The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1918-12-19
IA CHRISTINA STORY
OF A SMALL IRISH BOY
WANTED TO Be WITH HIS MA
Soos's Murphy Wanted to 30 Held In
His Mothers Arms and Not
Go to toe Crachs. hrh

80
-:JLua -',tt!s
Mrs. Murphy worked ia "a. ,'
brush factory. All day Ion
Cleaned. sorted and bornd the f&',air
Some days the air OF The room ir~.
FACTORY was white with feathers 80
they would cling to her DIRE IS and nestts
IN her hair. When sh, came home al
night her little son would clap M.
hands in glee, and chase the fluffy
elusive bits about the room. The mex
morning Mrs. Murphy would wrap the
boy in her warm sha wi, gather him In
her arms. ock the door OF her tena
ment, and carry him to the day nur-
sery. There she would place the boy
upon the floor and unwind the shawl
turn hastily and speed away to the
brush factory. -
"Goodby. me swateheart." she wouis
call. -
'"By. mither,' the little lips would
lisp. while one small hand would grave
ly ave adieu.
The very first morning that Mr..
Murphy appeared at the door Of tbs
day nursery with the boy, and had
carefully unwound her heavy shawl, the
feathers from the shawl had chung Il
the baby's yellow curis, so that his
head was all fuzz inc fluff and feath-
ers.
obi: here's a little goosie." ex-
claimed the matron's assistant. mother
Ing the frightened child. And some
how the name had reached Limerick
court and had chung to him as tena-
ciously as the feathers to his mothers
shawl.
Goosie loved the trips to and from
tho nursery. The heavy shawl was so
nice and warm, and 1t was such fun
20 pick the feathers from It's folds and
blow them into the air. But best of
all. he liked to feel the caress Of his
mothers arms Inc the pressure against
her breast and her warm cheek close to
his. The little excursions which Goosie
and his mother made each morning and
evening were all too short for the boy.
When she kissed him goodbye at the
nursery door his face would lengthen.
He was thinking how good 1t would
seem to be cuddled in those strong
arms all M day.
Mother DEAR" he announced, trem-
ulously, one morning as h was get
ting him read for the nursery, its
wishin' We would stay at home today
l am"
The lines about Mrs. Murphy's
mouth softened and, with head tilted
slightly to one side and her two rough,
reddish hands pon her hips, she
stepped back several PAGES and proud
ly surveyed Goosie.
tits workin' l am today. me swate-
heart" she said. Then quick to no.
tice the boys face lengthen. h added,
There's poles upon poles O. fithers
to sort"
Its thinkin' I am that not all the
little biys' mithers be sortin' fithers,"
protested Goosie.
Right ye arc. me swatie," answered
Mrs. Murphy. bravely. but a blissin'
1t is thot I have me eyes and me hands
for sortin' o fithers, to buy the bit o
bread and mate for ye, me little mon.'
This was a new thought to GosSie.
It had never occurred to him that his
mother spent all her days among the
feathers to buy him bread. Carefully
he picked one of the feathers from the
old shawl. He did not look up, but
his mother could see the lips CULVER.
IT'S lovin' We, l was, mither." he
sobbed, "and-and wishin' we to stay
at home and hold me III yer arms
One tear persisted in getting away
from Mrs. Murphy. 1t trickled down
her cheek and splashed upon Goosie's
shoulder.
Bliss ye, me heartie," she burst
forth, its loikin' l would to be dom
the vera same thing. and I'm thinkin'
It's but a bit Of a whole before Wen
be enji'ln' the Christmas togither."
,'ls Tho Thr;rtr,a @ fN~ fhtp, a q sort O
fithers?" asked Goosie anxiously.
It's for the vera same" replied Mrs.
Murphy. reassuringly.
Goosie's face had Frightened per-
ceptibly at the mention of Christmas,
but il was apparent that his mind was
not quite at ease. He took one step
nearer his mother. clutched the fold
of her dress nervoGsly and looked into
her face.
"And-and mither, will we be holdin'
me in yer arms the Christmas day.
he begged, with a quaver.
Mrs. Murphy's face was scanned and
her hands were hard and horny, but
she loved this quaint. little son OF
hers. She was proud Of his yellow
curls, and his strange ways, and when
she looked down into the small, anx-
ious face upturned to hers that morn
Ing, she caught him impulsively to
her breast and Rugged him so tightly
that mother and son in a moment
were laughing in high glee.
Many were the consultations Mrs
Murphy and Goosie held the next few
days concerning the approaching festi-
val. AS the holiday neared the boy
! became greatly excited and h jour
| neys home from the nursery enhanced
the little fellows high spirits. The