The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1914-12-24
InstaHment Three.

Why, Jamesy," said !, as / vaguely
eomprehended the real drift of his
thought, ''the package is for you. and
II you won't open it, WILL" and as !
spoke ] began unfolding it. Here"
said |, is pair of gloves a little girl
about your size told me to give to you,
because ! was telling her about you,
over where / live, and it's a clear
case, and laughed lightly to myself
as ! noticed a slow flush creeping to
his face. And here" said /, lis a
bang-up pair of good old-fashioned
socks, and, il they'll fit you. there's an
old woman that wears specs and a
mole on her nose, told me to tell you.
for her, that she knit them for your
Christmas present, and If you don't
wear them she'll never forgive you.
And here" continued, rs a cap, as
fuzzy as a woolly-worm, and as warm
cap, reckon, as you ever stood on
your head in; it's a cheap cap. but
bought it with my own money, and
money that l worked mighty hard to
get, because l amt rich; now, If was
rich, I'd buy you plug; but I've got
an idea that this little, old, woolly cap,
with earbObs to it, and a snapper to go
under your chin, don't you see, won't
be a bad cap to knock around in, such
weather as this. What do you say,
now! Try her on once" and as | spoke
turned to place it on his head.
"Oomh-ooh!" he negatively mur-
INJURED, putting out his hand, his closed
lips quivering-the little frowzy head
dropping forward. and the ragged shoes
shuffling on the floor.
Come" said l, my own voice grow
ing curiously changed; won't you take
these presents? They are yours; you
must accept them, Jamesy, not because
they're worth so very much, or be-
cause they're very fine," continued.
bending down and folding up the par
Gel, but because. you know, ] want
you to, and-and-you must take
them; you must" and as / concluded.
I thrust the tightly folded parcel be-
meath his arm, and pressed the little
tattered elbow firmly over it.
There you are" said I. "Freeze on
TO it, and well skip off here at the
avenue. Come"
hardly dared to look behind me till
found myself upon the street, but as !
threw an eager glance over my shoul'
der l saw the little fellow following,
not bounding joyfully, but with a
solemn step, the little parcel hugged
closely to his side, and his eyes bent
soberly upon the frozen ground.
And how's Sis by this timer"
asked cheerily, finging the question
backward, and walking on more
briskly.
Bout the same," said the boy,
Frightening little, and skipping into
a livelier pace.
About the same, eh? and how's
that?" asked.
"Oh, she can't git around much like
she used to, you know; but she's
a-gittin' better all the time. She set
up mighty nigh all day Yesterday" and
as the boy spoke the eyes lifted with
the old fash, and the little frowzy
head tossed with the old defiance
Why. she not down sick?" said /.
sudden ache Of sorrow shifting me.
Yes" replied the boy, she's been
bad long time. You see." he broke
in by way of explanation, "she didn't
have no shoes ner nothin' when winter
come. and kind O. took cold. you know,
and that give her the whoopin' cough
SOS she couldn't git around much. You
fist ort to see her now! Oh, she's
a-gittin' all right now, you can bet!
and she said Yesterday shed be plum
well Christmas, and that's on'y tomor-
ry. Guess mott" and as the little fel.
low concluded this exultant speech, he
circled round me, and then shot for
ward like a rocket.
Hi! Jamesy!" I called after him.
pausing at stairway and stepping
in the door.
The little fellow Joined me in an
instant. Want that shine now?" he
inquired with painting eagerness.
Not now, Jamesy," said l. for I'm
going to be quite busy for a while.
This is my stopping-place here-the
second door on the right, upstairs, re-
nlember-and work there when I'm
in the city, and I sometimes sleep
there. when work late. And now /
want to ask a very special favor of
yOu," ] continued, taking little
sealed packet from my pocket: here's
a little box that you're to take to Sis.
with my cOmpliments-the compli-
meSss Of the season, you understand
-and tell her | sent it. with particu-
lar directions that she shouldn't break
it open till Christmas morning-not
till Christmas morning, understand!
Then you tell her that would like
very much to come and see her, and
II she says all right-and you must
give me a good 'send-off,' and she'll
say all right If 'Jamesy' says all right
then come back here, say two hours
from Nv, or three hours, or tonight.
anyway. and wen go down and see
Sis together-what do you say?"
Charles kinssiey's Prayer.