Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-05
The Argus Daily Story
Their Poor" Christmas-By r. A. Mitchell
ConxrfShtsd. 1s11 hx As.ociatea Iatsrarx surea,

those who had been benefited would
be ungrateful and. keeping what they
had gained. would turn away from
their benefactors. Nevertheless more
than 1900 years ago on Christmas
morning child was born who when
he grew up set an example to all peo-
pie. telling them that the giver is
really more happy in giving than the
receiver. Tomorrow Is the birthday
Of this child"
But this troubles me-" said Frank.
IL don't wish to see any more of it
You showed me the homes of the chill
dren Of the rich on Christmas eve. and
they were so loaded with comforts,
with good things to eat and with toys
that it wearied me- These homes Of
the poor can't bear to look upon.
Take me away"
Then 1t seemed to Frank that the an
gel rose with him into an atmosphere
that was like summer. Birds were
singing, flowers poisoning, and he
heard the strains of music
81 am going to heaven" the boy said,
where there are neither poor nor rich.
don't like to be one Of either"
At 4 O'Clock in the morning Franks
nurse called his mother and told her
she thought there was a change for
the better. He was sleeping quietly.
The mother went into the sickroom
and. looking down at the face Of her
boy, delighted, said:
THE doctor told me the crisis would
pass tonight, and believe it has. How
sweetly he is sleeping! There is al
most a smile on his face as IL he were
dreaming of heaven"
Then she went back and told the IA.
Their to come and see. He did SO and.
heaving a great sigh of relief, said:
You are right Our boy will live.
When the children awaken we will
tell them what has happened that they
may make merry as usual on Christ
mas morning."
Before breakfast the doctor, who
was anxious about his patient. believ-
ing that during the night q change
would come, appeared at the house and
went Immediately to the sickroom.
Merry Christmas, doctor" said the
to eat Can have 'emT
What do you want firstT'
Grapes"
''The very thing" said the doctor.
What nextr
''Beefsteak and creamed potatoes"
"Goodl You're albright"
Then turning to Franks mother, he
told her to bring the grapes and whis-
pered to her to follow them with some
broth.
Doctor" called Frank AS the former
was about to leave the room, ''can
get up?''
Not just yet. my boy. You don't
want to get up. You're comfortable in
bed"
Eyes, but I want to go out with a
whole lot of things TO the poor chill
dren."
1.-The poor ehildrenI What do you
know about them?'
81 know lot ! died last night, and
an angel in white who looked just like
nurse took me all over. 1 didn't like
it at all; 1t tired me-"
That was happy Christmas day to
this family, Frank having been spared
to them. During the morning one by
one his brothers and sisters were adj
mitted to see him for few moments
only. But when Alice came Frank
begged hard that she be permitted to
stay longer, and 1t was finally decided
that she might remain half an hour.
When they were alone together he told
her all about his strange vision or
dream, or whatever it was, and she
listened to every word, and when he
had finished she said:
, You and l can't do much ourselves
this year at taking presents to the poor
! children, though l will tell papa and
mamma about it and think they will
let some of us children go in the auto
, mobile and take some things to the Nc
Cams, who used to work for US, and
, some others. But next Christmas I
promise you. frankie. dear. We'll spend
. most of our Christmas money in that
; way. taking our gifts to the poor chill
. dren. and how nice it will be to see
{ them made happy"
, That's what the angel said," Frank
l put in. HE said that the giver was
/ more blessed than the receiver"
, Alice didn't stay quite through the
D half hour, for while she was talking to
: the invalid she saw that is eyelids
! | were getting heavy. He had his hand
: in hers, 50 she ceased to talk to him
and sat motionless till he was asleep
r and then she quietly withdrew heI
!. hand and left him.
e The next Christmas was a very diff
ferent one I'm this household from any
I that had preceded it, Alice and Frank
/. having proposed the change. They
d called 1t their poor Christmas" every
|. gift being to the poor. There was ne
a surfeiting of good things at home and
+. no surfeiting for the poor, for much
as was provided there was room fol
Ia many times more. Nevertheless they
). all voted that 1t was the happies
n Christmas they had ever spent. and
- they agreed that the. would have q
= door Christmas" even second year.