The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-12-22

was with the Hornbys; they did mt have
nothin' to q, and they went to the or
ganZation an the man asted EN- if they
had a bed or a table, an when they sale
yes, he said, Well, why don't you sci
EN-" No, ma! AS long as we We got
coal | II git the vittles some way" He
had to pause, for a violent attack o.
coughing shook him from head to foot
Il think l can git night job next week
one of the market-men comes in from the
country ever night to git a early start
mex mornin, an he asst me if d sleer
in his wagon from three to six an keep
his vegetables from bein' stole. That 'ud
gimme time to git home an git break
fast, an be down to the fact'ry by seven. >
But, Jimmy boy" cried his mother
her voice .quivering with anxiety, "you
never could stan it night an day too!
No, 1 II watch the wagon; 1 Il"
A knock On the parlor door interrupted
her. She hastily dried her eyes and
smoothed her hair. Jim went to the
door.
81 We a Christmas basket for you!"
cried a cherry voice.
"Is this Christmas?" Jim asked DULY
The girl in the doorway laughed. She
was tall and slender but Jim could only
see pair Of sparkling eyes between the
brim of the hat and her high fur collar.
1t was nice to hear her laugh, though; it
made things seem warmer somehow. The
colored man behind her deposited a large
basket on the doorstep.
ct s from the church., she ex-
planned; "a crowd of us are out in the
omnibus distributing baskets
We'll, how d you ever happen to come
here?" cried Mrs. Wigs, who had come
to the door.
There is one for each of the mission
school families; just little Christmas
greeting. you know"
Mrs. Wiggs's spirits were rising every
minute. well, that certainly is kind an
thoughtful like" she said. Won't
you" she hesitated; the room she had
just left was not in a condition to re-
ceive guests, but Mrs. Wigs was Ken
tuckian Come right in an git warm, .
she said cordially; 1.-The stove S died down
some but you could git thawed out"
mo, thank you. l can't come in" said
the young lady with a side glance at
Jim, who was leaning against the door
Have you plenty of coal?" she asked, in
an undertone.
"Oh, yes'm, thank you," said Mrs
Wigs, smiling reassuringly. Her tone
might have been less confident. but for
Jim's warning glance. Every fiber of his
sensitive nature shrank from asking help
The girl was puzzled; she noticed the
stamp of poverty on everything in sight
except the bright face Of the little wo-
man before her.
WELL" she said doubtfully, 'if you
ever want-to come to see me, ask for
Miss Lucy Olcott at Terrace Park. Good
night, and happy Christmas"
She was gone, and the doorway looked
very black and lonesome in consequence
But there was the big basket to prove
she was not merely an apparition, and it
took both Jim and his mother to carry
it in Sitting on the floor, they unpacked
it. There were vegetables, oatmeal
fruit and even tea and coffee. But the
surprise was at the very bottom! big
turkey, looking so comical with his legs
stuck in his body that Jim laughed out
right
at s the first turkey that s been in
this house fer many day." said Mrs
Wigs, delghtedly, as she pinched the
fat fowl Il 'spect Europena IL be
skeered of 1t, it s so big. My, but we II
have 4 good dinner tomorrow! l II git
Miss Hazy an Chris to come over an
spend the day, and II carry plate over
to Mrs. Schultz, an take little O. this
here tea to ole Mrs. Lawson"
The cloud had turned inside out for
Mrs. Wigs, and only the silver lining
was visible. Jim was doing sum on
the brown paper that came over the
basket, and presently he looked up and
said slowly:
''Ma, guess we can't have the turkey
this year. 1 kin sell it fer dollar
seventy five and that would buy us hog
meat fer a good while"
Mrs. Wiggs's face fell, and she twisted
her apron -string in silence. She had
pictured the joy of a real Christmas din
ner, the first the youngest children had
ever known; she had already thought OF
half dozen neighbors to whom she
wanted to send "a little snack" But
one look at Jims anxious face recalled
their circumstances.
"Of course we IL sell it," she said
brightly. "You have got the longest
head fer a boy. We IL sell it in the
mornin', an buy sausage fer dinner, an
l II cook some of these here nice vege-
tables an put orange an some candy
at each plate, an the children ii never
know nothin bout it. Besides" she
added, 'if you amt never ct turkey meat
you don't know how good it is.
But in spite of her philosophy, after
Jim had gone to bed she slipped over and
took one more look at the turkey.
II think l would mt a minded SO
much" she said, wistfully. "ef they had
MT "a sent the cranberries, too!
Clouds and storms follow, sickness and
privations, but Mrs. Wigs practiced this
philosophy, though she never dropped
into poetry:
at is easy enough to be pleasant
When life flows like a song,
But the man worth while is the one who
will smile
When everything goes dead wrong"
ROSALYNDE'S LOVERS. BY Maurice
Thompson, with drawings by G.. Alden
Person. Publishers: The Bowen Mel
rlll Company, Indianapolis