The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-12-27
Lost and Found

1t was Christmas Eve in the city
of Berkshire The night was rough.
The elements astir in wild fury, seemed
to take a grim delight in affecting
poor mother earth with cold and dis
tress. The nervous Pickering of the
gas lights in the lonely side-street,
the ominous creaking of the sign
boards on their rusty hinges, the sud
den gusts of snow and sleet hurled
along by the angry storm-all be-
tokened a dreary night. People were
seen hurrying hither and thither anx-
ious to complete their holiday shop
ping and hasten to their coy homes.
Among the crowd that braved the
storm on this Christmas Eve was a
little girl of seven years. The clothes
that covered her slender form were
very poor, her shoes tattered, and the
heavy cloak which reached to her
ankles was quite discolored and
threadbare. A pretty red hood out
lined her little face, colored by the
brisk night with a rosy tint, and held
captive a cluster of golden ringlets
that frisked and played about her
forehead. The little wanderer, Mag
gle Bryston, carried a basket which
contained goodly number of articles
that her poor mother had sewed to
earn bread for her little ones. Maggie
was now on her way to the Jews
store to deliver the sewing. 1t was
her first trip alone. On previous oc,
casions she had accompanied her elder
brother Jack, but now the latter was
confined to his bed, the victim of a
stubborn fever.
Small and dingy was the basement
room in which the sick boy lay
At the bedside sat his good mother
telling her beads with trembling fin.
gers. The bare walls, the wretched
furniture, the Pickering candle, the
dying embers of the lazy fire-all
seemed to pronounce silent curse
upon the head of him who had plunged
good mother and her delicate chill
dren into this state of abject misery
1t was a hayward father, George
Bryston, Maggie's father had fallen
prey to the demon Drink, which
eventually brought him and his family
to the brink of ruin. Overwhelmed
with shame, he threw himself into the
arms of Despair: he deserted his dear
ones at home, and joined a clique OF
vagabonds whose rendezvous was the
riverdocks, and whose sole occupa
ton consisted in petty jobs on and
about the heavy freighters. There
was always something to earn at the
docks, and, besides, an occasional TRIP
on the large vessel afforded no little
relaxation to the weary wanderers
Meanwhile Bryston's wife and chill
dren were pining in poverty and
loneliness. The good mother, never
theless, managed to earn a little by
| dressmaking. To-day, however, she
had been delayed on account of the
sick boy; in consequence, Maggie
was obliged to deliver the sewing al
a later hour than usual.
| 1t was after seven o'clock wher
the little one turned into Main street
The Jews place was not difficult t.
| find, because it was but few doors
beyond the viaduct, and the route OF
Main street was direct Despite The
wind and sleet, the child toddled alons
as fast as her little feet would carry
her, though not without many a pusl
and jolt from people that were hurry
ing by. Once, as she endeavored tt
take the basket on the other arm
she slipped on the smooth pavement
and fell. But not tear did she shed
she felt too brave and strong. Wa:
she not helping her mamma and poor
sick Jack? This thought filled he
heart with feeling of noble pride
On reaching Clinton street, however
something happened that quite upse
our youthful heroine. Scarcely haC
she stepped from the crossing, wher
heavy limousine stealing around thu
corner, brushed past her, tore the bas
ket from her arm and sent it rolling il
the gutter. A pair of strong arm:
caught the child. while kind hand:
soon recovered the basket with The
contents that lay strewn about. The
owner of the car stopped his machine
and fastened to the scene It wa.