Rocky Ford enterprise., 1902-12-26
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Sc Mr.. ChadSey'S Christmas e
y



his thoughts when he remembered
that even In his poverty he had one
possession beyond the power OF gold.
He coughcd little as he answered.
for this man was proud. ana the ex-
PLANTATION involved u confession OF his
needs.
.-why. sir. ! was thInkin: OF Christ
mas. and how I'D always had n little
To spend for Hannah and the children,
but this year. wnat with Jimmy's fe-
yer. and the twins ana the landlords
raising the rent. there Isn't cent left
To H.. the stockings OF to get the moth
er n new Ribbon" and he drew himself
up and tried To pass. as II he dreaded
,nc rich mans charity and would have
refused IL.
MIR. Chadsey's hand was In his pock-
ci, and lie half drew II out with two
or three silver dollars in II, but he saw
the look In Simon's face and dropped
the coins Into their place. while. like
nn echo. he scemeu TO hear the words
Not what We give. bu, wha, VIC share.
Perhaps. after all. he could get with
In the outer circle. and know the real
life II only OF this humble family.
Fever and twins ani rent. that's
bad to come all at once. didn't know
times Were harder with you than us
ual. Simon"
That's the trouble. sir. II they'd
come separate we wouldn't a minded.
FOR hannnh's ns brave n little woman
as ever lived. and we've wcathercd
good many gales together. When Jim.
my was wild with fever she watched
him night and day.
"'if the Lord'il only carry him
through she says. III do my part
without faltering.' The boy was hard.
ly up ngnin-for the Lord did carry
...m through. the Lord aud Hannah"
said the man. reyercn,iy-"whcn the
twins came. 'i.or'. Simon says the
little mother. there's two more mouths
TO feed. to he sure. but we nre strong
and willing. and by.nnd.by ihcre'll bc
four more hands TO help don't be-
licvc she'd IA complained or lost heart.
sir. II thcrc'i been dozen"
The proprietor began To grow Inter
cstcd He was. In truth. getting n
glimpse OF the real life OF this family.
Who. OF all his fashionable friends.
had ever told him Of their struggles.
had ever taken down the barrier Of
their society smile and tone. and nd.
mliied to him their real confidence!
Many OF them. the ladies' especially.
had asked his advice. and had coniided
TO him their emotions and aspirations.
their ycarnings and dlsappoIn,mcnis.
with minute detail and line analysis,
as surgeon might describe a delicate
operation. and take certain profess
sionnl pride In the recital. II always
seemed to him that these sufferers
probcd their own heart wounds too
calmly. that they were too critically
interpretive TO feel the hurt which
they so clcvcriy described.
$50 you nrc to have no Christmas
frolic ut your house tomorrow: How
many children have you. Simon:''
''Fivc. sir. There's Jimmy. Just turn
Ing nine. and Katy. and Jack-a nne
boy lie II. too. and bright for only i've
years old-nnd the twin girls. Faith
and Hopc-thats what Hannah would
call them when she saw how down.
hearted all the sickness and expense
had made me. Every time you think
OF 'cm. Simon she said. you'll re-
member something pleasant and cheer
Ing They're NIL such little ones. sir.
I wouldn't mind II they didn't believe
forgotten 'em. and itll hurt their little
henrts. poor thIngs!' said the man.
with n slow, uncertain smile, rs he
laid his hand on the door.
"Well, goodnight. sir; I've kept you
too long. and must be getting home"
Mr.. Chadsey hcsitatcd while Simon
passed out Into the street. then he fol-
lowed to the door and called to him:
"Simon, lock this door and Ill go
along with you. Perhaps I'll stop n
minute at the house and see the chill
dren. I might"
Simon interrupted him.
II didn't mean to seem bcggar. sir:
twas because my heart was full of 1t
that told you what was troubling
me. and II you was to give 'cm any,
thing 'twould seem ms II 1 complained
and asked for charity. and I couldn't
take n penny even for them, nor could
Hannah. Indeed. sir, we couldn't"
They stood together on the sidewalk.
this man and his employer. and some
how the successful business man. the
favorite of society. Mr.. II. Lincoln
Chadsey. felt himself full two inches
shorter than usual. lie forgot what
Mrs. Randall would have called "the
social distinctions" upon the various
delicate shades of which she talked so
wisely, and. grasping the hard hand
that was cleaner than the softer palms
of many of his friends, lie said, ear
nestly:
"My friend. I want to see your
home. Its years since I've been real
ly inside n home"
The gentleman's tone was earnest.
almost pleading. Simon looked at him
wonderingly; perhaps his keen honest
eyes saw the truth. for he said no
more, and they walked away together
1t was tiny little house that shell
tered the Bowling family; but then,"
Hannah said, "thcy had 1t all to them
selves. which was Il great comfort"
Such coZy home as she made of 1t.
with her tircless hands and willing
heart. No matter how scanty her re-
sources, she "managed,' as she said
and wonderful We're the results of her
management. No matter how dark
the cloud above, Hannah always scat
tered 1t with but that let the sun
shine through in an instant.
She was watching now for Simon's
home coming and wondering why he
was so late. Supper was ready, and
the table was as bright and carefully
laid rs table could be. The children
had begged to sit up Just n little
while, because 1t was Christmas Eve"
and the mother sighed. with shade
of sadness in her bright eyes, as she
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