West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-01-21
o<>SspO<oSD<o<aCsDSD D<e<>D<p<oo<sSsSD<e<e,
A POOR HOUSE CHRISTMAS.

God rest ye. merry gentlemen.
Let nothing you dismay
ts ros Jesus Christ, Jour saviour,

ihc singer was a little. beat old woman
and her voice. though stlll sweet. was
tremuloas with age or weakness.
There were several other women in the
room. all old. aud with the exception of
one all were busy sewing or knitting.
The idler had drawn her chair close to
the air.tight stove, and with discomfort
written In every line OF her wrinkled face.
was moodily watching the singer as she
fashioned rag doll from bits Of cloth aud
cotton batting, her dicsatifaction becom-
ing each moment more apparent
Il declare. Mis- Barker. don't see how
you en- feel like slngin'." she exclaimed az
length.
Mrs. Barker turned toward her a surprls.
ed face, as she replied, swhy, Sister Lane.
tomorrow will be christ's birthday
The other smiled grfmly ''Yes. and you
ard ! are going to keep Il in the Poor
house ~
Mss Barker cast atroubled glance al the
spceser and then her eyes wandered
arcp the bare, clean room. which had no
sup anous furniture TO hide its angles.
Finally her face cleared as she said. gently.
Thee are worse places in the world. and
He he'd not where to lay His head.
Mrs. Lane was silent for a moment but
presently she said. fretfully, II shouldn't
think you'd want to spend your time maxim
rag dolls for 'Poor-house brats. They're
Wild as hawks an won't thank you for H.
III warrant. Then she added. abruptly.
Don't so much SEWN hurt your handsp"
'Nothin' TO speak Of
Mia. Lane eyed the busy fingers. bunchy
aud twisted with rheumatism. .Yc need mt
tell me. she cried. II know il must cen
a'mosl XIII We. an not one Of them young
'uns " appreciate what you're doin' Tor
EN-.
''Oh, guess they Will. was the placid
reioinder. Jane M'rs' told me other day
that she never had doll in he life. lest
think o. that. an she goin' on nlnci /
shouldn't wonder u the rest are Jest as
bad OF tell ye. all the little girls have
the real mother feeling and fnst you know
ev'ryons on en- will be cuddlng aud kiss.
ing these dolls like real little mothers
fUufphl" There was world OF contempt
and unbelief In the exclama,ion. but Mrs.
Baker did not appear TO notice Il.
Presently Mrs. Lane fitted breadth OF
dresses were being fashioned.
That's real poorly stun she said, as
she scrut red in- fabric
Yes. Iti,nk SO and Mrs Baker smooth
ed the bit she heid in her hard and looked
dresmlly - its amy wbItrcss. dulted
with Tiny hnnclios OF blue vloiets, as Sic
added II had this dress the year after
was married. ia bought IL cause he said
them lets we're just the color Of my eve.
and faint blush stole into the soft old
checks. sammy liked IL. too. and long ago
as he was little feller. JUS, learning 10
talk. he'd say. Pi,tyi' and clap his hands
ev'ry time put IL on. when be GOT bigger
he called Il my nowcr dress. and liked TO
heg me wear Il after he was greatblg boy.
I've allus been real ch'ice Of H. but IL wore
out at last; and I've kept the pieces all
these years for pas and Sammy's sakes.
I'd know but I've been making kind OF an
ldo OF them. and guess I'm doing the
right thing now passing EN- along to make
some one else happy. know rs what pa
and SaWms'd want me 10 do for they was
both master fond Of children.
Mrs Lane ws,ched her a few moments IN
silence. and thee aid. in.efros satfvely
How long Isl sence your husband diedS"
Going on Hiueteen years. was The
reply.
II s'pose Sammy's dead toof
Yes. aud a spasm Of pain passed over
the gentle old face. Sammy went fust.
and twas that killed his pa Then. sec.
ing the interest in her listeners face. she
continued "Thc year before he died
sammy WHO was Just eighteen. took Il into
bis head 10 so West and see his uncle lin.
jim was my brother. and lived on big
farm--a ranch. he called it--and nothing 70
do bat sammy must visit him. hated 20
hey him 90 in the wDsi way bu, pa kind OF
q ed IL so / give in. lie got there al
~ and writ home what good time he
va easing and then the next news We had
there d been 40 Injun raid. and he and lis
Uncle Jim was both Killed
"iIow could you stand it, cried her
hesfor. sympatheticaiiy
lusl and last we can al stand 4 good
deal nose'n we think we can" replied
Mrs. Barker with sigh. 80 lived
through e. though thought then my :,earl
was broke. and as for pa he couldn't be
reconciled 70 q, but just pincd and pined
Tor sammy til he died few months after.
With "a and Sammy both gone couldn't
bear 20 stayfn the old place. so ! sold out
and came out here 20 fowy. planned 10
live With cousin John Forbes and his wife
but before ! was here a month both died
and then the bank that had my money bu ~
Up. an bad to work hard 10 keep soul an
body together J thought then twas pref.
y hard, but see now twas the best fblnr
that could happen. for il hind O. took ne
oui of myself sud 2 found wa'nt The oniy
one 10 the world wish trials 20, along
real well iiii year ago. when This rhou.
maliz come on me. and { had 10 give 10 and
come here. where a looks as m shall have
% stay The rest Of my naftai llfs BOT
Mis- Mabew's q real good woman. and Mr.
Mabew treats as we'll 80 ivs no cause 10
Complain and twon't be Tor long. anyway
Her voice srcmbied little. bot her face
was as serene as Usual as She concluded
and once mere hegan hummins the words
Of The Old song
Presently she heid up fhe don on ehicb
sbe had been eorkinq. rayine There scs
6ono. and this IS iho last one Looks KIND
of nice docsn't IT,
The other women dropped their work
and gathered about her.
You do beat aii exclaimed one as she
fingered ibe dainty dresses I'm sure
hope them young uns viii know enough 70
thank YOU for mhai you've done ior en-
I'm sure they Wlii bless ibeir llifie
hoaris answered Mrs Barker hopefully,
as she saihered % fhe biis Of cloth and
cotton and made them into q ncai roll
She was too lame 20 take care ~ the
dolls. bat Mrs Mahew phe mauonl goian