Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1918-12-19
A CHRISTMAS STORY
OF A SMALL IRISH BOY
WANTED TO BE WITH HIS MA
Goosie Murphy Wanted to Be Held In
His Mothers Arms and Not
Go to the Creche.


Mrs. Murphy worked in the feather
brush factory. All day long she
cleaned, sorted and bound the feathers.
Some days the air of the room in the
factory was white with feathers and
they would cling to her dress and nestle
In her hair. When she came home at
night her little son would clap 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 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 would
call.
"'By. mither,'' the little lips Would
lisp, while one small hand would grave
ly wave adieu.
The very first morning tina Mrs.
Murphy appeared at the door OF the
day nursery with the boy, n had
carefully unwound her heavy shawl, the
feathers from the shawl had chung to
the baby's yellow curls, SO that his
head was all fuzz and fluff and feath-
ers.
oh" 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 n had chung to him as tena-
ciously as the feathers to his mothers
shawl.
Goosie loved the trips to and from
the nursery. The heavy shawl was so
nice n warm, and it was such fun
to pick h feathers from its old and
blow them into the air. But best of
all. he liked to feel the caress OF his
mothers arms and the pressure against
her breast M 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 it would
seem to be cuddled in those strong
arms all one day.
Mother DEAR he announced, trem-
ulously, one morning as h 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 pom her hips, she
stepped back several PAGES and proud
ly surveyed Goosie.
Its workin' l am today. me swate-
heart" she said. Then quick to no.
tice the boys ace lengthen, she added,
There's poles upon poles o. fithers
to sort"
Its thinkin' 1 am that not all the
little biys' mithers he sortin' fithers,'
protested Goosie.
Right We are, me Swatie," answered
Mrs. Murphy, bravely, but a blissin'
1t is thot l AVE me eyes and 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' We. I 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 t-ickled down
her cheek and splashed upon Goosie's
shoulder.
BLISS We, me heartie." h burst
forth, "1t's loikin' I would to be doin'
the vera same thing. and I'm thinkin'
its but q bit Of a whole before we'll
be enjiin' the Christmas togither."
rs the Christmas for thin as sorts
fithers?" asked Goosie a%nxiously.
It's for the vera same" replied Mrs.
Murphy, reassuringly.
Goosie'ss face had frightened per-
ceptibly at the mention OF Christmas,
but It was apparent that his mind wal
NOT quite at 9 He took one step
nearer his mother, clutched the fold
Of her dress nervously and looked into
her face.
"And-and mither. will We be holdin'
me in yer arms the Christmas day?'
he begged, with q quaver.
Mrs. Murphy's face was scanned and
her hands were hard and horny. but
The stismata.