Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-20


that will instill in the spirit of thank
fitness on this anniversary of the
birth of the Christ child. Gods best
gift to mankind
That is one of the things that l am |
going to show to you on this day, |
Mr.. Goodfellow, and if what | show
you does not touch your heart, I shall
forever forsake my way during the
Christmas season and follow your
way. So come with me. my friend.
and you shall see that which will
make you sad, and in making you sad
will make you want to do for others,
some Of those things which have fall
len to your lot in your life of content
ment and ease
Tread lightly, now. Mr. Goodfellow,
else you shall disclose your presence
here to those whom we shall view for
a few brief minutes. Take up your
station here. Look through that be-
smeared pane of window glass, the
only one remaining in that oldfash-
Toned window in that poor home. We're
it not occupied by that poor mother
and her little ones, l should call it
poor howell, but since they occupy
If, I must give it the name of home,
for there is the spirit of home within
1t, even though It has so few of the
necessities of life. You see that worn
and haggard woman there? 1 shall
tell you what she has been doing
since early this morning, before sun
rise, before you had awakened from
sleep on your comfortable bed. Yes,
before many people in this city were
awakened from their slumbers, she,
poor thing, had arisen from her hard
cot and with scarcely a sound. kindled
the fire to break into the cold that
crept into the home during the long
cold night. That done, she gathered
together the few morsels of food left
in the home, prepared them for break
fast, ate sparingly herself SO that hel
o three children might have enough tt
% satisfy their hungry young bodies, ant
70 then, still noislessly, lifted the latcf
% Of her door, went out into the cold
% scantily clad, and away to a day o.
10 work. harder than you have ever i'm
10 agined in your widest vagaries.
2 And all day long, even after dark
10 ness had swooped over the earth ant
10 had enmeshed everything in ink,
10 blackness, she worked on and on. Fo
hours, she stopped over a steamin,
Tub Of clothes, and cleaned them
70 When she had done with that, she con
s. tinued her work in other portions O
L that rich home, ever scrubbing an,
L cleaning and working harder thai
many men work in any day. Tire
and faint. she has returned home cal
rying with her some coarse fare 70
I her little ones
while she has been away, that lars
est little girl that you see in there
has cared for those two crawling bal
! les. You can see that she Is not NOR
r, than eight years old, but all day Ions
70 she has had the care of two children
70 requiring more work than an ordinar
=, mother is called upon to expend in tn
- - same time. When she has had tim,
=. she has tried to clean the home, br
- - she is little lass and her efforts sho
70 little result.
~ Friend, see how eagerly they al
rs sitting about the table board. Watc
20 that little fellow grasp for dry crus
- Can you imagine yourself eating
~ with any relish? They are near
rs done with their evening meal, the Sc
- ond of the day. See how hungri
- they devour the last crumb. Too 500
:, il is all gone. and, perhaps, they wi
~ have to go to bed. their little bodi,
~ clamoring for more food, more nou
70 ishment.
rs See them gather around their mot
70 er now, no doubt to hear a tale