Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1902-12-17
/" Please. Mum, Gimme Nickel7"

ed in the wet pavement, when there came,
from somewhere below my waist line, a
small whine.'
PLEASE, mum, gimme nickel?''
looked down and beheld the smallest,
cirtiest, most forsaken little woman had
ever seen. She could have been no more
than seven, but there was endless wealth
er tales in the holows Of her cheeks, and
the overnight black eyes bespoke knowl'
edge of filth and starvation and wretch
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 I had deposited my last dollar with
the Neutrality-suspicious. in case the
laundryman should call in my abb ence.
Notwithstanding the child's hardened
| little face there was an expression about
| her wide mouth that attracted me. It
was almost motherly in its maturity
Laying the nickel and the~penny side by
side in my hand, l said:
1T is all have If you take the nickel
I shall have to walk home, but if it is the
| penny you choose l mey ride, and l am
very tired"
| She shot an impudent, inquisitlve glance
at me.
where d'youse live?" she asked.
Mechanically l repeated my street num-
Der.
''Ten blocks!" she scornfully replied.
Oats easy!" and swiftly grabbing the
nickel she darted around the corner.
The next day was Christmas, and l did
not 90 down to breakfast, but lunched off
soda crackers and some stale candy in my
room.
christmas! Christmas!" 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 matter
of fact tone. The door opened timdly,
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.
Il bringed it back she stammered,
'cause-'cause-"
F.. tsBecause?" I suggested, smiling.
''Jest cause II piped youse off as
/ kind O. on youse uppers youse own self,
and amt seemed t. sleep sound"
She got no further-thls dirty, sinful,
! little waif, for had gathered her up in
4 nv 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
! inc into the language of him who was
! constantly in my thoughts, "there is one
/ %o all 1f q
/ derelict laundryman. What would you
rather have than anything else that a dol
lar can buy t..~ + ~ = -. ~
Has youse got de dough, sure 'nough?"
4 ! Instantly she answered me: Say, what
'ud q whole dinner cost, wild mashed po-
tatoes fer both OF usens!" ". a:.
We must have made a comical picture,
l nv new friend and l, as we entered the
i quiet. downtown restaurant There was
Il lust one other person seated there on this
Christmas day-a man over in the shadow
Of the corner. s $E /. 81 # Il. s}t. $*.a
The child had scrambled into chair
indicated by the head waiter, and was
i about to- take my place opposite, when
i the man in the corner suddenly arose.
Il / cannot, even now, remember how it
all happened . Confusedly / saw the young
/ ster's eyes grow round with wonder, and
1t the head waiter stifed an explanatory
u oath, for i, there in the public restaurant,
Il i was in that strangers arms. And this
4 remember distinctly the mans most
manly words: = Is.= 81. ii f#s
Forgive me, little woman, for not find
Il INC you sooner. II have been securing the
land for you. Not. 8 wore, not q word Of
ii al was truth, and il ] had that 5cack-
ling old maid aunt - II. Il.
Is. voice interrupted him. It was the
n ycungster 8ts5s5 r
2..ssa, mis-, dat i on de square :
a honest kin tel. &
And sbless hsr little heart, shs did ten
the truth.