The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1918-12-19
A CHRISTMAS STORY
OF A SMALL IRISH BOY:
WANTED TO De wlTH Hss MA.
Soesis Murphy Warted to as Hold In
His Mothers Arm. and Nnt
Go to the CYache.

Ia tHfsesak&z
Go to the CYachs.
Mrs. Murphy worked In the teacher
brush factory. All day long she
cleaned. sorted and bor1d the feathers.
Some days. the air OF ..ne room. insstho'
factory was white with feathers and
they would cling to her dress and nestle
IN her hair. When sins came home at
night her little ION would / his
hands in glee.- and Chase the fluffy,
elusive bits about the room. The next
morning Mrs. Murphy would wrap the
boy In her warm shawl. gather him In
her arms. lock the door OF her tena-
ment and carry him to the day snur-
sery. There Che would place the boy
upon the floor and unwind the shawl,
u hastily and speed away to the
brush factory.
"Goodpy. mo s~wateheart." she would
call.
"By. mither.' the little lips would
lisp. while one small hand would grave.
" wave adieu.
The very first morning that Mira
Murphy appeared at the door OF the
day nursery with the boy, and had
carefully unwound her heavy shawl. th.
feathers from the shawl had clung to
h baby's yellow curls, SO that hia
head was all fuzz and fluff and feath-,
ers.
"Ch!s here's a little goosie." ex-
claimed the matron's assistant, mother
Ing the frightened child. And
how the name had reached Limerick
court n had chung to him as tena-
ciously as the feathers to his mothers
shawl.
HFh EH--.rA
Gooste loved the trips to and from
the nursery. The heavy shawl was 30
nice and warm. and 1t was such fun
TO pick the feathers from its folds and
blow them into the air. But best OF
ell. he liked to feel the caress OF his,
mothers arms and the pressure against
her breast and her warm cheek close to
his. Tha little excursions which Goosie
and his mother made each morning and
evening were all toe short for The boy.
When she kissed him goodbye at the
nursery door his face would iengthen.
He was thinking how good 1t would
seem to be cuddled In those strong
arms all one day.
Mother DEAR" he announced, trem-
ulously, one morning as she was get,
ting him read for the nursery. "it's
wishin' We would stay at home today
I am"
The lines about Mrs. Murphy's
mouth softened and. with head tilted
Slightly to one side and her two rough,
reddish hands upon her hips, h
stepped back several PAGES and proud
~ surveyed Goosie.
It's workin' 1 am today, me swate-
heart" she said. Then quick to no.
tice the boys face lengthen. she added,
There's poles upon poles O. fithers
to Sort
TITS thinlin' I am that not all the
little biys' mithers be sortin' fithers,"
protested .Goosie.
Plight We are, me swatie," answered
Mrs. Murphy. bravely. but a blissin'
1t is thot l a me eyes n me hands
for sortin' O. fithers. to buy the bit o.
bread and mate for We, me little mon"
This was a new thought to Gossie.
II 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' ye, L was. mither." he
sobbed, 'and-and wishin' We to stay
at home and hold me in 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 hea-tie,' she burst
forth, its loikin' I would to be doin'
| the vera VI thing, and In thinkin'
it's but a bit Of a whole before Well
be enji'in' the Christmas togither."
rs the Christmas for thin as sorts
fithers?" asked Goosie a%nxiousiy.
It's for the vera same" replied Mrs.
Murphy, r~eassuringly.
Goosie's face had frightened per-
| ceptibly at the mention Of Christmas.
but it was apparent that his mind was
not quite at ease. He took one step
| nearer his mother, clutched the fold
| OF her dress nervohsly and looked into
her face.
"And-and mither, will We be hoIdin'
me in yer arms the Christmas day."
he begged. with 8 a
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 hen
she looked down into the small, anx-
, ious face upturneo to hers that morn
| ing, she caught him impulsively to
her breast and Rugged him so tightly
hat 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 festl-
val. AS the holiday neared the boy
became greatly excited and the jour
neys home from the nursery enhanced
F, the little fellows high spirits. The
passing crowds, the brightly lighted
The Stiemata.
! Silent the mountain; on the plains below
The morning broke in silent waves afar;