Woodville Republican. (Woodville, Miss.) 185?-current, 1902-12-20
A Whole Dinner
9Utd
Mashed Potatoes
BY JESSIE LLEwELLvN.

/
and body l felt no relief upon be-
ing free to leave the crowded store
and return to my cheap boarding house.
Slowly l made my way among chattering
clerks, comfortable matrons and fashion
able young women to the rear exit. / was
horribly conscious Of my irayed jacket,
and the lean leather chatelaine at my side.
"Christmas!" l smiled bitterly.
Serves you right for not staying mar
ried," l could hear the last harsh words
of my maiden aunt as / left the sleepy
village to seek independence and self-re-
spect.
"Other women?" rang the voice, well,
men will be men; he makes a good living
for you, don't he?"
! heard the key turn in the great store
door, but still l remained on the step,
staring out at the lights tearfully reflect
ed in the wet pavement, when there came,
from somewhere below my waist line,
small whine.
Please, mum, gimme q nickelY
/ 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 wealth
er tales in the hollows of her cheeks, and
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 l had deposited my last dollar with
the boarding housekeeper in case the
! l., SO, H., sho,,Id 40 n INV obpanno
Notwithstanding the child's hardened
little face there was an expression about
her wide mouth that attracted me. Il
was almost motherly in its maturity.
Laying the nickel and the penny side by
side in my hand, said:
1T is all l have. If you take the nickel
l shall have to walk home, but if it is the
penny you choose 1 may ride, and am
very tired"
She shot an impudent, inquisitlve glance
at me.
Where d'youse live?" she asked.
Mechanically l repeated my street mum.
Der.
"Ten blocks" she scornfuly replied.
Oats easyl" and swiftly grabbing the
nickel she darted around the corner.
The next day was Christmas, and did
| not 10 QOMH W bACdhAdslg Dub luuEuGQ Oh
soda crackers and some stale candy in my
room.
"Christmas Christmas" l repeated
the words to haunting memories, and
am afraid l cried little.
Some one tapped at my door.
"Come in" | called in quite a matter
of fact tone. The door opened timidly.
and there on the threshold stood no other
IT = 4 L
fore.
She was much embarrassed, but before l
could welcome her one dirty paw shot out
suddenly like her quick glanees, and in the
begrimed little palm lay my nickel.
II bringed it back" she stammered,
"'cause- cause"
Because" l suggested, smiling.
"Jest cause II piped youse off aa
kind o on youse uppers youse own self,
and l amt seemed Z 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 desolate Christ
mas some one actually cared!
Little woman" l 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 9
derelict laundryman. What would you
rather have than anything else that dol
lar can buy|
HAS youse got de dough, sure 'nough?
/ nodded.
z Instantly she answered me: "Say, what
'ud a whole dinner cost, wild mashed po-
tatoes fer both of usens?
We must have made comical picture,
my new friend and |, as we entered the
ouie., downtown restaurant. There waa
Just one other person seated there on thu
Christmas day-a man over in the shadow
of the corner.
The child had scrambled into a chair
indicated by the head waiter, and l was
about to take my place opposite, when
the man in the corner suddenly arose.
cannot, even now, remember how it
all happened. Confusedly | saw the young
ster's eyes grow round with wonder, and
the head waiter stihed an EXPLANATORY
oath, for l, there in the public restaurant,
| was in that strangers arms. And this
| remember distinctly-the mans most
manly words:
Forgive me, little woman, for not find.
ing you sooner. | have been securing the
land for you. Not a word, not word Of
it all was truth, and if 1 had that cack.
ling old maid aunt"
A voice interrupted him. 1t was the
youngsters;
Say. miss, dat guy is on de square
honest--I kin tel"
And bless her little heart, she did tell
the truth.