The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1910-12-31
LITTLE BILLY"s SANTA CLAUS.

other.
Their parents were dead and Joe, the elder, was a.
nevsboy who by hard, work and good management
nos able TO provide for himself and his little
brother Tom hopeless cripple, who could walk
only by the aid OF crBtches They lived In a small
room on the sixth floor of an east side tenement in
New York 1t required all of Joe's earnings ang-
nented by a small weekly allowance from the So
cey of St. Vincent de Paul, to pay rent and pur-
chase the cheapest food. But they were happy be-
cause they loved eaG other with true brotherly love
On Sunday they went to mass and Sunday school
in the morning, and sometimes in the afternoon
thev visited Central park to see the animals They
would stand before the monkey cage for hours en-
loving the miscellaneous antics, which gave so much
pleasure to the poor little cripple
1t was only three days before the anniversary
Of the coming of, the Christ Child The shop win
dows we're filled with almost everything the human
mind could imagine or everything the human heart
could desire. Or previous Sunday the two boys
had gone down Broadway as far as the Battery
stopping before the wel-filled windows to look at
the display of Toys and other Christmas attrac-
TONS In window Tom saw something for
which his childish heart longed A child often
Graves toy more than miser Graves gold. But
the crippled child was too thoughtful to impose
upon his brother much as to ask him to pur-
chase the desire of his heart for he knew that it
is a little difficult for poor boys in New York TO
earn money for the purpose of buying five-doDar
Christmas presents. He did not know that in a
certain box that belonged to his mother, there
was almost enough money to buy that precious ar
tce During the summer and autumn Joe had
worked hard that he might save enough to pur-
chase a suit, of clothing and toy for Tom at
Christmas That he might add TO the pennies in
the box, Joe had many errands and had car
RED many packages when his other work fin
shed That mysterious box contained nearly five
dollars and Joe expected to add to the sum before
Christmas eve, when he would make his important
purchase.
The day after the two boys had wandered down
Broadway, Joe babe his little brother goodbye
soon as they had finished their breakfast of bread
and milk, and hurried to the Herald" office for
papers to sel to the eary BIRDS he styled those
who started to work at Z o'clock He knew num-
Der of boys. and they were all kind 10 another,
sometimes advancing a loan to an unfortunate
companion without requiring security. That morn
ing he missed one of his friends. red-headed Irish
boy known as Little Billy" He remembered that
he had not been about for several days, and he
called to the boy in front of him in the long line,
and asked Say, Mike. is Little Billy sick"
No, joe replied Mike. Little Billy is locked
up. The cops got him, but it wasn't his fault. BE
up for thirty days. l am downright sorry for
the little cub, for he is square all through"
Joe's face grew sad, and at the risk of losing
his place IN line. he begged Mike step aside long
enough to tell him all about Little Billy's misfor
tune. for he imagined that the poor boy had of
tended IN some way the majesty OF the law OF the
great city Of New York.
You see" said Mike, ''the boys all the
time imposing on the little cub because he wouldn't
lie swear. nor smoke cigarettes. One day last week
be was picking up a bundle down at the Battery
for poor old lame woman. big boy pushed him
over, and be fell against the woman, and she was
hurt so much that two of the cops took her to the
hospital and another cop took Little Billy TO the
station house, and he was fined five dollars, and
because he. couldn't pay the five they locked HIM
up for thirty days"
Joe asked where Little Billy was confined. He
had made up his mind what to do. He had heard
the priest say: 1--WE should show love for the
Christ Child at all times, but especially at Christ
mas" and he knew that the best way to show love
for Him is to help those who in trouble. While
it grieved him much to deprive his own brother of
Christmas present he did not hesitate TO use the
money in the black box to pay Little Billys fine
When he counted the dimes, nckles and pennies,
he found that he had four dollars and sixty cents
The fine was five dollars. How could he get the
forty cents which he must have before he could sci
his little friend free He did not sit down to adj
NIT his heplessness but to think how he could earn
the money. He looked out the window and was de
lighted to see that the snow was falling III great
white flakes He put his brother to bed and went
out and soon earned fifty cents by sweeping SIDE
walks. The next morning he paid the fire, and
his brother newsboys contributed little sum to
put Little Billy on his feet. Joe was happy but
for the thought of the little cripple at home who
would have so poor Christmas
That night as Joe and Tom sat close to their
little stove Tom crawled on Joe's lap, and putting
his army around his neck, asked: @Joe, did you see
that hobby horse in the window last Sunday! |
wish had five dollars; / would give it to you to
buy it for me. If | had it could ride when you
are not here"
Joe tried hard to keep his tears back while he |
said: Never mind, Tom; I'll get 1t for you by
Easter"
The two boys went to bed, but only one fell
asleep Joe was restless and unhappy because his
brothers stocking would be empty on CHRISTMAS
morning. Never had he so longed for money as
be did that night. and when Tom was sleeping he !
rose and lnet by the side of his bed and asked the
Infant Jesus to send Tom something for the great
least day.
The next morning Joe went downtown with
sad heart E,,er- window he passed seemed to con-