Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1901-12-20

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Sovernoss - she rose 70 leave. "Come,
it Is time for rs to 60" .<.,,. 81
Just then there was Z rustic in the
hall and . perfect vision burst upon
the children from the doorway.
"Mother!" cried Rowena, rushing
forward, II never saw you so beanti-
full"
why, what f1attery from ones own
little grill" said the vision, STOPPING
and placing kiss somewhere about
,Rowena's forehead. "Well, goodnight,
little ones. we are late, for this is TO-
be an early dinner so that we shall be
in time for the opera afterwards"
She turned with smile to the man
behind her holding her beautiful wrap
"Such a pretty picture that was,
didn't you think so? The tree, the
children, the dog and even Sally with
her smiling, Irish face added to the
picture. ] don't think we neglected
anything. do you, dear, for the child's
Christmas?"
mo. my dearest, and if she is not a
happy little puss, it is her own fault"
"Oh, | don't know-I sometimes
think she seems like such a forlorn
child sometimes" answered the moth
er rs they drove away.
Rowena was indeed forlorn. sitting
there alone, though with her dog and
great lighted Christmas tree one would
think she might be very happy.
II will bring your dinner in here to
yeu, miss. and you can have it on this
little table," said Sally.
"Win you stay with me this evening,
Sally. please? l will read you some
lovely stories" added Rowena as she
saw the girl hesitate.
Now the truth was. the servants had
planned quite party for that evening,
and Sally's best young man was com.
ing, and yet she could not leave this
little lady alone if she wanted her.
What was she to do? p
swell, miss, I'll be comm up every
| now and then-will that do?"
"Oh, yes, that will do" said the child.
"Sally, don't you think it was kind
deed for mother to give $25 to the or
phan asylum for me.?" she asked as
the girl was serving her dinner.
"Sure," answered Sally, and twas
me heard her say she wisht it'd bin so
| win she heard Mrs. .Esmond Gray had
give more"
Sally. did you ever see any of those
little orphans?"
"That l did, miss. There's little
Katie Shannon, an orphan, and it's
often look in on the lamb
Rowena sat thinking.
Eye amt eatin' fit for bird, miss, -
| demonstrated the girl.
"No, I'm thinking about them, Sally.
Do you think they have Christmas
! tree?"
II dunno, miss. they may have, but
they mostly needs close. That money.
the christmas fund there caIin' it,,
is to buy each wan something TO wear,
an each of them poor lambs wan
prisint apiece. That's what the
matron-loidy told me-"
"Oh. do you know the matron?"
eyes, an fine young person she is.
them" answered the maid.
"Sally, oh, my dear Sally, why
couldn't we have some of them here to-
night to see my tree?" exclaimed Row
ena. excitedly>
"'Twould niver do, miss. WHATEVER
would ye're mither say!"
Nov, Sally, you know she would
not care. She never cares what do,
and we could telephone now and have
them come right off, and she was half
way up the stairs with Fritz barking
at her heels.
Its not a sthroke of the blame I'll
take, miss, SIGH an idee!"
| May l speak to the matron?'
Rowena was saying over the telephone
a minute later.
"Oh, this is Rowena Marcus-Crewes
of Fifty-irst street, and we, or |, would
like some of your children to COM
and see my tree. 1t is very pretty, and
l have lots of presents, too
| The matron recognized the name 81
one Of the fashionable women of tbs
"board," and, not understanding thai
| it was only the invitation of chile:
said sh: would, with pleasure. sens!
some of the children who were not III
bed.
'She asked if 20 would be enough
and l said that would do said
Rowena. dancing about with delight
while Sally just stood and looked a:
her.
"Will, there's wan thing I do know
an that's they must eat!" and away
she went to prepare for this queer
party.
They came. Twenty of them. with
bright, expectant faces, and not one OF
them was as embarrassed or shy as
was Rowena Marcus-Crewes. But the
delight of having all those children
there for her to make happy overcame
everything; and it would be hard to say
which had the best slime. all those
laughing children, Rowena, or the dog
The fun was at it's height when Sally
came in, bearing tray heaped with
good things. She had found some dill
Guilty in getting away from the kitch
en- this last time. Her young man was
getting impatient.