The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-12-26

TT was Christmas Eve. The air was
full of chill winten winds, and
snow,threatened, although it did mol
actually fall. I had come in from
my days business. and was dream
ing before my bright open crate fire.
Dreaming of my youth, long past, OF
my scheme long abandoned, OF my Ion
civ life. which I had hoped to fill with
loving hearts and ties. Dreaming as
only a bachelor can, on an idle Christ
mas eve.
With my eyes fixed upon the vividly
glowing crate, I was far away in the
past vista Of years, two lads, COUSINS
who were brothers in love, sympathy
aud pursuits; entering upon l1fes race,
hand in hand, spuring rapidly through
college, and leaving the Alma Mater
bows still in heart and hope, to spring
into mans life and suffering by one
agony of hope and terror. I saw them
stand face to face, white with the dis
covery. each of the others love. l saw
her Ellen Lee, with her fair, pure soft,
holy eyes, her gentle, Womanly man
ner-saW her as plainly as when with
one bitter wrench I tore my love from
It's sweet resting place to enter upon
a new path alone. I knew of their mar
riage, I heard Of their happiness, and
sometimes even yet wrote and received
answers from my cousin; but the low
ing brotherhood, the dream of a higher
tie Of love, these were sundered and
shattered long, long before the Christ
mas eve when l sat dreaming before
my coal fire. I had amassed wealth by
untiring industry and perseverance. l
had taken into my home and under my
care, the orphan son of my only sister;
but I was, at forty-nine, bachelor
STILL with no blithe voices to open my
purse or heart no warm kisses to touch
my faded cheek. no loving cares to win
ne from memory's dream to the reall-
ty Of Christmas eve.
"A little girl who wants to see your
self" Margaret's harsh voice to recall
my thought her broad Irish face in the
parlor doorway; these were my remind
ers Of the present after an hour Of re-
gretful musing.
Let her come in She came to my
side with an earnest purpose in her full,
and bashfulness. It took her but
moment to cross the broad parlor. but
I see her now as she came toward me,
her eyes fixed on my face, her whole
manner full of errand. She was small.
very small, thin and pale, with face
nature had meant to be beautiful and
chid-like, trouble had altered to pre-
mature thoughtfulness and womanly
purpose. With thin, pinched features,
pale cheeks, even pale lips, her broad
white forehead, and large dark eyes
bore earnestness and resolve beyond
her years., printed there by some pitt
less hand of poverty or care. On that
bitter night she wore thin calico
dress, a small faded shawl, a sun-bon-
net Of Bingham, and old shoes bursting
out where the upper leather Joined the
soles. She came up close to my chair,
and put her hand on the arm-such "a
wee hand, so SCARED with scratches
and bruises, so red and chapped with
exposure, that my heart ached strange
ly as I looked at it.
"Well, my child" I said kindly, I
hope, you wanted to see me- Yes,
L,
Ruggles Avenue"
Ruggles Avenue, be it known, is
small court filled with the poorest kind
Of tenement houses and by a recent
failure I had assigned to me as part
payment of a large debt the ownership
Of Ruggles Avenue had appointed
an agent to look. after the property
while I owned it, and to sell it as
speedily as possible, and so shifting the
responsibility, had actually forgotten
the existence Of such a spot as Ruegles
Avenue.
"Well?' I said, looking down on that
earnest little face raised to mine.
I'VE can't pay the rent, sir" and the
face was hidden, as the whole frame
dropped under weight of this confess
sion. Long, black eyelashes swept
down on the pale cheek, as the white
lids yelled the earnest eyes. "But, my
child, Mr.. Jones settles all this" HE
can't wait any longer" "Oh, he can't
No, sir, but Mrs. Davis, who lives
next door, said somebody told her he
didn't own the place since old Mr.. Paul
sold out, and she advised me to come
~ s>'~ S~AA~~ I
be very long. sir, only till mother gets
about again, and baby gets to walk
Ing
Some magnetism there was in those
soft, earnest eyes, in the thrill of that
sweet, musical voice, that was moving
my torpid old heart into a new and
pleasant warmth and interest. So I
drew up large softly cushioned chair.
and lifted the little girl into it before
I spoke again, my eyes moistening as
I saw how the pale cheeks burned, and
the little frozen feet and fingers cur1ed
and stretched in the genial blaze.
So, mother is sick?"
Yes, sir. She has been in bed for
four months, but she can sew little,
and she thinks she is getting stronger
now. Then I can help more again when
baby can walk"
Baby is your brother?"
mo, sir, baby's a girl, sister Alice's
little girl. Sister Alice died last sum-
mer. and that's why we can't pay the
rent
HoW? Tell me all about it''