Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1913-12-25
Eax A }s.s.y.l;.ll
A LITTLE RUNAWAY
BY AVIS INGALLS,.

.
BY AVIS INGALLS,.
!: :: : : 7 !.
F COURSE there
was snow, newly
fallen what
&N would Christmas
III D be without that?
1SME And sleigh-bells,
SSST H. all a tinkle, and
sD.X .1 CHEEKY greetings
~, 49, and glads o m
GHSQ NJ smiles on every
!: j: ]: !: ]; ]: !"
<D'>>> I'M hand; and there
mr. NN1Ml were clear twink
M VMl ling stars now
Wu Il 4 aAN above the house
MN N.Y. tops looking down
~ NyNANS from a deep blue
sky, and, Of course,
It was nothing but hustle and hustle,
in most places, and all the necessary
hullabaloo that makes Christmas the
adorable holiday that it is-but-and
here is where my story comes in.
On quiet lstreet, where the better
class Of houses stood, trifie away
from the shopping district and the
street car lines, a little face was
pressed against the window-pane. and
two large tears stole down over
straight little nose. Other little girls
were joyfully looking forward to this
happy season, but Elizabeth Rockerby
felt sadly at loss and out of place
as she stood in her Black velvet and
lace in her grandmother's huge draw
ing-room. She had overheard the par
lor-maid and the upper house-maid,
In whispered conversation.
The poor darlint." Nora, the house
maid, had said. "The poor darlint!
And is it Christmas the little ones
after havin'? Never a bit of It! Don't
We believe it! Oh, the poor lamb!
that solemn and stiff-like in her black
dress"
Think of Cooks Ruby rugged out
like that!" said Ellen. do you think
she'd stand it, for a minute? Not on
your life; Shed be down under the
table pulling the cats tail; and she'd
be teasing her mother for goodies,
. when she got tired of that! But this
pale-faced mite, she's passed from one
calculating relative to another, till
she hasn't got speck of zzip left
in her. Do you know what Rubyd
do? She'd run away" and Ellen
laughed outright at the thought
1t was here that Elizabeth had slip
ped into the window recess. her pulses
throbbing.
II Cooks little girl could run away
why shouldn't she?
Elizabeth had not known 1t could
be SO cold when one got out into the
night; but the stars had a friendly
twinkle, and the shop-windows looked
so pretty with their tinsel drapings
and red paper bells that she almost
forgot the cold as she went eagerly
from one gay collection Of toys to an
other, an felt the companionship Of
children, as she rubbed shoulders with
ragged newsboys and pinched-faced
little girls who gazed quite as eagerly
as she at the Christmas dolls hold
ing outstretched arms to the passers-
by.
Are they--sre they to SELF" she
asked timidly, Of a little girl who
held her baby sister by the hand and
stamped her feet to keep them warm.
"Sakes alive, yes!" said the other.
in establishment. Amt that one with
the black curls too cute for any
thing!" she added, gazing at 1t with
wistful eyes.
Gould we go in and--and buy it?"
asked Elizabth earnestly.
Course we could, IL we had the
ninety eight cents"
Come on, then!" said Elizabeth.
and. grasping her incredulous compan-
ion by the hand, she plunged into the
store. THE doll with the black
curls!' she stammered. May ! buy
1t for this little girl?"
Sure" said the salesman, good ma
turedly
Elizabeth fished dollar bill out or
her little chain purse and watched