Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1904-12-07
DUSKY.

She didn't know that she was q race
problem nor think of anything just then,
but that her little head with its spikes
of tightly braided hair, was so tired
Poor little Dusky! Somebody's careless
ness had made her cripple. Unless her
head was fastened to her chair it would
fall forward, and so Nanny tied it Sc
cWely before going off to her scrubbng
and cleaning. Sometimes there was
good, hot supper, but more often only
bread, and a scant pattern of that. 1t
used to be good times when Nanny had
regular work, but since she took cold and
then had the misery in her bones she
could only 90 out for odd jobs.
If there was only something to see out
Of the one window! But, no, it looked
out on the blank, brick wall of the next
house. DuslSy knew every crack in the
old ceiling and every crevice in the smoky
wall. Every day it was just the same
| nothing different. She thought of the
lays when she hoped and skipped like
other children and about the mission
chapel, and oh! once the Christmas tree
and dear Miss Van Arsdale. Dusky loved
her sweet teacher with all her heart.
When the dark came early she would fall
asleep and dream of angels; sometimes
| they had a bright nimbus about their
heads, and again long, sweeping feathers
| like those on Miss Van Arsdale's hat. 1t
was ever and ever so long ago since she
had any good times.
Now the wintry days seemed longer
than ever to the little girl, though Nam
ny kept saying how short they were and
that it was almost Christmas Could it
be that the Christ child had forgotten
Dnskv: She thought all one long day in
the dreary room of what Miss Van Ars-
dale had said, that Christmas meant
Christ's love in her heart that set one
doing something to make others better
and happier.
just as soon as Nanny had climbed
the long, steep stairs and caught !cr
breath, Dusky cried out: oh Nanny.
Lemme mex Christmas for de poor
chilluns.'
"G'way, chile, mammy's got no money.
De Lawd clean forget yo''
But sho'ly kin" persisted The child
"Jes' yo' cut de ole broom handle. an
I'll mex some dolhes, an yo' wash de
pillarcase fer der dresses"
Good old nanny cut the broom handle
into a half dozen pieces, and then there
was something for Dusky to do.
Not lonely The least bit now, working
and humming little snatches of songs,
the bare room all forgotten, she whitth d
the tops of the sticks into heads and
marked the most wonderful ewes ard
noses and mouths with an old stump Of
a pencil. She eoaXed Nanny to cut off
her little stiff braids to furnish hair for
the dollies. and glued it On with her own
eager, trembling fingers Then they were
ready for their dresses, made out of the
clean. white pillow case. and each one was
ned around TIE waist with bit of bright
riboon-nice, new ribbon. and Duskv
went without her supper twice to save
the money for it.
The days now fairy fly, and Christmas
morn las come. She hears the sweep
bells Ginning and ties the dollies to a
little green branch that NANNY has
found in the street. The door opens. and
10! an angel crosses over swiftly to
Dusky. Is she dreaming again? It is
the picture hat angel, her own Miss Van
Arsdale, and . moment later comes !,
tall, kind-faced man whom she calls doc
tor.
Merry Christmas' they both exclaim
III breath. And what have we here?'
says Miss Van Arsdale, taking up the
green branch with its precious burden.
oh, | mex 'em for de poor chilluns.
Sc drefful sorry for 'em-dey dom hab
no Christmas"
of such is the kingdom Miss Van
Arsda!e nlurmlrs. reverently touching
Dusky's bandaged head. The doctor
draws his hand across his eyes, and Miss
Van Arsdale turns to him, asking in her
sweet voice, What can you do for her?''
Wake her we'll and strong, as she used
to be- he answers. Il meant to do it
tor your sake, but now [ shall do it for
her cWn-the brave, unselfsh child
Nanny draws near, trembling with
JOY, and as the truth of it all dawns
upon her, falters, Dress de Lawd He
done ,membered Dusky. Mary VIII
loughby in Primary Education.