A JOYFUL SURPRISE

Otago Witness, Issue 2253, 6 May 1897, Page 51

A JOYFUL SURPRISE

Weitten fob the Witness Little Folks by R. W. Daeling. A dingy garret at the top of a very poor lodging house on Van Noes Avenue, Sau Francisco, is not a very cheerful place to begin a Christmas story. But you must remember, dear children, that not every little boy and girl has not such a nice home as 1 you have. No ; there ' are many little ones in great cities like " ours who are homeless orphans and starving. In this particular garret of which I am speaking a little boy and girl were sitting crouched up beside the stove, which was destitute of all firing save 11 a few sticks, and these were fast smouldering away to ashes. The room, which was very small, was furnished in the meanest style — a chair, a table, and a pallet of straw being the only articles worth mentioning. The children were pale and thin, and had scarcely enough clothing to cover their shiverirjg little bodies. "Liddy," said the boy, "when do you think mother will be home 1 " " I don't know, Bob, lam sura ; but I wißh she would hurry, for I am so hungry." "So am I, and I guess I will go down in the yard and- look for her." " Ob, no, Bob 1 "' said bis sister. " Mother said we were not to go down into the yard because there are so many bad children, and ifc is nob right to disobey mother, you

know." " That's right, Liddy," said another voice. " Mother would be pleased if she could hear

you." "Oh, Tom!" said both children. "Have you brought any food? And do you know where mother is ? " Tom shook his head to both questions. " No," he said, " thiDga are very doll down town, for all it's Christmas. I have been hanging about all day, and have not been able to earn a dime [sd], and I have not seen mother since morning." " Oh, dear 1 and I ana so hungry," said Bob. " And so am I," echoed Lydia. " Don't you think that I could earn some meney, Tom 1 " added the former. " You ? Why, little 'un, you'd be knocked down afore you liad gone a dozen blocke," answered his brother. " No, I wouldn't," said the little fellow sturdily. " I guess I can take care of myself as well as yon can, Tom," he added reproachfully. " No, no, little 'un, you must stay here and take care of Liddy while I go and try my luck once more." Tom had not; been gone more than 10 minutes when- Bob started up anfl exclaimed : " lAd, I am going, out to find a job and earn heaps of money." " Ob, Bob, you don't know how," said his siator. " Yee, I do. How would you like to have turkey and pudding and nuts and fruit for dinner to-morrow 1 " " Ob, Bob 1 " said Lydia again, her ey66 shining ; " the very idea ! " " Well, you atay here, and I'll soon get 'cm — I really will." 11 You won't steal 'em, will you. Bob 1 " 11 Steal 1 Why, Lydie, what do you take me for 1 " - " All right, then ; only be quick," said bis sister. Bob took bis hat from its peg, and, giving his sister a kiss, he started off. When our little boy reached the street he wassorely puzzled as to-which way he should turn. If Bob had not been used to the great streets of tbe busy city he would certainly have been knocked down before he had gone a dozen blocks, as Tom had said. As it was he came very near being run over several times by the horses and cars •which crowded the street crossings. On he •went till he came to a very large fruit store •with the name " White and Go." inscribed in big letters on the window. Bob entered timidly. " If you please, sir, do you want any parcels carried '1 " "he inquired of the big man behind the counter. " No, my boy, I don't," was the reply. "If you had come in ten minutes ago I might have given you the job of carrying a can of cranberries co a place up the street ; but as it happens I've nothing on hand just now." Poor Bob was bitterly disappointed, but cot at all discouraged, and he called at store after store, always asking the same question and always receiving the same reply. At last he found himself hustled into a most magnificent toy store, entitled the 4 Golden Rule Bazaar," and certainly no •name could have been more fitting — at least so far as the children were concerned. Oh, the rows of dolls with long golden hair 1 and, ob, the little steam engines and carts, which were stacked with little bags of corn, and looking just as if they were ready to go to market] and, ob.'the picture books and story books about Aladdin and Sinbad and other wonderful people 1 Why, it was enough to take one's breath away. Whilst Bob was admiring the golden-haired dolls and wishing that he might have one to give to Lydia for a Christmas present a sound of music fell upon his ear. Ab he was fond of music of any kind he moved in the direction whence the sound proceeded, and after much pushing and jostlißg he found himself in front of a large white tent, with tv o very funny-looking little boys sitting at the door. They were jdregsed in very tight, white suits drawn in with ruffles at the waist, knees, and neck ; a white cap on their heads and white shoes and stockings completed their attire. Seeing many little children entering the tent. Bob followed their example

Stepping inside, he stared around for a few moments in sheer amazement ; and well he might, for .the place was full of wonders. Standing on the floor around the sides were stuffed antelopes and deer ; two little boys dressed exaotly like those outside were sitting in the middle of the tent, one playing a cornet and the other a banjo. But the central figure of the apartment was a venerable man dressed in snow-white furs from head to foot, and a bunch of holly berries were fixed in his cap. As Bob was looking at him in fear and trembling, and wondering whether he should turn and run out again or not, the old man called out to him. " Come here, little boy," he said in a thin quavering voice. " Come here and shake with Father Christmas." Bobby went slowly forward and held out his hand. "Ah 1 " said the old man, " and what is name, my dear 1 " " Bobby Stirling, if you please, sir." " That is a pretty name ; and now let us see if Santa Clans can give you a little Christmas present." As he spoke Santa Claus opened a large leathern bag, and taking a small packet out of it, he gave it to Bobby and dismissed him with another hand-shake. Once outside that mysterious tent, Bobby paused to take breath and to examine his present, which he found to be a small white cardboard box with the words " Choice Confectionery " inscribed on it in large golden letters. Ifc was filled with the choicest candies — enough to delight the heart of any little boy. " I will jusfc take one, and leave the rest 1 for Liddy," he said to himself, and, suiting ! the action to the word, he popped one into hie mouth and the rest into his pocket ; after which he made the beet of his way out of the big store, and recommenced his dreary search for work. At length, weary and dispirited at repeated failures, he was about to start for j home, when he thought he heard some one i call him, and, on looking round, he perceived a gentleman holding a hoTse and calling him. " Here, lad," he said, " just hold this horse j for a moment, will you 1 Keep him still now and I will pay you wall." Throwing the reins to Bobby, he entered a large grocer's store and disappeared. When he returned, about half an hour later, he i seemed very much pleased, lor he was I laughing heartily, and taking the reins from the boy's hand, he threw him a silver coin, and, springing into the saddle, disappeared. Glancing at the coin in his hand, Bobby found, to his astonishment, that it was a dollar, and, slipping it into his pecket, he started for home with a light heart. As he \ was passing through a narrow alley a big I boy sprang in front of him, and brandishing 1 a large piece of an old iron pipe, exclaimed : I " Your money or your life I " [ Poor Bob was terror stricken, and could ! oaly stammer out : I " What — what money ? " : " Oh, none o' your prefcendin' now 1 The j money the gent gave you for holdin' his I horse ! Now hand it over, or ifc will be the ; worse for you," added the boy, giving Bob a severe rap over the head with the iron ) p:P'>. Knowing tbat resistance would be worse than useless, Bob slowly and tearfully drew 1 out his dollar (4s 2d), and with a regretful j look at ie gave it to the elder boy, who at. \ once snatched it, and giving Bob another rap j over the head he disappeared. Dazed with ; the blows, and disappointed at the loss of his money, Bob made the beat of his way home, where he sobbed out the story to his mother, • who had returned a few minutes before. Mrs > s Stirling did her best to comfort him, but in I ber heart sTio felt bitterly di&appointed, A ! dollar would have been such a help towards ! maksDg th3ir scanty preparations for Christ- ' mas a little more luxurious. Whilst they j wore discussing this most important subject, I there came a loud knocking at the door. l Liddy opened it, and a man laden with two I baskets entered the room. Placing them before Mrs Stirling, he said : "If you please, mum, Annie Laurie sends { these baskets to you, and wishes you a merry ' Christmas." Annie Laurie'is the lady reporter for the Examiner, wTiich is a large newspaper in San Francisco. She is verr good to fcha poor, and many a person would spend Christmas in a very unhappy condition if it were not for her kind interference. On this occasion the help, coming as it did just when it was most needed, was received with heartfelt thanks. After the man had left, Mrs Stirling and the children began to unpack the baskets. Tbe first thicg tbafc rnefc their eyes was a big turkey, tben a pudding, then a mince pie, then bread, cakes, fruit, and in short everything that was needed to make a sumptuous Cbrisf mas dinner. The second basket contained books, toys, and a dress big enough for Liddy. a coat that looked as though ie were 1 made for Bob, and a shawl for mother.

How can I describe the joy in that garret tbat night, and as Bob fell asleep be murmured, " It ia worth a dollar, and I wouldn't mind being robbed and beaten every day if Annie Laurie would only send a Christmas dinner to make up for it."