Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-12-20

ed in the wet pavement, when there came,
from somewhere below my waist line, q
small whine.
Please, mum, gimme a nickel?"
| looked down and beheld the smallest,
dirtiest, 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 checks, and
the overnight black eyes bespoke knowl-
edge OF filth and starvation and wretch
edness.
"Er a penny" she whined.
l was half interested. A thought be-
yond myself-and him-was welcome.
please, mum" she began again.
There were just six cents Ia my pocket,
for l had deposited my last dollar WITH
the oarding-housekeeper in case the
laundryman should ean in my absence.
Notwithstanding the chId'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, I said;
1T is all l have. If you take the nickel
L shall have to walls home, but II it is the
penny you choose may ride and / am
very tired"
She shot an impudent, inquisiIve glance
at me.
Where d'youse live?' she asked.
Mechanically ( repeated my street mum
Der.
Ten blooksl" She zcornfuIy replied.
Oats easy!' and swiftly grabbing the
nickel she darled around the corner.
The next day was Christmas, and l did
not go down to breakfast, but lunched off
soda crackers and some stale candy in my
room.
christmas! Christmas!" l repeated
the words to haunting memories, and l
am afraid 1 cried a little.
Some one tapped at my door.
Come in,' / called in quite a matter
Of fact tone. The door opened timiiiy,
and there on the threshold stood no other
than my little beggar Of the nigay 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.
Il bringed it back" she stammered,
'cause-cause-'
Because 1 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 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 a
| derelict laundryman. What would you
rather have than anything else that a dol
lar can buyE'
Has youse got de dough, sure '~nough?"
| nodded.
Instantly she answered me: Say, what
nd a whole dinner cost, wild mashed po-
tatoes fer both Of u%sens:'
We must have made a comical picture,
my new friend and /, as we entered the
quiet, downtown restaurant. There was
just 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 | was
about to take my place opposite, when
the man in the corner suddenly arose.
| cannot, even now m her how it
all happened, Confusec!y / saw the young
ster's eyes grow round with wonder, and
the head waiter stiAed an explanatory
oath, for l. there in the public restaurant,
I was in that strangers arms. And this
| remember distinctly-the mans most
manly words:
Forgive me, little woman, for not find
ing you sooner. l have been securing the
land for you. Not a word, not a word of
il all was truth, and if | had that cack-
ling 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 tell
the truth.