New-York tribune., 1911-12-17
Chris tmaS Eve

T 1GHl How cold am II must
J be a bitter night outside. As
a matter OF fact, however,
this place is not inside MI Of the
freezing air that the room ~ Will
hold comes and goes here as freely
as it does in the street Surely 1t
must have been warmer in the sta
bic where Christ was born nineteen
centuries and odd years ago tonight,
than il is here: otherwise He could
not have lived. What should We be
now, if He had frozen to death that
night, | wonder. ! hope He VIII be
well wrapped up when He comes 10
me in the morning; for there VIII AZ
not be a spark OF fire in the CRATE ~
All the coal saved from day TO -
dav. since Thanksgiving, that there
might be a cheerful blaze here to-
1i6ht did not make much of a fire,
after all. And had TO break up one
Of nv two stools for kindling in or
der to ignite the coal My landlord
will have 10 stand up now when he
comes for the rent money, and then
20 away without it. hope he viii
call when Jesus is here in the morning. lie does not
know Him | am quite sure, and would make MS usual
harsh demand for the rent His face would be an inter
sting study when ne knows that it IS Jesus asking,
Are YOU doing unto this starving old man ttS YOU
would that he should do unto YOU Even Freddy
would be abashcd by that question from such source
don't YOU think; He might perhaps 60 away without
repeating his usual formula, Il must have my rent or
the room.
GOOD evening little one. did not hear the door
~ opened and closed. Oh, YOU came in softly, did
vou 50 as not TO disturb me were eating supper
Why, Dear | had supper long ago. 50 long ago that
! believe | am hungry again. And this Is your new
dolly is it; Where Is the old one; My, my. She Is
grandmother now and goes to bed carly does She:
How time does fly to be sure, When am going to cut
my long white hair; Not till warm weather comes,
guess. Why do you ask; You want TO make wig OF
it for dolly's grandmother, do you; Well, you shall
have it for a Christmas present tomorrow. Bring in
your mothers shears and it off after Jesus goes
1 he
morning. Surely. He comes every Christmas morn
ing. If He did not there would be Santa Claus to
visit little folks. Going to tell Mama, are you; Well
a Merry Christmas and goodnight
T HAVE no stockings to hang up but it may be worth
while put card the door asking Santa to leave
sack Of coal and loaf OF bread should not feel the
cold much If ! had eaten anything since When
did have my last meal? | wonder. Somehow don't
seem to remember will 60 to bed, think.
DOLLY! Dollv did not expect you Dear; but
- am so glad you came this Christmas Eve! But
am the only here % receive you. Your three
are out in the world somewhere. do not know where
they are now Aftcr YOU went away to join our little
Hugh the boys and did get along together very
comfortably. could not become rcconcilcd 10 the ab
scncc Of YOU and the baby and fear that was not
patient with the boys | should have been They
missed and gcyci for at first; but grief does not
last with bows at their ages They grew away from
sorrow and became unmanagcablc. knew they should
be in school, and to your brother. He offered
care for and educate them il would pay half the
! went with them TO Baltimore, and left them at his
home
Alone. | returned to the cabin in the mountains,
where we had been So happy for three years Every
thing in the house reminded me Of YOU but without YOU
the place was dcsolatc During the day | wandered
over the hills and tolcl IN the mine. | took out and
sold only enough % pay my expenses and the quar-
tcrly bill, sent by your brother In that way lived for
fifteen years.
And then one night broke into the largest chambcrof
that had ever seen. went into town, and decided
an undivided onc-fourh Of the mine to each of your
~ IL 1 Il