Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-12-20

ed in the wet pavement, when there came,
from somewhere below my waist line.
small whine.
Please, mum, gimme a niokel?'
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 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 / had deposited my last dollar with
the boarding housekesper in case the
lsundryman should cal in my absence.
Notwithstanding the child's hardened
little face there was an expression about
her wide mouth that attracted me. Ii
was almost motheriy in it's maturity.
Laying the nickel and the penny side by
side in my hand. said:
1T is al l have. III you take the nickel
l shall have 20 walk home, but if it is the
penny you choose l may ride, and 1 am
very tired"
She shot an impudent, inquisitlve glance
at me.
Where d'youse hve?" she asked.
Mechanically repeated my street num-
Der.
Ten blocksi' she scornfully replied.
Oats easy!" and swiftly grabbing the
nickel she darted around the corner.
The next day was Christmas, and did
not go down 70 breakfast, but lunched of
soda crackers and some stale candy in my
room.
'ChristnAsi Christmas!" | repeated
the words to haunting memories, and l
am afraid l cried httle
Some one tapped at my door.
Come in,' l called in quite matter
of fact tone. The door opened timidly.
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 glanees, and in the
begrimed little palm lay my nickel
Il bringed it back" she stammered,
" 'cause-'cause-"
Because" / suggested, smiling.
jest cause IL piped youse off as
kind o on youse uppers youse own self,
and l amt seemed Z sleep sound"
She got no further-ths dirty, sinful,
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
derelict laundryman. What would you
rather have than anything else that dol.
lar can buy?"
Has youse got de dough, sure 'noushg"
/ nodded
Instantly she answered me: "Say. what
'ud whole dinner cost, wild mashed Do
tatoes fer both of usens?
We must have made comioal picture,
my new friend and /, as we entered the
quiet, downtown restaurant. There was
Just one other person seated there on this
Christmas 6ay-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.
1 cannot, even now, remember how IL
all happened. Confusedly I saw the Young
ster's eyes grow round With wonder. and
the head waiter stiied an explanatory
oath, for I, there in the public restaurant.
/ was IN that strangers arms And this
remember distincuy--the mans most
manly words:
Forgive me, little woman, for not find
ing you sooner. have been securing the
land for you. Not word, not word of
it oil was truth, and if / 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 tell"
And bless her little heart, she did tel
the truth