The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-12-07
Their "Poor"
Christmas
How 1t Came TO Be an Insti-
tuition In the Family
BY T. a. Mitchell
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.
Observation-Disclosures

Christmas in the Ripley family was
coming on. but there were none Of
those delightful anticipations that usu-
ally attend the approach Of the day
which marks the birth OF the Christ
Child. Little Frank. the youngest.
boy of seven, was lying III, aud the
doctors gave slight hope Of his recov.
cry.
On Christmas eve Frank lay in a
stupor. His brothers and sisters were
sitting in an adjoining room talking
in low voices. bur he could occasionally
hear word or part OF sentence The
word most used was Christmas Frank
had passed through four or FIVE OF
these joyful anniversaries after he was
Old enough to appreciate them. and a
faint interest, Notwithstanding his con
dition, was awakened
Then he beard The word death spoken
almost in n whisper and the children
wondered whether the dead can enjoy
Christmas. One said that the dead
were everywhere at Christmas. but
their enjoyment consisted in giving
presents to the living Another de
clared that these spirits visited only
the poor Then Frank heard bis old
est sister say:
1T may be that Santa Claus is one
of these persons who lived. but have
become spirits This would account
for his being everywhere at once"
Il never thought of that" said Joe
when was little kid soon ceased
to believe in Santa, but if had
thought Of him as Il spirit might have
believed in him till today"
Frank was approaching the crisis Of
his disease and was a very sick child
The doctor had told his parents that
during the night he would either die or
In the morning be much better
Among other things the children talked
about was this crisis, some speaking
of Frank dying, others wondering. II
he passed the crisis. whether be would
be well enough the next day for them
to celebrate Christmas. And Alice the
girl next older than the sick boy and
his inseparable playmate. said that she
shouldn't enjoy The day anyway unless
Frank were able to enjoy it with her
1t must not be supposed that Frank
listened to all this as another would
listen to IT, He was in high fever
and 1t seemed to him that be was in
the midst Of turmoil. What the
children said seemed to pass by him
like bits Of mist scudding before
driving wind. Then all was still for
awhile. Possibly the poor boy fell into
n slumber. He saw something white
bending over him. great wings extend
ing from Its shoulders The figure
took him up in its arms and rose slow
ly with him. The ceiling opened, and
Frank found himself passing ont un
der the stars
~ have died" he said to himself
and an angel Is carrying me away
Now that / am a spirit. | wonder If
shall be permitted to visit live people
on Christmas eveY'
Now Frank had not died Mt all. He
was in very low condition. and his
nurse. clad In white. had bent over
him and lifted him up in her arms to
change his position in the bed
Dreams sometimes lead us through
long chain of events, though the
time occupied Is but fraction of n
second. And while | don't know
whether this was a dream or n condl
ton occasioned by the boys weakened
faculties. Frank was long while nm
der its influence. | am not prepared
to say that there was nothing in 1t
which we call supernatural. The i'm
mortal world lies all about and very
near us. and 1t is not impossible that
an innocent child should be given
sight into things that are hidden from
men.
BE this as it may, Frank was car.
ried in the angels arms out into the
night. He looked down upon the
lights and the thronGs who were pass
ing along the street going in and ont
OF the shops, for. though 1t was dark,
the people had not finished their buy.
ing for Christmas. The scene was
busy without and busy within Frank
could look at both and at the same
time.
And he saw the tired clerks In the
stores waiting on customers and the
children hanging up their stockings
The angel took him to the homes of
the children of well to do parents. He
saw them NIL In their richly furnished
rooms going to bed in embroidered
nighties. many of them crawling In
under silk and down comforters. In
the closets were innumera bic pack
ages TINT had not yet been opened
while tables were heaped with can
dies and fruits
Take me where | can see the poor
Children said Frank to the angel
These have so much that II tires me
to look at 1t all"
Then the angel passed over that
pnrt OF the city where the poor chill
dren lived. and Frank was astonished
at their humble. many Of them squal
Id. quarters In their larders be could
see nothing for a Christmas dinner.
and but few OF them had any toys
And Frank saw something that made
him wonder II was himself in a din
gy room with no furniture In 1t except
a chair and a small table He was
lying in n corner on a mattress GOV.
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