The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-12-31

But he was very nSht W carly,
she resumed, intent upon her work,
land his father loved him SO, that
It was no trouble; no trouble. AMI
there is your father at the door,
Z She hurried out to meet him;
and little Bob in his comforter
he had need of it, poor fellow
came in. His tea was ready for
him on the hob, and they all tried
who should help him to it most.
Then the two young Cratchits got
upon his knees and laid, each child.
a little cheek agoinst his face, as
If they said Don't mind it, father"
Don't be grieved!"
Bob was very cheerful with
them, and spoke pleasantly to all
the family. He looked at the work
upon the table, and praised the in
dustry and speed of Mrs. Cratchit
and the girls. They would be done
long before Sunday, he said.
SUNDAY! You went today, then,
Roberto" said his wife.
"Yes, my dear" returned Bob.
II wish you could have gone. 1t
would have done you good to see
how green place it is. But you IL
see it often. I promised him that
would walk there on Sunday.
My little, little child" cried Bob.
my little child"
He broke down all at once. He
couldn't help it. If he could have
helped it. and his child would have
been farther apart perhaps than
they were.
He left the room and went up
stairs into the room above, which
was lighted theerfully, and hung
with Christmas. There was chair
set close beside the child, and
there we're signs of some one hav-
ing been there lately. Poor Bob
sat down in It, and when he had
thought little and composed him.
self he kissed the little face. He
was reconciled to what had hap
pened, and went down again quite
happy.
They drew about the fire, and
talked; the girls and father work
ing still Bob told them of the ex-
traordinary illness of Mr..
Scrooges nephew, whom he had
scarcely seen but once, and who,
meeting him in the street that day
and seeing that he looked little
"iust little down, you know said
Bob, inquired what had happened
to distress him. con which said
Bob, ~"for he is the pleasantest-
spokent gentleman you ever heard,
told him. I am heartily sorry
for 1t, Mr.. Cratchit' he said, and
heartily sorry for your good wife,
By-thebye, how he ever knew that
I don't know"
"Knew what, my dear?"
"Why, that you were a good
wife" replied Bob.
Everybody knows that" said
Peter.
Every we'll observed, my boy!"
cried Bob. II hope they do.
Heartily sorry he said, for your
good wife. If can be of service
to you in any way he said, giving
me his card, that's where | live.
Pray come to me- Now, it wasn't,
cried Bob, "for the sake of any
thing he might he able to do for us.
so much as for his kind way, that
this was quite delightful. 1t really
seemed as If he had known our
Tiny Tim, and felt with us"
I'm sure he's a good soul" said
Mrs. Cratchit.
you would be sure of 1t, my
dear" returned Bob, 'if you saw
and spoke to him. I shouldn't be at
all surprised-mark what | say!--
If he got Peter better situation.
"Only hear that, Peter" said
Mrs. Cratchit.
And then" cried one of the
girls. peter will be keeping COM
pany with some one, and setting
up for himself"
Get along with you" retorted
Peter, grinning,
ITS just as likely as not" said
Bob. "one Of these days; though
there's plenty of time for that. my
dear. But however and whenever
we part from one another, | am
sure we shall none of us forget
poor Tiny Tim-shall we--or this
first parting that there was among
us?"
"Never. father" cried thew all,
"And ! know" said Bob, Il know
my dears. that when we recollect
how patient and how mild he was;
although he was a little, little
child; we shall not quarrel easily
among ourselves, and forget poor
Tiny Tim in doing it,"
mo. never. father!" they all
cried again.
az am very happy" said little
Bob; II am very happy"
Mrs Cratchit kissed him. his
daughters kissed him. the two
young Cratchits kissed him. and
Peter and himself shook hands
Spirit Of Tiny Tim. thy childish es-
sence was from God!
Spectre" said Scrooge. Some