The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-12-08

t them up an, don't you reckon that's WHATS
v, meSfearss i vas said Harry. eager to
your pa lust put EN- there to fool him:
ne am goln' TO OIL mems socks"
cnistmas0 SO" t ean ss aa anySR Myth, I'll pexs
santa Claus that just had to use pappy's
socks, answered Nellie. With accents OF
OF motherly Mrs Hamilton. poor~ ehtIdish
Nellie, irresponsible heir to the bitterness
ot poverty, In no way accountable for
birth or surrounding.
All the praises Of poverty are sung by
the minstrel who has 0 golden harm mon
which 10 chant The world does hot
homes where poverty represses childltfa
and dwarfs child-souls for want Of happy
natural, childish pleasures.
Mrs. Hamilton stepped into the room
aud drawing Nellic 70 her said: ~ am 60.
ing 10 run over and ask your mother ia
let you, spend the day With US and play
ut Is evening after dinner la Texas), when
you 80 home you wash your own stock.
tngs nice aud clean and hang them out
e~y to dry. then tonight you DIX them
right by TIE chimney. It's Christmas YOU
know, Nellie. til midnight tonight.
GOAT think old Santa Claus meant to
forget you and ] believe he'll come to-
Putting on her sunbonnet good Mrs.
Hamilton went across the street TO the
identlally to Mrs White left teardrops
gltstenng on her sad face Then Mrs.
Hamilton went on and held little confer
ences with one or two ot her neighbours.
and her plans for the mght~ c~npagn
were complete
Long before shutdown Nellie ran home
Ehe, expected norther had come and the
/ chill, icy wind whisiled round every house.
I Doors We're hurtiedly closed and log heap
mes eqlit L. the his are places
/ IL was Seetng SHE saw Nellie across the
/ way ont IN the yard The cold north
Wind struck her and mercUessly beat
/ against the childs thin form, twisting ava
Tapping hither and tblther her miserable
calico dress, but she seemed needless OF
( The storm, ani WINS irving 70 fasten her
stocbpEs on the barb wire fence To dry.
( AT late hour. after dark. Mrs. White
lnuekcd 'imidiy on The do0r OF Mrs Ham.
/ Irons cottage You asked nh 70 coma
you can COME owes nov
How h23nl Mr., HoiniIte2a and the
SEEMED over IA XeGS.s house ' s5d I smfed
the clld's stockings o. overlooking The
foor ot rhc roam was bare. Some irou
sNllets on the broken heari6 Of me chin;
( ner q iable. oue or two chairs and a bed
/ upon which slept the crtDplal father, were
( Inc culy evidences ~ '6'apsehold property
( m sight ON a pallet IN one corner the
1 ~ ala 'his heritage Of wretchedncss aud
stcatlilv the stockings we're aled For
| tue world the good ladies' would not have
Weakened Nellie In the toe OF each stock.
ing Was dropped q silver dollar ana crown.
ing the whole was fastened a neaHtifui
big doll Then q chair was placed under.
meath and substantial gifts, not only for
/ Nellie but for the family. were plleo
nigh with Instructions hat nothing should
he looked ct TN the little girl. sluiuberinE
unconsciogsly, would attend 10 II herself ia
/ the morning
! Then the ladies slipped ont ana ran homis
/ through the bitter, ley blast, but their
/ hearts were warm. and Ike new vine
| coursine througs their veins was, the
| blessed JOY OF making happiness for Others
]
Mrs Hamilton and her family had Just
| nntshed breakfast next morning when In
| rushed Nellie barefooted. stil clad In her
thin calico. but with ewes dancing. full OF
iov and face aglow with excitement
ION II was the socks after AL she
cried, holding forth lapfuli OF treasures.
'Pappy says old Sanity lest knowed his
old socks" Kate Alma organ
Temple, Texas.