Waterbury Democrat., 1902-12-24

ed in the wet pavement, when there came, from somewhere below my waist line, small whine.
 Please, mum, gimme nickel!"
 l looked down and beheld the smallest, dirtiest, most forsaken little woman l had ever seen. She could have been no more than seven, but there was endless weath- CT tales in the hollows of her cheeks, and the over-bright black eyes bespoke knoWl- edge of filth and starvation and wretch edness. .I.A
 ''Er penny" she whined. .
 I was half interested. A thought be. yond myself-a1ld hiIn-was welcome. Please, mum" she began again.
 There were just six cents in my pocket, for l had deposited my last dollar with the boarding-housekeeper in case the laundryman should call in my absence.
 Notwithstanding the child's hardened little face there was an expression about was almost motherly in it's maturity. Laying the nickel and the penny side by side in my hand, said: %..
 ''It is all 1 have If you take the nickel I shall have to walk home, but if 1t is the penny you choose l may ride, and am very tired" . ..
 She shot an impudent, inquisitlve glance at me. .aze@@Jf asss-4 a<.,s>.s.. ,@.+~.. ..<..fl
 Where d'youse live?" she asked.
 Mechanically l repeated my street num- Der. @ses -f ':r
 '"Ten blocks!" she scornfully replied. "Dat's easy!" and swiftly grabbing the nickel she darted around the corner.
 The next day was Christmas, and I did not go down to breakfast. but lunched off scda crackers and some stale candy in my room.
 Christmas! Christnasi" I repeated the words to haunting memories. and I am afraid cried little.
 Some one tapped at my door.
 "'Come in." I called in quite a matter of fact tone. The door opened timidiy, and there on the threshold stood no other than my little beggar of the night be- fore. ~.- ..
 She was much embarrassed, but before I could welcome her one dirty paw shot out suddenly like her quick glances, and in the begrimed little palm lay my nickel.
 '1 bringed it back" she stammered, 'cause-'cause- <fse4@* @s
 "Because?" suggested, smiling.
 "Jest cause I-I piped youse of as kind O on youse uppers youse own self, and ain't seemed t sleep sound"
 She got no further-this dirty, sinful,
 
 my arms and was holding her very tight. Some one cared On that desolate Christ mas some one actually cared!
 Little woman," I said presently, laps ing into the language of him who was constantly in my thoughts, "there Is enc dollar coming to me, all on account of derelict laundryman. What would you rather have than anything else that dol lar can buy?'
 sHas youse got de dough, sure 'nough?''
 I nodded.
 Instantly she answered me: Say, what 'ud a whole dinner cost, Wid mashed DO tatoes fer both of usens?" We must have made comical picture, my new friend and l, as we entered the quiet, downtown restaurant There was just one other person seated there on this Christmas day-a man over in the shadow of the corner.
 The child had scrambled into a chair indicated by the head waiter, and I was about to take my place opposite, when the man in the corner suddenly arose.
 T cannot, even now, remember how it all happened Confusedly I saw the young ster's eyes grow round with wonder, and the head waiter stifed an exclamatory oath, for I, there in the public restaurant, I was in that strangers arms. And this remember distinctly-the mans most manly words:
 Forgive me, little woman, for not find ing you sooner I have been securing the land for you. Not word, not a word of it all was truth, and if I had that cack- ling old maid aunt
 A voice interrupted him. It was the youngsters:
 Say, miss, dat guy is on de square honest-I kin tell"
 And bless her little heart, she did tell the truth.