Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-02-14
POOR JOE.
I Bv Mrs. Charles G. Marble.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS """""""""''
Z FIERCE north wind came sweeping
Y down the mountain, shrieklng
through the naked December woods,
waiIing up and down the streets ana
ground the corner of the houses in
little western town, bearing upon its
angry blasts myriads of tiny hakes OF
snow.
At the window of a very humble
dwelling a child stood and watched
the feathery fakes as they fell. Inc
measure of his years was small-cer-
+aiulv not more than four had passed
over his sunny head-yet his counte-
nance bore rather a serious EXPIRES
sion. and in his large pensive blue
eyes lurked a certain something
which made the passerby wonder
what shadow it was that lurked
therein, a shadow which caused them
70 sieh even as they smiled into the
lonely face at the window. His head
was a veritable crown of glory. Like
sDun GOLD it shOne even under the
leadon sky. but when kissed by the
warm Hps of the sun, it was halo,
indeed. that those golden rings made
about the almost divine head OF the
child
"Fc's not long for this earth" the
neiohbors were wont to remark. his
ewes. for the most part, seem ever TO
he fixed on something beyond this
lie looks like an angel, anyway, the
darling"
1t would about kill his mother TO
lose him. her only comfort she calls
him" adds another, "but-" and a
sad shake of the head finishes the
sentence.
That mother, a widow, to whom
lie is one long struggle, sits, to-day
by the meager fire silently stitch
ing upon some coarse store garments
A frail-looking woman, with
sweet, pretty face, as the mother OF
such a child only could possess.
TIE room was as neat as tireless
hands could make it, and as the poor
much-used furniture would allow.
"Of what are you thinking, Harry"
presently said the mother, marking
| the child's abstraction.
81 is thinking of poor Joe, mamma
who lives down in the lane yonder
lie is drunk again. 1 saw him goin
home just now"
The mother shook her head sadly.
poor Joel" she said, there is nc
hope for him, 1 fear, no hope. He viii
fiji a drunkard's grave before very
long"
Gle amt got no mamma to hell
him" continued the child refectively
"and I is so sorry for joe"
Steadily the mother stitched on
and the silence was broken only by
the loud ticking of the cheap clock or
the mantel.
81 is wonderful if God will give
poor Joe some 'trismas, mamma.
pursued the child. docs you thinl
he WHIP"
The mothers lips closed in a rebel
lous pressure for a moment, as hel
gaze wandered out upon the snow
fecked street.
Christmas" she answered sadly
'blings but little JOY to the poor
Harry. For them remains only snow
and cold and hunger. But if I ge
this work done in time, we will have
some Christmas, you and I, nevel
fear
"Dit a pie, mamma" said the happ!
child, "and chicken, a big CHECKER
like papa used to get"
eyes" replied his mother sadly, 81
] can afford it, / will get turkey a
papa used to get"
The boy smiled and looked out up
on the fast-falling flakes with re
newed attention.
"And poor Joe, mamma, can't h
come too?"
The mother stayed her needle fer
moment, and then with new ligh
upon her face said slowly:
eyes, darling, Joe shall have
Christmas dinner, too. You may ruI
+ n~ouud and invite him tomorrow
morning. The widows mite" sh
murr,ured softly, that still is left t
me"
Little angels, little angels" pre-
sently whispered the boy, shave yC
come down to see 'trismas. too?"
"What do you mean, Harry?" crit
T. the startled mother.
81 is talkin' to the snow, MANN
what is flynn down from heaye
See. some of them wants to get in
Harry, seel"
: eyes, yes! Mamma must hurl
with her sewing or we will have
Christmas" replied the mother. .
grows late and will soon be dark"
i At seven o'clock they ate their fr
\ gal supper, and after tidying up
bit. the Widow White tucked Il
= little one in bed and prepared for h
: visit to the store.
: ''Three dollars" she sighed as Il
last garment was counIeu, Unl
dollars for nearly a weeks labor. A
mel"
!, Mamma"
q eyes, dear"
"Come kneel down long side
your little boy, and pray for the pc
+ what amt going to have no 'trismas
said Harry timidly. eve is goin'
= have chicken and pie, and so is pc
Joe. We is rich, amt we, mamma?
/ With fast-falling tears the moth
!. knelt and silently asked the giyer
oil ,rood IN bless her how. and