The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-02-01
Christmas story Of the Bovsb lonae lbo 0Qas 5000 to
the LITTLE lulecks ano noow lie Raoeo the Coy Shops


SHr day was tho twenty fourth of the month. and
the month the month Of December How
ever let begin with the bock-a. city BLOCK
FORKS East Side
Should you for any reason walk around this block.
you win ind that Bowery side offers tho usual
rank of secondrats stores foul srog shops ana penny
n-the-yot ~stabIshmentsg Win bank on ono corner
walled puttressed barred this bank like unto
citadel The other three sides show unooken fronts
Of dwelling houses which were rich and Tremendously
impressive hundred years when they were built
Tns only curious thng-and mention 1t simply be-
is cursouss entrance between the two mid
die the Second SIDE just wide enough
TO permit 10 through without scratching
the house walls with Its hubs.
That Is you would TO circle the block
but should prevail the sexton to open the locked
iron gatcsand he couldn't be expected 10 90 this under
eoiar-anA enter by the hearseway. you viii find
yourself ancient buryng ground. tucked away in
of the block
The windows OF the little overlooked it
and both baby had found the prospect
pleasant during the summer months when the
on the ground On our twenty-forth OF
December there green. the same having been
whttely obltersted by the falling snow. which was
coming down in fakes big and soft and clnging as
a baby's hand
The three little Weeks were all alone in the world
Their gone these three years and since
the ship he sailed In second officer went down with all
board. somewhere Off the Horn. the general impress
he sound asleep at the bottom of the
soath Atlantic had much to sustain it. This view was
certainly entertained by Mrs Week. who herself
shed pneumonia the April before the Christmas In
present hand and was buried somehow The little
Weeks lived the second floor OF the house. They
had the two rooms, small, the other smaller
the windows presenting that graveyard glimpse already
chroncled Miss Clancy who made flowers out OF coll
ored paper and was and plump and pretty.
was home in the front second floor. and the
sicove the front hall The third only remain
ing foor-aI of tbeonged to tho fiddle king fiddle
mending. fiddle playing Herr Bernstein. who in
leased the whole house and sublet to the Others ana
from whose aerie there occasionally qoated down
getic odors born garlic cheese and onions
as he went about his solitary cookery
Herr Bernstein bitter poor like oil the others
alone. having neither wife wean. shifted for
himself In things domestic He washed and swept
scrubbed and cooked mended and the only help he
asked or had from professional hre-ighter
appeared at o'clock every Saturday morning set
match to Herr Bernstens kndng for which service
he received cents. Herr Bernstein was extremely
pous and orthodox. you might have known by the
little locks or hair which Jutted
ear. and the praying shawl much about neck
Policeman McCue did in tho house; no walked
the street In 'front.' and. when he didn't sleep his
precnc, station found a bed at hs mothers IN ra.t
Broadway.
Mr.. Van Brent, remaining character 80 far from
dwelling In the house lad much as heard It,
end owned a huge gray-sone mansion. Central Park
East where he transacted existence in lofty.
OF extreme fashion and eynicism Many mothera mind
fa OF the young gentlemans millions and mansion
ionaiy single state had soaght marry their daughters
TO Mr. Van Brent He stl a bachelor however
for was it not written that it
spread his net IN the sight OF bird?
After Mrs Week died. the little Weeks shifted
Tor themselves That Is to Jack became the
winner going forth night morning to sell papers
run errands do whatsoever else should taskwise
into his young hand. bringing home average SO
cents a day and twice dollar Bobbe re-
manned at home TO look after baby Paul. who his
took life easily confidently became his
perfect health of years.
Tie small Weeks were living in their two rooms
when their mother passed away and since Herr
stein with forgetfulness that Ill became his age
rare. had asked rent they naturally
well too. prpttv
Clancy looked often in sweep dust things
10 rights and see TO 1t that the Weeks didn't sr
back into for of buttons. from
hali faucet whsrew1th wash their hands
Also. Herr bernstein paid them occasional visit
Herr gnary wrnkled had black beady eyes
ferocously curved gzzied hair and beard and in
The beginning the Week children afraid of him,
English not 10 be understood But inasmuch two-b
piece always remained rested his hand on
this table and he had when 1t stormed hard
and ratified The windows In alarming brought
TIE three little Weeks to his apartments along
with Miss Clancy who badly frightened
the lille Weeks and proceeded the spirits OF
his by private and exaussitey sweet perform
the cello. they IN time struck quite friend
ssip with h!ns
The Weeks got along famouxiy as have said being
healthy trio of brats might find a long
Gays search and st until Jack the bread
winner. sprsined his foot jumping a Third avenue
aays This catastrophe had overtaken Weeks just
before they We're granted the honor Of Introduction
income For Jaeks foo, sweed to size nat scod AZ
soes and put going abroad about bis trade OF selling
y isn't time but responm biIity that ripens
Of Week Jack. teeth OF his years developed
NsSGS6ES sAS52SAEs&
~ZXH3AyHS3 g3HA22H4c