Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-12-10
DuSKY.


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
curely before going off to her scrubbing
and cleaning Sometimes there was n
good, hot supper, but more often only
bread, and a scant pattern of that. 1t
rsed 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 &c out for odd jobs,
Ii there was only sonnet hing to see out
OF the one window! But, no, it looked
cut on the blank, brick wall of the next
house. Dusky 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
Gays 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
ner sweet teacher with all her heart.
asleep and dream of angels; sometimes
they had a bright nimbus about their
heads, and again long. sweeping feathers
like those on Miss an 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 che little girl, though Nam
ny kept saying how short they were and
that 1t was almost Christmas Could ii
be that the Christ-cbih had forgotten
Dusky 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 lorg, steep stairs and caught LEI
breath, Dusly 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 ! shelly kim persisted The child
"Jes' yo' cut de ole broom handle. an
I'll mex some dollies, an yo' wash dc
pillarcase fer der dresses
Good old nanny cut the broom handle
into 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 w!ittl d
I he tops of the sticks into heads and
marked the most wonderful ewes and
noses and mouths with an old stump of
a pencil. She coaxed Nanny to cut of
her little stiff braids to furnish hair for
the dollies, and glued it on with her O an
eager, trembling fingers. Then they were
ready for their dresses, made out of the
clean. white pillow case. and each one was
iled around tire waist with bit of bright
rlbbon-nice, new ribbon. and D1lskv
went without her supper twice to save
the money for it,
The days now fairy fly. and Christina
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
imsky. Is she dreaming again? 1t is
the picture hat-angel. her own Miss Van
Arsdale. and . moment later comes Il
tail, kind-faced man whom she calls doc
tor.
Merry Christmas'" they both exeIaim
in a 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.
Use dretful sorry for 'em-dey don hab
no Christmas"
OF such is the kingdom" Miss Van
Arsdale mmmlTs, revercntly touching
Dusky's bandaged head The doctor
draws his hand across his eyes. and Miss
Van Arsdale turns to nim asking in her
sweet voice, "Nhat can YOU do for her ~
Make her well and strong, as she used
to be- hc answers. Il meant to do it
for your sake. but now | shall do il for
her own-the brave, unseItish child"
Nanny draws near, trembling with
joy. and as the truth Of il all dawns
upon her, falters, Dress de Lawdl He
done 'membered Dusky.' Mary vii
loughby in Primary Education.