole broom handle, an I'll mex some dolIes
an yo wash de pillercase fer der dresses
Good old Nanny cut the broom handle into a
half dozen pieces. and then there was something
for Dusky to do.
Not lonely the least bit now. working and hum
ming little snatches OF songs the bare room all
forgotten she whitfield the tops of the sticks into
heads and marked the most wonderful eyes and
noses and mouths with an old stump of a pencil
She coaxed Nanny to cut off her little stiff braids
to furnish hair for the doIIies and glued it on
with her eager, trembling fingers Then they
were ready for their dresses made out Of the clean
white pillow case, and each tied around
the waist with bit of bright ribbon-nce new
ribbon and Dusky went without her supper twice
to rS save Hs the mon money TO, for it.
come She hears the sweet bells Ginning, and ties
ba bne comes comes % 70 htte green branch that Nanny
an angel crosses over swiftly to Dusky. Is she
dreaming again? 1t is the picture hat angel her
own Miss Van Arsdale and a moment later comes
a tall, kind faced man whom she calls Doctor.
breath And what have We here? says % Miss N Van
Arsdale taking up the green branch with its pre-
.orG "oh 81 mex 'sm for de poor chg9s rse dreu
"Of such Is the kingdom Miss Van Arsdale
murmurs reverently touching Dusky's bandaged
head; The doctor draws his hand across his eyes
sweet voice, What can you do for her?''
he to % it af fT Sns soGf gTed sake se but
now shall do it for her own-the brave. unselfish
Nanny draws near, trembling with JOY and as
the truth Of It all dawns upon her ialters. "Bress
MARY WTLLoUGHBY.