Los Angeles herald., 1908-12-20

George sprang out of her warm bed
with the agility of a fawn and pre-
pared her toilet without examining her
Christmas gifts except to investigate
the stockings of Viola, which, she dis
covered, were as amply filled as her
own. Then she went into her mothers
room and kissed her parents, wished
them a merry Christmas" and then
began to cry.
"Why, what is the matter my dar-
ling?" Intercepted both of her good
parents at once.
"I dare not tell you" replied the lit
| tie treasure, sobbing as if her heart
were breaking, but I am afraid-oh,
1 am so afraid-that Viola is dead"
Dead" exclaimed Mr.. and Mrs.
| Truelove. what is the matter, dar-
ling? Have you heard from there this
early in the day?"
"No, I haven't heard from there di-
rectly, but 1 am afraid she died last
night and that the angels have taken
her away. I must have my breakfast as
soon as can get it, if you are willing,
and get Henry to bring out the car
riage at once"
"Why, my child, you are suffering
| from some inexplainable cause, said
Mrs. Truelove.
81 am afraid you have been having
some bad dreams" added the father.
Eyes, and 1 am afraid they are true
1 saw little girl die last night from
| cold and starvation and she went up
to heaven on a golden ladder ] saw the
angels reckoning for her a long time,
| but she didn't want to go on account
| of leaving her poor mother. AT last
| the angels came down nearly to her
bed and she climbed up the long gold
! en- ladder to a window opening out or
| heaven that is, took 1t FOR heaven
| IanTTfffI1I
all around and what seemed to be q
throne way off in the distance. I know
Viola will go to heaven when she dies,
because she is the incest girl in our
school. She is poor, but she is graceful
and refined and she loves her mother.
/ think, mamma, 1 am little calfner'
but l was terribly scared when l frst
got up. do not think the angels would
| want to take her away from me thls
delightful Christmas day. But 1 must
see her and squeeze her hand and hug
her and kiss her, and then l shall know
for sure that what l saw was only a
dream"
George then returned to her apart
ment, adjoining that of her parents
and surveyed the avalanche of Christ
mas things. ,,
IT do declare" she said quietly, "it
Santa Claus hasn't given more to the
poor child than to the rich one this
time. Good for you, old Santai Here
are butter, coffee, lard--well, well, she
win laugh when 1 take her this lard
matches, shoes, stockings, candles
books, two dolls, a new dress, a new
bonnet. 500 in silver and turkey ano
some cranberries and celery. have 9
suspicion--no, no, I haven't suspicion
God bless you, Santa"
At a little after 8 George and heI
stores were handed into the carriage
and in a few minutes afterward the
vehicle stopped at a little cottage on
Steiner street near Sacramento.
George alighted from the carriage
with a good deal Of trepidation, for il
was impossible for her to utterly BAN
ish from her mind the vision of the
night before Her little heart just
thumped when she raped at the door
but in moment she heard the fairy
footsteps and the musical voice of the
one she loved The two schoolmates
saluted each other and fell into each
others arms; and then George direct
ed Henry to make a pack animal OF
himself, and soon after Mrs. Living
stones tables and chairs were covered
with groceries and provisions of every
description, while Viola's hands and
heart were so full she could not speak
| A quick succession of hard raps just
AFT This time came at the door and the
| question, DOeS VhiS. LlRillSoeOiO i've
here?" actually thrilled the persons
present Mrs. Livingstone answered
the summons and was handed a tele-
gram, which read:
LATHROP, Dec. %, 1893.
Mrs. William Livingstone, 1909 Steiner
street, San Francisco.
Have sold my mine in New Mexico
for three hundred thousand dollars
Will arrive at three this afternoon.
WILLIAM LIVINGSTONE.
At which the two children danced
and ehouted for joy and thanked God
and Santa Claus for giving them sc
much hanDfness on Christmas day