The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1940-12-12
Pleez, M'sieur, penny! She cried
to the passers-by.

PleeZ, WI Sleur, penny. Sne cTleu
to the passers-by.
and shoes used up all her savings
there was nothing left for Pierre's
violin. 49, ~
Marie was usually stolid, but she
felt sad when she left the sweat shop
Christmas eve. Little Pierre would
be home waiting for Santa Claus
and the violin. Pierre had seen it
in the window at Sam Rubens' pawn
shop only yesterday, big five-dol-
lar price tag tied around its neck.
How sad he would be if this Santa
Claus fellow forgot him!
Sc Marie was swept along in the
Christmas Eve traffic, downhearted.
But despair gave way to triumph,
for plan suddenly came to her
amid this confusion: She would beg
for aims like her gran'pere had done
back in Paris! These Americans
they seemed happy enough to help
her on Christmas eve! .~,..
.'Pleez, m'sieur, a penny!" she
cried to the passers-by on Broad
way. "A penny for my leetle Pi-
erre's violin!" "-~ .- .... =
Marie had collected seventy-eight
cents before the big Irish policeman
saw her. " "
Here now, old gurrul!" he pro-
tested. Don't yez know We can't
panhandle here? Come along now
to tn station!" -
A few minutes later old Marie was
pouring out her story to the gruff
desk sergeant. She was confused.
''Thees panhandling," she COM
planned. 'You say I cannot do it.
But only try to get money for the
violin. so your Santa Claus weel
come to my leetle Pierre. See?"-
she held out her money! only
need four dollars and twenty-five
cents morei"
''Well, now. that's different" the
sergeant replied. Come boys
he addressed the policemen gath
cred around his desk-'let's kick iE
the five dollars to buy violin for
Marie's little Pierre! Sure now, and
where's your Christmas spirit?"
A few minutes later grateful old
Marie was hurrying down the snow
covered side street to Sam Rubens'
pawn shop. But alas! Sam was just
handing the violin to well-dressed
old gentleman as Marie stormed in.
"Pleez. m'sieur!" she cried. "You
mus not buy it. The violin, she is
for my petit Pierre. See? / have
five dollars!"
The white-crested purchaser was
dumbfounded.
'.But madame" he answered. 81
have just bought it for my grand
sons Christmas. II.
"N'importe!" Marie protested, adj
amant now. ''You mus sell it to
me. The policeman, they have Civ
EN- me the money, see? My leetle
Pierre, he will be so disappointed!">
The old man looked at Sam.
Have you another violin?"
'For seven dollar I got a better
one." Sans eyes lighted up. 1t
looked like another sale. ~
"An right, madame" the gentle
man spoke to Marie. Here's your
violin. Give me the five dollars"
..Merci, m'sieur!" Old Marie
cried. my Pierre, he will be so
happy!" With that she dashed out
into the night, happy at last.
re- Pierre was asleep when she ar
rived home, but he found the violin |
on the table next morning. 1t glis- |
tened like new inside the weather.
beaten case.
Mammal" he cried with glee. |
The violin! But how
where-who gave it to me?"
Old Marie's eyes filled with tears.
Santa Claus brought it, Pierre.
OF course-Santa Claus. Then there
was the policeman and the kind
gran'pere :"
But Pierre didn't hear the last
He only knew Santa Claus hadn't
4
lReleased by Western Newspaper Union. !,