The San Francisco call., 1910-12-25

INSIDE the kitchen 1t was very bright
and warm. The little clock ticked
- on the dresser, and the fire cracked
in the CRATE. and the gaslight shone
on the clean oilcloth of the table. But
over in the low rocking chair in the
corner Mary was crying softly, her
head buried in the friendly roller towel.
The crumpled letter that lay on the
floor could have told you why. Smooth
it out puzzle over the crooked writ
ing and the tear-blots, and you will see.
Dear Mary" it said, Il am hopeing
this will reach you by Christmas as 1
know how loneley you will be all by
yourself the first year you are away. /
am writeing for mother as she says
every day o how | wish Good rite so
that | could rite to Mary my youngest
dauter so far away in america. Mother
IS well but she is looking old l do not
ike her looks at all she worries to
much about you think. however this is
not cherfull for you at Christmas poor
girl. and will try to tell you some news.
Things is very dull at Clancarthy we
have a new preest father Hennigan and
Father Mcbride has gone to Queens
town wich is fine for him. Mary Their
is one thing i want you to do and that
is rite to Della Bland. Poor girl she
is so sick now She will not liv much
longer and she keeps saying l want
Mary to rite to me cannot die till
mary rites and says she will forgive
me. You may not understand this but
got to tell you after you left last
june she made an awful set for joe.
She just about got him ware she wanted
him and that is why she wants you TO
forgiy her but
That was the point where the letter
had fallen from Mary's clenched hand.
1t was too much; and that this should
come on Christmas eve, of all times.
1t had hardly been needed to put the
final touch on her homesick grief and
loneliness, this bit of a missive from
old Clanearthy. thousands of miles
away.
And then to write kindly and sweetly
to Della Bland-Delia Bland. who had
been her dearest friend and then had
stolen Joe! That was why she had
heard so little from him. then. It was
more than she could bear. thought
Mary, and as anotherSpeal of laughter
sounded from above she choked hard
and burst out crying
For quite five minutes there was no
sound except the ticking of the clock,
the merriment above, the wind that
moaned outside and the muff1ed sobs
in the roller towel.
Above the wind came the sound of
knock on the door. The second time
she heard it, Mary arose slowly, wiped
her eyes on her sleeve, pushed back
her bronze hair, and opened the door.
a man stood without, a poorly dressed,
bearded man. with box of wood for
Ii ind
NAV bring these in?' he asked,
in a voice that was low and sweetly
Mary stood dunably inside, watched
hin, put down the wood and waited for
him to speak again.
II am cold" said the stranger. II
have had to come a long distance to
bring the wood your people wanted;
.sSurep' said Mary, and shut the door
Then as she saw how the man shivered
under his thin coat, she added, Take
the cup of coffee by the back of the
fire. There'll be nobody wantin' it,
Thank you,'' said the man. Again
there was an awkward silence.
.sYou are homesick tonight" said the
man, suddenly.
.1Oh. that 1 am.'' answered Mary,
bit of treInble in her voice Its long
ing l am for my old home across the
water
ireland" said the man. Yes.
us it yourself that's from the old
country. Oh. if you'd only be tellin'
Il have been there. have been many
Places
"At clsncarthy have you been? Do