The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1902-12-25

ed in the wet pavement, when there came,
from somewhere below my waist line,
small whine.
please, mum, gimme nickel?'
| looked down and beheld the smallest,
Sirtiest, most forsaken little woman had
ever seen She could have been no more
than seven but there was endless weath,
er tales in the hollows of her cheeks, ana
the overnight black eyes bespoke knoWl'
edge of filth and starvation and wretch
edness.
"Er a penny" she whined.
was half interested. A thought be-
yyond .myself-and him-was welcome
Please, mum" she began again.
~ - were inst six cents in nv pocket
4 / had deposited my last dollar with
the neutrality-suspicious. in case the
laundryman should call in my absence.
Notwithstanding tAe chhts hardened
little face there was an expression about
her wide mouth that attracted me. 1t
was almost motherly in its maturity
Laying the nickel and the penny side by
side in my hand, said:
1T is all | have /. you take the nickel
| shall nave to walk home, but il 1t IS the
penny You choose l may ride, and l am
very tired
She shot an impudent, inQuisiuye glance
at me.
Where d'youse live" she asked.
Mechanically i repeated my street mum
Ten blocl;s!" she scornfully replied.
Oats easy" and swiftly grabbing the
nickel she darted around the corner.
The next day was Christmas, and | did
not go down to breakfast, but lunched oil
soda crackers and some stale candy IN my
room.
"Christmas Christmas'' | repeated
the words to haunting memories, and !
am afraid | cried little.
Some one tapped at my door.
Come in," | called in quite matter
OF fact tone. The door opened timidiy
and there on the threshold stood no Other
than my little beggar OF the nigat be
fore.
She was much embarrassed, but before
could welcome her one dirty paw shot ou
suddenly like her quick glances, and in th'
begrimed little palm lay my nickel.
Il bringed it back she stammered
"cause-'cause-"
"Because!" | suggested smiling.
kind o on youse uppers youse own self
and | amt seemed t sleep sound"
She got no further-thIs dirty, sinful
little waf, for l had gathered her up il
my arms and was holding her very tight
Some one cared! On that desolate Christ
mas some one actually cared!
Little woman | said presently, laps
ing into the language OF him VINO wa
constantly in my thoughts, there is on
dollar coming to me, all on account Of
derehct laundryman. What would 20
rather have than anything else that dol
lar can buy?
"llas youse got de dough- sure 'nough:
! nodded.
Instantly she answered me: "Say, wha
'ud whole dinner cost, wild mashed pC
tatra, fer both OF usen,?'
W. must have made a comical picture
nv new friend and !, as We entered tn
uuic.. downtown restaurant There wa
jus. ore other person seated there on tn
Christmas day-a man over in the shade
of tie corner.
Tae child had scrambled into a cha
indicated by the head waiter, and | W;
about to take my place opposite whe
the man in the corner suddenly arose.
| cannot. even now. remember how
all happened. Confusedly ! saw the youn
ster's eyes grow round with wonder, an
the head waiter stihed an exclamatol
oath. for !, there in the public restauran
/ was in that strangers arms. And tn
/ remember distinctly-the mans mo
manly words:
Forgive me, little woman, for not fin
INC Won sooner | have been securing 81
land for you. Not word, not a word
i. all was truth, and if | mad that cac
ling old maid aunt"
A voice interrupted him. 1t was t
youngsters:
"Say, miss, dat guy is on de square
honest-I kin tell"
And bless her little heart, she did t
the truth.