The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1922-12-08

Suddenly a house doomed up before
him that seemed to be settling into the
snow like ship on the brink of
laundering. Even as the Christmas
Angel lit the first match, shielding 1t
from the wind. and holding it close to
see the house number the door was
opened. He had been expected. An
old negro man bowed him in. His face
was sad and wrinkled, and his hair
the color Of wood ashes. He wore
enormous carpet slippers and a check
cred shirt, open at the neck, showed
underwear Of coarse red flannel.
"We-all been 'spectln' you, sal"
he quavered. ILL gran'chil' sick in
Chicago hospital. Ellen! Ellen!" he
called, shrilly.
A slow, heavy movement in the room
beyond, and stout NANNY" came
into view, breathing heavily as her
weight threw her slightly from side to
side, as she walked.
| "De lettah come?' asked the old
woman. haltingly. She rubbed her eyes
and blinked for full minute before
she could see the writing. Woman
like, she turned the pages and read
the last paragraph first
ats from de nurse" she announced
"Praise de Lord. de chile am safe an
SCUM out OBJ all dangah. 1t say! Now
1t suah will be Christmas Joy wifi u.s.
Although he could not write, the ole
negro man proudly touched the pencil
as his name was written in the boy
receipt book. Quite warm, now. ant
minus one of his glad tidings, thu
Heavenly Messenger departed into tn
falling snow, which soon swallowed
him up, and then quickly covered owe
his footprints, as if in fear he nigh
be followed, and some harm come t
him.
The next message OF glad tiding
was delivered to stenographer tucke
away in back room of rattle
dilapidated-looking rooming-house.
was letter from home. She knew
would come at the last moment Ye'
she had been crying, and it wouldn
; have been like Christmas at all, ha
> It not been for the Christmas me
: senger.
"Pm so tired of the Office grind" 81
conflded, more to herself, than to Il
boy. ave written Dear Sir hu
!, bred and fifty thousand times tn
:, week, I'm sure"
= Then she Strengthened his neckti
pa tied him on the head, and the ang
. trudged down stairs and out into Il
night again.
: Next came a letter for the head
family in a magnificent home
e where the Heavenly Messenger pass
- a relay OF servants before reachi
:. the person named in the address. TIL
:. worthy held the portieres aside a
=, stepped forth in evening dress-a Sc
:. Gus man, with gray hair. He sign
- for the letter, then looked at
~ Christmas Messenger, inquiringly.
bo "Come in here son." he directed, a
,r. led the boy into the library. The 10,
was a confusion of dazzling won
= and holiday decorations. An ev
l. green tree that reached almost to
ceiling was loaded with toys a
- Christmas presents Of every color d
-. kind, while other parcels and pa
"a ages were heaped on the floor, at
Il, foot of the tree.
ed "a little girl" the man was sayi
re- "our daughter. an only child;
ha seems Notwithstanding ma
"a. her happy. Now, just suppose ,
IA. were she; do you think she will
,o,, nll thisf" And all the women listel
MD eagerly to hear what the boy wo
m say.
TO az would, but maybe-well. the
too much of disappointing to
md Caudy toys. ~ remember my b
rts sister got lot of fine toys when
cot was living, and she left them all
RI, went into the kitchen to play v
II some new tin pans and things mot
ron had just got from TIE store"
old The star Of the New York Or
NJ company dabbed ut her face wit
ded rabbits foot. A fine Christmas,
she reflected bitterly snow three
dea deep. Broadway hundreds Of II
foo, away and the show going to pi'
his this very night. All me!
der She signed for her special seli'
red letter while the Christmas a
ind stared curiously at the bore wall
ght. the dressing-room.
hite The star gave the messenger q
ter and he passed OF his way.