The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1902-12-19

end when they reached home stopped.l
OF course,sWe returned as! soon as pOS-
sible after getting control OF the horses.
This explains our intrusion upon you.
and no words can expires SOU thankful
ness to you for your Kindness toward
our poor little girl"
1T is nothing replied Martha. II
would be glad to do more. I will now
build a fire, so: that you ma get warm
and dry before going out into the storm
again" Fa@sS8
Needless trouble, madam; we are
not cold" quickly replied the old gem
and we must go. just tell me one
thing, madam, If you please, how many
little mes have you? I see several
pairs of peppers in yonder." ,s5&
Martha Dean informed the old gem
tleman as to the number OF her family.
while busily engaged in dressing the
little: girls feet in some Shoes and
stockings belonging to her own little
Edith. while the child chung tightly to
her mothers neck.
1.-TWO boys and two girls, the Oldest
a girl of IL, the youngest a girl Of 4:
Tommy NJ Johnny between" he re-
peated, as he turned to go. Il will see
you again tomorrow, madam; good
night and a merry Christmas!n
Then, with the little Annie wrapped
until she made an enormous bundle.
the whole party took their departure.
Our name is Lewis and fathers is
Ray; we will see you again; I will
call tomorrow If you do not forbid me-"
We're the lady's parting words. ana
soon Martha Dean stood alone in her
little kitchen, the sound Of the depart
ing sleighbells ringing in her ears, her
senses almost whirling.
He looked adzactly like Santa
Claus!" declared little Edith. {5
But she didn't look like Mrs. Santa.
and he hasn't any little girl" objected
Tommy.
Besides, he didn't cave a thing
for anybody" dolefully supplemental
Johnny. 3s
Mamma, what does it all mean?''
inquired Jennie, the serious-minded
one, for she with her other children had
slept until a few minutes before the
midnight visitor left the house.
Then Martha Dean told as briefly rs
possible the story of little Annie's adj
venture, meantime hurying the chill
dren again into bed, herself soon fol-
lowing them.
But it was long before she closed
her eyes in sleep, her mind was SO full
OF the unexpected event which a
just taken place. &5
While she was lighting her fire h
next morning a large box was deliy-
cred at her door, followed a little later
py a load OF coal and sundry other arr
ticles.
With love and a Merry Christmas
from Miss Annie Lewis" was marked
upon all the packages, and even the
man who brought the coal said that
little Miss Annie sent it.
From such a source 1T could not be
refused, and Martha Dean felt the bar
Tinfs 0f rf6 ~ w. ~
contribution after another was left on
her premises.
Her home was soon filed with
warmth and a goodly number Of COM
forts and luxuries, and the children
We're glowing and happy over number
less toys and books and articles of
wearing apparel that fitted everyone
in a most remarkable way.
Santa Claus sharp eyes had taken
notes to some effect the night be-
fore. 'SnFa7
In the afternoon there came in the
course Of Mrs. Lewis call, which was
made according to her promise Of tha
night b%efore), a panacea for such
wounds as her pride had received.
Her new-found friends, learning that
she was a normal graduate and a
previous to her marriage followed
teaching as a profession, assured, her
that she should be established atAthe
head Of a primary school, private and
select, by means Of which all reasonable
desires for herself and her little ones
might be gratified and such Of her
present plenty as she chose to deem
merely kindly lent to .her by good
friends might be paid for to her full
satisfaction.
And today she is prosperous and
happy, and the thing she is most
ashamed and panied to recall in her
past life is the shortaseason of unreas-
oning distrust of her heavenly fathers
will and power to help her in the time
of her extreme need.-Springfeld
Mass, Republican.