Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1910-12-24

A STORY FOR CHRISTMAS.
Why the Little Girl In the Car Had No
Bundles.

TT was near the middle Of the after
noon. The car WAS full OF subur-
banitcs returning home laden with
purchases for the holidays.
A fair haired matron entered the car,
followed by Il little girl. Bo;h had
as many bundles as they could carry.
and when the elder of the two had
been provided with Il seat there was
only one other to be had. II was 10y
the side of large man w.;h Il closely
cropped beard The little girl WAS
duly installed in that seat. her pack
ages disposed cf to her satisfaction.
and as the train started of she began
n conversation with the large man.
He had smiled at her and tnkcn a part
of her burden on his own lap.
awful hard work buying 50 many
Christmas things. isn't it," she said
"Yes, ii must be hard work"
"But l like it. I'd most rather buy
Christmas gifts than to go skating.
and I'd rather 20 skating than do
anything else 'ccpt eat Candy-and go
to Sunday school," she added. pulling
down the corners of her mouth as if
with a sudden fear that she was be-
coming unduly frivolous.
That's my mamma over thCre-that
lady with the pretty hair. It's all her
own hair too. Don't you think my
mammals niceT'
"Indccd ! do"
$50 does papa. He takes mamma on
his lap sometimes, just like she was Il
little girl Don't you think she'd he a
pretty big armful?'
"H'm-no; none too big"
"Well, | guess that's what papa
thinks. He's Il big man-rncSt as big
as you are. And he's just as strong,
lie carries me round on his shoulder;
sets me up on it. you know. | hold
on by his head, and amt hit afraid
You can't guess what I've got for my
papa in this bundle"
"a pound of candy?'
The little girl laughed GIccfully.
"No. | 'spect he's got a lot of candy
for me. Guess again"
ga necktic?'
"No; 'tisn't that, either. Mamma
ways just right
"Great SCI mean | don't doubt it."
"Youd never guess. I'll have to tell
you. It's a mustache cup, just the
loveliest one l could find, and it's aw-
full pretty. Papa. he's got great, long
black mustache. Wouldn't You think
it would be dreadful nhandy to kiss
I,n
"Why-er''-
"Wcll, it isn't. You get used to it,
you know. When you want to kiss
anybody right bad you amt going to
let mustache stop YOU"
A tall young girl on the seat immCdi-
ately iu front of the two was seized
with a violent fit of coughing that
made her face startlingly red. and she
pulled down the blind to keep the sun
out of her eyes.
"Most everybody In this car is load
ed down with Christmas things" went
on the little girl Its a good thing
your seat isn't full or I'd "a had to
stand up. Don't you have any Christ
mas at your house,"
Vii lNlIil'tS. lNS, We biNtlSo hdNt
Christmas, of course"
Maybe you haven't got any little
folks?'
ooh, yes; I've got little girl about
your size"
"Is she good little girl?'
Indeed she is"
Doesn't she ever pout:"
Never"
"Well, do sometimes when they
won't give me another piece of cake.
Doesn't she ever go off to some corner
and throw herself down on the lounge
and kick tho door with her toes and
say she's mad and hates everybody|
Never"
Never acts bit cross and naughty?"
"No, never"
'She must be a dear little girl. Don't
you love her very much?"
Yes; oh, yes.''
"Then why haven't you got your
arms full of Christmas presents to take
home to herr"
Because she doesn't need them, my
dear" said the man, gently stroking
his little friends glowing check. "Sbe
has gone to live with the angels, s,"-(.
w. Taylor in Chicago Tribune,