Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-11-08
A SAD CHRISTMAS STORY
What The EIks Try To Prevent

The thermometer had been drop
ping steadily until the icy pellets Of
snow stung with the spitefullness OF
a lash. Big trucks seemed to appear
from nowhere and then fade ITO the
nothingness beyond the setting white
blanket and taxicabs careened madly.
blinking with yellow eyes that tried
in vain to peer into the murkiness
OF the December early afternoon.
A frail, gaunt woman, thinly clad,
drew closer to her the bulky package
she carried in an effort to shield her
self from the merciless sweep. With
one unmittened hand, red and raw,
she held her shawl about her throat
and turned into a narrow street
Nhece the fury of the storm was
claimed by the ramshackle tenement
houses, rising in an ugly array.
Coming at last to bleak, brick
shrouded doorway, she staggered in,
helped by the wind which blew unre-
strained through q doorway, I'M
guarded by door or other protection.
When she reached the door leading
to her own few rooms, she paused !;
her ear close to the closed but multi
cracked door and her eyes dimmed
with tears as the sound of sobs came
from within. She pushed the door
open and the sound ceased. Laying
down her bundle and removing her
shawl, she rushed into the room be-
yond. In the corner was a bed, or
rather the remains of what had been
bed. woefully lacking in coverlets
and with one side propped with bricks
A little girl, frail, with transparent
skin that showed ghostily, and with
hands that wandered ceaselessly over
the bed. lay there, her blue eyes still
blurred with the tears she had but
stopped. With soft mother cry, the
woman drew the child to her and
kissed her recklesslv as If by the
very intensity of her love she might
shield her from her grief.
Baby, baby" she called again and
again, the child's head clasped close
to a troubled heaving heart. what
is 1T dear? Tell mother. Is it the
pain?" and the pressure of her arms
increased,
NO" and the child vainly tried
to smile, then threw her arms about
the neck of her mother and sobbed
unrestrainedly. For a few minutes
they sat thus, and then she was
seized with fit of violent coughing
that racked her frightfully. When
she had grown calm again, she lay
weakly upon the pillow and smiled.
But fieck of red on her lips brought
a stab to the heart of the woman
who clenched her hands until the
nails bit deeply into cracked palms.
ON the pillow. close beside the
small hpad- che -
evidently torn from a colored supple
ment that had enclosed some wash
Ing she had brought home. The
mother held it between fingers that
trembled and noted the picture of a
gayly dressed child before a Christ
mas tree, sparkling under the weight
or decorations and gifts. -
Mother, there is a Santa Claus,
isn't there?" and she held her breath,
| And, in looking. the mother under
stood, faith and doubt struggling in
eyes that opened wide.
Her mother looked back with ewes
grown hard and defiant as she brave
ly answered, "Of course there is,
dear"
Then why doesn't he come here
any more?"
The woman gulped and turned
away. She bit her trembling lips
until she could again look into those
questioning eyes.
A Sad Christmas
Perhaps he will this year, dear.
You see there are so many-so
many" and her voice trailed on in
tired. disjointed manner.
Then she went about her work and
ever there pounded in her ears the
words: This year! This year!"
Night came on suddenly bitter,
cold night, and she tore up more rags
to stuff in the cracks about the doors
and windows. which shook with each
new gust She placed the small oil
heater nearer the makeshift bed. and
soaked part of what was left of a
loaf of bread in warm water. Then
she tenderly placed an arm about the
child and raised her TO a half sitting
position that she might eat of the un-
palatable stuff.
The mother watched over the child
until she grew quiet and finally dozed
tito a slumber, shattered occasion
ally by a spasmodic trembling and
shaking. Then the woman went