Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1909-12-31
4 BIT OF
CHRISTMAS
BY c. z. wYMaN


Copyright. iss b American Pres, A..
ciation.I
T was Christmas morning ara
very cold. Every few nlpa,..
- tfalSnan Wc4ld cone tsra..s. =
car. watching carefully ! =.
faced thermometer and stopu,n.
turn screws Of the heating app.r,.-
in persistent attempts to ke,n =.
pointing finger at 20 degrees.
Despite the discomfort Of r,o.. =.
which was none too warm at - .
passengers in the main wore -.
faces and didn't seem to cousiie, ~
numeFous packages and bundles :. :.
noyance.
Fren . vayside station, which -.
- ~ II II haa never been ueiskh,, !.
any house where human beinen -
peor nttie giri entered and are-ss
into seat whess an overcoat tol6 ~
In owner was probably In the eupnss.s
ear. The child did not notice ~ ~
IN her lssorancs Of travel ( -
have made no difference Il - ~
She might have been eight or tea -
old, but that air Of self relianee -
hers which poverty's child orr =.
quires very young. yet there wsenun.
ing forward or bold" in her enu,s,u
ance. Her dress was Of the sca.eiauf
q thin cotton gown. barely eoncennn
the lack of suitable underwear: Z M
worn shoulder shawl and a hotf~.e
straw hat.
When the conductor appearpa H.
hand which presented her hall a..
ticket was red with cold. but the sm,ll
person lifted to him a wonderfusv
frank face and confidingly infoened
him that she was going to grandmat
for Christmas and that the pachsre
she clutched in her other hand confnjp
ed cookies for grandma.
The conductor smiled down at ~
A plying smile it was. as be thoseh
Of his own well fed. well clothed CHI
dren, with whom he expected to eat
late Christmas dinner when his ruu
was over. The smile fingered on hh
face as be passed to the next seat md
saw that its occupants had heard.
Two women sat in the seat. stran-
gers to each other and as unlike stvc
persons made on the same general
principles could be. One was tall, dig
nified. young, wrapped in costly fufs
everything about her showing the PER
son who never lacked money or leisure:
the other. stout. jolly. elderly. comfoff
able-a kindly and well to do woman
The two had Travelled miles and miles
side by side with not word passed
between them.
Now both sat with eyes fixed on The
forlorn bit of humanity in front Of
them. Suddenly the younger woman
opened her travelling bag and took
from it soft gray shawl 1t was at
least two yards long and half as vide.
Folding it together. she touched tn
little waif. saying In low tone.
"Stand up. my dear" The child obey.
ed wonderingly. and this woman Ia
the costly furs placed the folded shawl
around the small shoulders, crossed \
In front and. bringing the ends to u
back. pinned them securely.
ut 10 yours to keep" she Whispered
- Christmas present" Then, tu<
ing to the woman ut her side. she 81
apologetically. Il really did not ~
II myself" There was Q blink Vt tenn
in her eyes.
well. now" the older woman a.
claimed in admiration. you Just -
me to thinkin'! I'm realty ashanA
that didn't think Of doing something
myself. Here. I've got two pairs q
mittens for my grandson-just absa
her size-in my hand bag. and BE- casy
wear out more than one pair this M
ter. Besides. can knit another. ID
nothing at all to knit mlttens. ~
was busily undra wing the strings Of q
enormous silk bag. but her glasses weN
blurred. and her fingers were clunV
with haste.
what's your name. little girl! -
tie? Well. hold out your hands. kaue
My: Aren't they a good fit. There's y
other Christmas present TO keep. AZ
here's frosted cake. Just eat u Fis1s
now. Katie. Your grandma won ~
II. with all those you've got IN ~
bundle"
The child again obeyed. She on
say. THANK YOU Possibly she 81 !
not know how. but she seemed TO wv &
all over. and her eyes returned llias-s
. q "A ia
'.Pm proud to know you. ms dea'.
the rolly poly. comfortable woman =. I
now to the young lady. for sts -
been saying to herself all the wh'n
you're the right sort. can see nav
And I am proud TO know you. -
other responded. almost shviy On P,ms
her hand. which was quickly bafHH :"
a big. warm grasp I'VE all lonis !" y
Of service at Christmas time, sos
know"
At that instant the man 81 'ne ~.
coat sauniered in te RESUME IF - !. 5.
He gave q low whistle Of sufiaflsf =
the happy little Traveller neN' 'aF ". -
dow. glanced Mt the two Va','s'''
eomprehended the situation. liz ''-s
hand made quick dive into 'ias -.
sers pocket as II 10 get some N.Y.
In another instant he withdre" = ~"
reached up to the rack everheaa -
lifted down a large paper f'undie- ~
ing the bundle across the ais'p y
empty seat. he opened IL and ''s's y.
smaller package from aflsans Aa
others. Untying this paekass' s
brought to light daxen ha'ffu
dressed in the latest style and 49, 3.
dent in large picture bar. "
placed In the little girls arms 800
.rrom nv little daughter. wno ~.
rssher Won should have H." w. q