The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-09
BY LULU HALL WOODBURY..
! Christmas eve, her mother would take
II Little Christmas Story.

christmas eve, her mother would take
her in her lap and tell her the Christ
mas story. So now it was great
mercy for Elsie that she had her child
| to work for.
One day, when she had scrubbed the
pantry floor unusually clean, Miss
Amanda gave her the privilege of the
rag barrel. This resulted in a new
suit of silk and velvet for baby. And
| this she made.
When Elsie left 1.-The Home" the
matron had given her a little needle
book containing spool of thread and
| thimble for a good-by present. These
now came into good play. She used the
big garden shears to cut with.
When all was done the babe looked
beautiful, except that it had no stock
ings. 1t had not even legs. ell
make her a wooden leg, and let her
be a cripple, then I shall love her all
| the better"
But after she had made the leg, and
a very good one, too, she hadn't the
heart to break the skin of her child,
and push it in.
"I'll make the stockings without
legs" she said, and so she did.
| Elsie was very careful never to let
her child see, or mention before her,
how busy she was for Christmas.
| She felt sorry for Miss Amanda and
and wished she had something to give
her, but she could think Of nothing
| but the piece of white paper she found
with her potato-child. The afternoon
| before Christmas she took it from the
candle-box and smoothed it out upon
one side. Elsie thought it was very
pretty Writing-it had so many flour
1shes. Elsie could not read it, of
course, but she was sure Miss Amanda
| couldn't help but like it.
How should she give it to her? She
40 -
ana she was certain Miss Amanda
wouldn't hang any stocking; so lust
before dark she slipped into Miss
Amanda's sleeping-room and put it on
her dressing-case.
When Elsie had finished her work
she went to her room, pinned her
child's stocking to the foot Of the bed
and slyly tucked In the suit she had
made. Her own stocking lay fiat upon
the floor. Her breath caught little
bit as she noticed them. But it doesn't
matter, she said, parents never care
for themselves If they can give their
children pleasure"
She crept into bed and took her
enid on her arm. The night was very
noises on the roof, in the nail holes
and on the glass. She went to bed so
early because the kitchen was so cold.
She thought, 1--WE can talk in bed"
The lock Of her door was broken and
she could not shut it tight. Thru this
the air came chilly.
Miss Amanda put on her flannel
wrapper and her bed slippers and sat
down before the open fire in her sleep
lng-room. Some way she couldn't
keep her thoughts from that little
back attic-room. She went out into
the hall, silently up the stairs and
stood outside the door. Elsie was talk
ing softly, but Miss Amanda could
hear the words, thanks to the broken
lock.
Il have much to tell you, tonight,
dear child" she heard the wait say,
1.-The whole story of the Christmas
Child. 1t was years ago. His mother
was very young, I guess about twice
as old as I am. They hadn't any
house. They were in a barn. There
were no houses to rent in that town.
But she fixed a little cradle for him
In the feed-box, and wrapped him in
long clothes, as do you, my darling.
The angels sang a new song for him.
new star shone in the east for him.
Some men with sheep came to visit
him, and some rich men brought him
lovely presents. My mother told me
all these things, and I mustn't forget
them, 1t helps me to remember to tell
it to you. So now this lovely Christ
mas Child was born in a little bit of
town, the town of-oh, my child, -
with mournful cry-"I've forgotten
the name of the town. I used to say
it to my mother-it's the town of, the
town of can't remember"
Miss Amanda could hear her crying
g. little softly.
Never mind" she said presently.
" lam very sorry; have not told the
story often enough. I wish I had
some one to teach me a little, but
perhaps it don't make so much differ
ence if have forgotten the name of
the town. He came to teach us. Sure
I won't forget that. Love can never
die. That's the present he gave to
everybody. So if nobody else gives
us Christmas present, we always
have the one he gave u.s.
Silence for a little.
i am very sorry for Miss Amanda,
dear. She has no child to love. She
has a very sad and lonely life
Her teeth chartered a little. 1T
seems like a very cold night, the COW
ers are quite thin, but we can never
really suffer while our hearts are so
warm. Do you feel real we'll? 1t
as you used to be. I'm sure your skin
is more wrinkled. I hope you are not
going to take cold or be sick. Oh, I
couldn't give you up! I should miss
you so much!"
Miss Amanda heard a little kiss.
Good night, dear. I'm so tired. God
bless us all, and help us to remember
Miss Amanda, and let her find her
present tonight
Miss Amanda crept back to her
warm room and waited till she was
sure the child was fast asleep. Then
she took down quilt off the foot of
her own bed, picked up her candle,
and retraced her way upstairs.
She softly dropped the comforter
upon Elsie. A little sigh of content
was all the disturbance she heard.
Miss Amanda waited a moment to be
certain, then shading the candle with
one hand, she looked at the sleeping
child.
The face was very pale and thin.
The lashes lay dark upon the white
cheeks. They were quite wet; but
pressed close to them, and carefully
covered by her little toil-hardened
hands, was the grotesque potato in its
white night gown.
Miss Amanda was surprised by a
very queer click in her throat, and
hurried from the room.
She stood before the fire, candle in
hand, and a hard bitter look on her
face. "She hopes TIL find my Christ
mas present tonight Who will send
it to me, and what will it be? Who do
l care for, and who cares for me? No
one. Not one human being"
She crossed the room, and, placing
her candle upon the dressing. table,
gazed at herself in the glass. II am
growing old, old and hard, and per-
fectly friendless."
But why that start and cry? There
before her eyes, in the big, f1ourishing,
boyish handwriting so well remem-