The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1902-12-19

ed in the wet pavement, when there cames
from somewhere below my waist line,
small whine
"Please, mum, gimme a nickel?
| looked down and beheld the SMALLEST
dirtest, most forsaken little woman had
ever seen. She could have been no more
than seven, but there was endless wealth.
er tales in the hollows of her cheeks, ana
the overnight black eyes bespoke knowi-
edge of filth and starvation and Wretcn-
edness.
"Er penny" she whined.
/ was half interested. A thought BE-
yond myself-and him-was welcome.
"Please, mum" she began again.
There were just six cents in my pocket,
for | 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
her wide mouth that attracted me. ~
was almost motherly in its maturity.
Laying the nickel and the penny side BY
side in my hand, ! said:
at is all / have. If you take the nickel
/ shall have to walk home, but II it is the
penny you choose l may ride, and ! am
very tired"
She shot an impudent, inquisitive glance
ct me.
"Where d'youse live" she asked
Mechanically / repeated my street nurnz
Der.
"Ten blocks!" she scornfully replied
Oats easy!" and swiftly grabbing the
nickel she darted around the corner.
The next day was Christmas, and did
not 90 down to breakfast, but lunched off
soda crackers and some stale candy in my
room.
"Christmas Christmas" repeated
the words to haunting memories, and 4
am afraid cried little.
Some one tapped at my door.
"Come in" l called in quite matter
of fact tone The door opened tinridly,
and there on the threshold stood no other
than my little beggar Of the night be-
fore.
She was much embarrassed, but before !
could welcome her one dirty paw shot out
suddenly like her quick glances, and in the
begrimed little palm lay my nickel.
az bringed it back" she stammered,
cause-'cause-"
"Because?" / suggested, smiling.
"Jest cause IL piped youse off as
XXI ~~@~N
and l amt seemed t sleep sound"
She got no further-thls dirty, sinful,
little waif, for l had gathered her up in
my arms and was holding her very tight
Some one cared! On that desoiate Christ-
mas some one actually cared!
little woman" said presently, laps
ing into the language of him who was
constantly in my thoughts, there is one
dollar coming to me, all on account Of .
derelict laundryman. What would You
rather have than anything else that doll
lar can buy?"
s'Has youse got de dough, sure 'noughi''
/ nodded.
Instantly she answered me: "Say, what
'ud a whole dinner cost, wild mashed po-
tatoes fer both of usens?
We must have made a comical picture,
my new friend and |, as we entered the
quiet, downtown restaurant. There was
lust 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 wac
about to take my place opposite, when
the man in the corner suddenly arose.
l cannot, even now, remember how 1t
all happened. Confusedly | saw the young
ster's eyes grow round with wonder, and
the head waiter stifed an explanatory
oath, for I, there in the public restaurant,
/ was in that strangers arms. And thisl
I remember distinctly-the mans mcst9
manly words:
Forgive me, little woman, for not find
ING YOU sooner. l have been securing the
land for you. Not word, not word Of
It all was truth, and If had that cack-
ing 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 ten
the truth.