Middletown transcript., 1914-12-19
InstaHment Three.

why, Jamesy," said /, as ! vaguely
the real drift OF mis-
thought, "the package is for you, ana
II ju won't open it, will" and as !
spoAe / began unfolding it. Here
said 'is a pair Of gloves q little girl
about your size told me to give to you'
beca4se / was telling her about you'
over where l live. and it's a clear
case, /" and laughed lightly to myseh
as l noticed a slow flush creeping to
his flee. And here" said l. rs
bang.tp pair OF good old-fashioned
socks, land, If they'll fit you, there's an
old wSman that wears specs and
mole cn her nose, told me to tell you'
for hen that she knit them for your
Christmas present. and If you dom
wear them she'll never forgive you.
And he te," / continued, lis cap as
fuzzy a4 woolly-worm, and as warm
q cap, Itreckon, as you ever stood on
your he, ! in; it's cheap cap Dut !
bought i with my own money ana
money that / worked mighty hard TO
get. becatse amt rich; now, If l was
rich, I'd iuy you plug; but I've got
an idea tlat this little, old, woolly cap
with earbdbs to it, and a snapper to go
under youF chin, don't you see. won
be a bad cap to knock around in sucn
weather al this What do you say
nowi Try her on once" and as | spoke
| turned tc place it on his head
>"Oomh-oon!" he negatively mur
INJURED, putting out his hand, his closed
lips ouivering-the little frowzy head
dropping forward, and the ragged SHOES
Shufiing on the floor.
Come" said l, my own voice grow
ing curiously changed; "wSn't you taK'
these presents? They are yours; yo'
must accept them, Jemesy, not because
they're worth so very much, or pc
cause they're very fine. ! continued
bending down and folding up the par
eel but because, you know, wan
you to, and-and-you must tax
them: YOU must!" and as ! concluded
I thrust the tightly folded parcel oe
OeAIn MS hFuI, anu ~ SAS~
tattered elbow firmly over 1t.
"There you are" said I. Freeze o
70 II. and well skip of here at IN
avenue. Come" =,
| hardly dared to lock behind me u
I found myself upon the street. but as
threw an, eager glance over my snou
der I saw the little fellow followini
not bounding ioyfuily, but with
solemn step, the little parcel hugge
closely to his side, and his eyes oel
soberly upon the frozen ground.
"And} how's Sis by this time?
/ asked jcheerily, flinging the Quesuo
backward, and walking on mol
brisk1y.
"'Bout the same" said the 90
Frightening a little. and skipping In
q livelier pace.
TAbout the same, Ell? ana no"
that?" l asked. =,
"Oh, she can't git around much III
she used to, you know; but she
a-eittin' better all the time. She
up mighty nigh all day Yesterday" Al
as the boy spoke the eyes lifted WI
the old fash, and the little froW
head tossed with the old defiance.
"Why. she not down sick?" said
q sudden ache of sorrow shifting me.
yes" replied the boy, she's be
bad a long time. You see" he bro
In by way Of explanation, "she DID
have no shoes ner nothin' when win'
come, and kind O. took cold, you kno
and that give her the whoopin' cou
SOS she couldn't git around much. 7
fist ort to see her now! Oh, sh
a-gittin' all right now, you can b
and shD said yesterday she'd be pl'
well Christmas, and that's on'y tom
~. Guess not!" and as the little
| low concluded this exultant speech
circled round me, and then shot
l ward like a rocket.
| "Hi! Jamesyg / called after b
] pausing at q stairway and stepp
i In the door
The little fellow Joined me in
instant. Want that shine now?"
inquired with painting eagerness.
'''Not now, Jamesy," said /, for
going 20 be quite busy for a VIII
This is my stopping-place here
SECOND door on the right, upstairs,
Inemberand / work there when
In the city, and / sometimes 81
there, when / work late. And no
want to ask very special favor
= 4 you / continued, taking a Il
sealed packet from my pocket: "he
n . little box that you're to take to
m with my complimentsAthe con
Z ments OF the season, you underst
( -an5 tell her / sent it, with part
Ter directions that she shouldn't bT
Il open till Christmas morning
hl Christmas morning, understa
Then you tell her that ] would
4. very much to come and see her,
II she says all right-and you n
give me a good 'send-off, and s
saw All right If 'Jamesy says all T
then come back here, say two h
from now, or three hours, or toni
anyway. and wen 20 down and
is.Aagether- what 90 you say
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