New-York tribune., 1909-12-19
By Josephine Moyle
Drawings by Alden Dawson

pered Agnes as she took him 10 her bosom then re-
membering, continued 90 Do YOU know little man
that this IS Christmas Day: And mama and Bsbv
Jim are going to be-Oh, so happy
She was up IN a moment and into warm garment
Baby Jim was wrapped IN a blanket and placed II
his high chair the still stove. then She
looked over at John and sharp pam shot through
her she realized that he had been drinking again
and heavily.
oh. baby boy" she mOaned turning 10 r-era-e
the Childs bath and breakfast, there are times
when it's just as well you cannot see. She vas
about to take the tiny bathtub from the stove hen
the filed stocking met her gaze. Agnes looked AZ Il
and then at John. She could hardly credit It-bur
yes, there it was, the little stocking and dued,
81 How I've wronged HIM" she thought He's
remembered the boy, after all and mavte he been
working. Dear dear John,' TrembingIy she re-
moved from the shelf the tiny white stocking Yes
there doubt about It. II had been filed She
could hardly trust herself 10 look. >ulIlgIv She
closed her eyes and sitting down emptIef the con
tents into her aproned lap. Proongng the surprise
to the utmost she slowly opened her ewes then she
bit her lip restrain the cry OF anguish that choked
at her throat. Her apron contained four humps Of
Coali
Heart crushed. she gathered the pieces together
and replaced them in the little white foot COW erIng
then YEARLY took the small tub from the stove and
proceeded TO battle the child.
" He didn't mean 10 hurt Us So" she noaned
brokenly. Its the liquor, not Gus papa Baby Jim"
A y unbroken habit was 70 give the boy an outing
"A every morning: so after drawing the shades to
insure John undisturbed rest. Agnes carried the
little down the four flights of stairs and placed
him in the cheap gO-cart she had purchased from a
secondhand dealer.
They had gone hardly block when thew were
halted by old man whom they had passed
MANY of their little morning trips who never te-
fore had done other than beam afectioua-e-v the
little bundle OF pink and white humanity. Taxing
from his OveTCOat pocket an elaborate jumping
jack on stick he held IL forth for the tahy %
grasp, all the time pulling the string Agnes recog
nIZed his kindness with SnIle-and then her heart
almost stood still with the realization tha-. though
sghtlesS her boy looked out at Others with wide
open eyes and no evidence OF his misfortune she
managed to gasp:
"O6l Thank YOU ever SO much, He VIII love IT,
I'm sure, and she made motion as II @ -aae the
toy.
But doesn't baby want funny TOY. persisted
the old man, keeping II IN motion before the child
face.
Baby Jim's head turned in the direction of the
voice he responded with the best language az his
command "Ga-Gal a salutatlOn al his own FOR
strangers.
Yes little man. here's a soldier on a stick for
you. Don't you want him: See. baby. see.
Agnes could stand II no longer and Ir-erectet,
" It's so good of you; but my baby Ee-he can
the toy. He's blindi" and Suppre>Slug a heart
sob she relieved the stranger OF the plavthing
For an instant he stood as though unCor1p-ehend-
ing; then brushing his handkerchief across his eyes
he retreated hastily. murmurIng IN a broken Volce.
" Blind God help us How beautlful-and blind.
NOTWITHSTANDING the early morning mel
~ dent. this Christmas proved 10 be the me-rlesr
day they had ever known. and though John slept on
Agnes occupied herself teaching the baby % listen
to and move in the direction of the several rce4ni-
cal toys she had brought him.
When sin o'clock arrived with the ready dinner.
Agnes decided II time 70 illuminate the tree.
i here were Just eleven candles. because Baby Jim
was that many months old. After dining she tat-et
and prepared him for bed then closed the door and
1o.1r 70, lrfrtr u H.