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About Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1903-1919 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 23, 1909)
ltnMjI OAPITAL JOURNAL, gAIEM, OIU&ON, , THUItSDklf, DE01ijkfeER 23, 1009. Qi0'0,0,Oa,0''00,Oa0''0,'00'0 4 o o Jtten A Christmas Story By FRANK II, SWEET. Copyright, 19vj, by American Press Association. o O O O o o oo o o o o o o It was Christmas eve. The secretary had paper and pencil ready and a type writer beside him. The bishop of Winchester sat In the window In a straight backed chair, for ic appeared that be could not even allow himself the luxury of resting when be might have rested. "A note of thanks from the president of the board of managers of the Home For the Homeless." said the secretary, opening another letter, with a lit tle sigh of relief, for he was near tho end of thp pile. "He says that your J magnificent contribution bus saved tho home from serious dllllcultles and that this will enable them to go through tho winter comfortably." "No answer needed," said the bishop briefly. "A letter from Mr. Hanlon for help for a poor family. He says he has found a family in great distress, and he looks to you for advice and assist ance' "He doesn't need advice. He needs assistance. Tell blm to draw on me and do What bo thinks necessary." "A letter from Mr. Qulnturd In ref erence to young Cooper, the theological student. He ha,s married and so has forfeited his right to continue his course and enter upon his career un less you ure willing to make an excep tion In bis case." The bishop's face flushed and bis ilps set in n line like Iron. "Write Mr. (jiilntard," ho said in Icy tones,) "that he will please convey to the young man my compliments and tell him that since ho has put his noso to the grlndBtono ho muy keep it there. He is to tell him from me that be can seek out some humble employment for himself." "Am you going out, sir?" asked tho secretary as the bishop put on his ovcrcout "Yes," replied the great man slm- ply. "1 promised to give u talk to the worklngmen tonight at tho Dayton mission," There was a world of personal his tory in the simple answer. It was a cold and dismal night, aud the lire was burning cheerily In the grute. yet this man, who 'might nave taken his ease, was going to the rarthest extremity of tho city to talk to grimy worklngmen. The secretary watched him with won der and curiosity In his face. The hard, stern, unbending man, tho self sacrificing sympathizer with the poor what contradictions were Iti this man's suture: The mlRslon stood in the midst of a thickly settled district populated chief ly by the wurkmeli from the foundries and mills that abounded there. The mission house was small and plain and not too comfortable, as thu blsbop knew, for he hud spoken there before. To his surprise, the doors were closed and the place was dark. "Strange." ho said to himself. "I did not think I was too early." Nothing stirred about the house ex cept u little furry Kitten which sat on the steps and rent the air with ago . nixed howls. "Mercy, what a voice!" exclaimed the bishop uneasily. "Aro you cold, poor little kitty';" l,ookn; up and down the street to see that no one was coming, he took the tiny Kitten up and stroked its head. It opened Its mouth wide and walled for something It missed and could not explain. It surely must be almost Irozeu. .No one was coming yet. The bishop unbuttoned his over coat at thu top aud thrust tho kitten In. f "If 1 see any one coming I can take It out," he t bought, "Perhaps one of the workmen will tako it home to tho children." Lulled by tho warmth, tho kitten was quiet for a moment, but nil at once It roullml that there was some thing oIhi needed. It crawled up, put out Its head aud howled louder thau ever, "Mercy on us!" exclaimed the blsh . op, "It must be hungry. If the men would only come" Sure enough, there was some one walking up the street with a rapid swing. Hut be was about to pass when the bishop stopped blm. "Pardon me, my friend," he said, "hut 1 expected there would be serv ice in this house tonight. Can you tell lie Bishop s "No; It's Christmas night," said tho ntati, hurrying on. He had mistaken tho night, and all this long Journey! "Too bad. kitty," he said to the head which was Just he neat li his chin' and which was glvlug .utterance to thu wildest and most hope- V less howls. "Ah I have nothing else ito do, though, perhaps I might find n Jjilnro where they would give you u 4IlttIo milk and maybe adopt you." V A llttlo dlstouce farther on there , waa a house where there was a fire in the front room, and be could hear u man's voice within. Ah. hire was the place! A roan would understand the situation. A Wnjf nt the bell and the door was flung open and a matt stood on the threshold. "That you, Kred?" be ask ed. peering Into tl!& darkness. "No, It In not Fred," renlled the bish op mildly, and then hp repeated his orimila. t$eo twro, my man," said the jwrson ,In thedoprwuyjv"! don't know wbethex you're eruzy or on a Jag. but you'd better hurry on, for It Is mighty near time for the copper on this beat to git around. ' The ulshop drew his splendid figure erect and walked on. "All men are becoming pessimists," be said to blm seTf "mid the kitten. Perhaps it was this gloomy thought that mude the kitten open its mouth oud surpass all Its previous efforts in the way of soul stirring walls. Tho bishop set his lips in a bard liue. "I'm going to tlnd something for this kitten to eat." he said, bult aloud, aud when the bishop said things In that way It was as well for circumstances to yield. A tiny cottage stood at a street cor ner such a tiny cottage tbut It seemed to have been crowded into tde corner as an ufterthought when tho place was already full. There was a light in the front room, and as the bishop had grown desperate he walked up the small stoop and raug the bell. A young man opened the door. There was an electric light a few feet away, and the bishop saw by it that the young man bad a pale face and that his hair was tumbled as though by restless fingers. While he was noting these things he was telling about tho kitten. "I have applied to several people." he added, "but they seem to look upon mo as a dangerous and suspicious char acter. I hope you will be moro gener ous in your Judgment." The young man had started at tho sound ot his voice, but he opened the door wider. o "Come in."' he said. "I think we will be able to find tho kitten some thing to eat.", A slender slip of a girl arose from her seat near the tiro and went into j the other room. She came back pres ently with a suueer ot milk and set It and the kitten down on a rug, and then the bishop sat down. too. nt their invitation, and they laughed with one accord at the enthusiastic manner in which tho kitten crawled bodily into that saucer ot milk and lapped and choked and lapped and strangled again as though Jt would never have enough. "The poor little thing was hungry. very nungry," said Its benefactor pity ingly. While the kitten drank the blsbop was looking around the poor, neat lit tle room, with Its bare floor shining white and Its pitiful little ndornlngs. Aud from the room his eyes wundered to the girl, who was down on her knees by the lire wiping the milk from the kitten's paws and making It fit for decent society. She was a lovely girl, with large, tender brown eyes, and her hair was tilled with gold in the firelight, nnd there was a dimple in tho midst ot tho bloom on her left . cheek. When had the bishop of Winchester ever noticed tho bloom on n woman's cheek before or the dimple In tho midst of it? 'Heally. this Is very pleasant," ho said, warming under the genial Influ ence, of the neat little room and the lovely girl nnd the fine young man with the intellectual fuce. "1 am glad that 1 found the kitten, for It has been the cause of my making some pleasant friends. You miist.glve me your name, for 1 have no disposition to lose friends so pleasantly found." I Something had been weighing on the mind of the young man ever since his guest bad come into the room. Now he arose and stood before the bishop, his eyes kindling. "My name Is Cooper," ho said, with an intrepidity which the bishop could not but recognize even In tho midst ot his amazement. "I am a student of theology. I lack a year of finishing i my course. A month ago 1 married, ! and today you sent me word that since 1 had put my nose to the grlndsloue I could keep It there. There was silence In the room for some liniments. Then the bishop arose and began to button tils overcoat, "I am glad I came in, ' he said gen tly, looking at the young man. "And And this Is thu little wife who was more and better than a enreer': Well, perhaps she Is. She reminds mo ot a girl I knew long ago. lou won t mind my taking the little kltteu homo with me, will youV" And the two young peoplo stood leaned against the door n moment aud passed his IiiuuIh across his eyes. Could that be the bishop ot Winches ter sitting In his accustomed place. With a white kit ten climbing over him aud biting tils ears and bumping Its head against his chin "Oh. you're here. Uanlcl. said thr bishop, catching sight Ot him. "Sit .lMt.f. f.i,. ii itifini.tiit ,,,w4 ffilfsi thin ' ill.,,,, l,Jl tl', imi'iiuh, ... ...mv for Mr. (iiilntnrd." And the secretary steadied his reel ing faculties while thu bishop dic tated: Urur QulntArtl-1 have rcomlilered my decision in rvRard to youim Cooper, l lmv Homo uviilenei) that K'ma to snow that li will initKa a utul man, and you may uiiuro Htm trom tne thnt he will be allowed to continue nta course; alto pieaau uscunuln if lie 11 nt all cramped m ma eiroumitanooi.. nnd It so consider me your nunKer and help htm n lie needs it without letting him Know to whom ne i indebted. You can manage this, i Know. "I must be dreaming," wild the sec retary to himself, but ns tie looked ngnln to convince himself there was the bishop ot Winchester smiling nt tho kitten, which was clawing nt th leaves of one ot tho abstract hooka on '.lie table and turning somersaults ;own the open pagw. on rtl ltlik llililtl III! MlMtlll tl ltllll t 9 ?" " " " who have gone! tied grant you a bap- longer. There was always room for Have courage, .my boy. We all tmvo Chl.lstimiH Mlss CnllHta... some broken soul from the poorhouse our grindstones and o n noses aro J h?ln t '' wlr" ,,d fuml,J- nt uo,,,e nrnb!" fro, " "tltutio and who they don t grind away any of ourhearts. n . , , flllllll. tlm . . ,.. " """" those win. were gone she was biding before the dormitory doors, nnd that his overcoat and hen shook hands ,M.Mnlw,t , M ,,,,. omg callsta and Dr. Keyes had with them warmly before he departed. t WJW , Ul)W om, oms slle was f lhe next morning when the secre- benelHIng: It was the living she was callsta's blue eyes were shining with tary entered the study ho pause,! and ,..,..,,. wimt Hunt lu.l she to keen i,om,i. t. H,.tr .tmr her CaLISTA'S CHRISTMAS How a Girl Was Changed From Selfishness to Charity. By CLARISSA MACKIE. Copyright. 1803. by American Press Aaso- elation. J For twelve long years Callsta Thorp had fought against that grim fate .which had removed her loved ones within the space of a short twelve- month and left her hopeless nnd dry eyed In the midst of an empty house, even now echoing with happy voices stilled forever. She was a frail little woman, with a bruised heart which sho bid behind a cold exterior, defiant blue eyes and a bitter tongue. All the softness of her youth had congealed. She was estranged from hnpplncss. Twelve times since that awful year had Callsta hung the stockings before tho fireplace in the sitting room mother's warm woolen hose, fathers largo sock. Bobby's two stockings (gaping expectantly), little Ann's wnite ones and. last of all. her own limp blnck one. And twelve times baa callsta mied them with shlniug eyes and swelling heart. Then when Christmas morning uawneu and sue nwoite to tne outer- ness that awaited her in the silent house and In tho sight of the row of Duigmg siocKiugs nnnging Derore ine smoicicrtng ure sue wouici uy uown ro tne sitting room nna tear mem irom the shelf and empty each one of Its burden. The bureau drawers in the slant rooreu Deurooms were niiea wun tne little treasures Callsta had bought for her loved ones. Again It was Christmas eve. and Callsta bad come home from shopping. Her arms were full of parcels, and the snowflakes powdered the dark balr that framed her small pale face paler than usual, for the young minis- fer bad met ner at tne corner ana walked home with ber. At tne gate ne nau umiuiy reneveu nimseir or a ouruen tnat trouoiea mm. He had remonstrated with Callsta Thorp because of her selfishness. Her cheeks burned as she remember cd how his spectacles had reflected "SlEIUtY OHBIHTMAB, MISS OALlSTAl" tho moonlight until they seemed like luminous supernatural eyes reading ber soul. lie hud ventured only a few words, and his concluding seuieuce still rang in her ears: "Surely there Is room in your heart for others outside your loved ones to concern himself over Callsta Thorp. the most skeptical member ot his flock. For the tlrst time a light broke In on Callsta's brain. I'or the first time she saw herself In her true character. She saw that In giving herself up to all for the dead, who could use nothing she would give them? Was she nut in giving It to them hoarding It for herself? All of a sud- den a rcallr-utlon of her true position rushed upon her with resistless force. And how long had she shut herself 1 . . k , , , W(M.(, of ,r own wl,Mh umlI. . , Twelve vear. A shame came In her heart that she had all tills while taken no interest in n single living being at Christmas time, There were the children nmong her relatives, tho children of her friends. but. above an. tneoniuiren or toe poor. When she thought of tho many little ones whom even a penny toy would delight she wns selxed with a desire on this Christmas to wipe out the stain. Tho parcels rattled to tho floor too pipe which her father would never smoke, tho soft wools which her moth- -r' lingers would never knit, the toys is. is- with which Hobby might not play, too gho gave her hand Into bia with slta wnx doll which could not afford little pic faith. Ann any doHght! Tho next morning, when Christmas i broke over tho world. Callsta Thorp was stirring annum her House. Two great baskets were tilled with gifts from the overflowing drawers In the closed chambers, and Callstu's best cloak aud hut lay on the sofa. The poorhouse was three miles away on the highroad, and a snowplow bad leveled a broad truck to tho very door. So Callsta. clad In her best, put on ner I. .. ... I I ...... .1 ,, Lnni,,., ","" ,u,lu " '"J-""" uuuu; one was quiie paie ana ureu wuuu she turned into the high white gate and advanced up the path, bordered on either side with gloomy cedar trees. Dr. Keyes was the overseer of the Cloverdale poorhouse, and It was con- sldcred the best managed institution of its kind In the state. I Breakfast was being served in the long dining hull when Callsta rang the bell, and when the door opened the bluff, brown eyed doctor himself stood before her. "Merry Christmas. Miss Callsta! So you arc playing Santa Claus this morn lng! I urn glad of that, because some of my old people are feeling very blue today." ne relieved her of the baskets and ca the way Into the cheery warmth 0f his comfortable office, where Calls tn sat down before the glowing stove aDu thawed out her frosty fingers. when she snoke her eyes were fasten cd on tue rou coaai ana tne words cnme besltatlnglv ..j.ve kept Christmas alone for wl,!Vp vnnw snmohnw i rUrin't mro about seelue auvbodv. 1 lust wanted t0 uv t0 Drinir back thincs ns tbev useu t0 be before" rP. Keves wined his classes and re- pacei tbem on his flue nose. Had he nr Rtnnrl slil hv Rlrip with little Cn- ilsta Thorn and fouirht hoDelesslv the battle of life and death and lost? And bad not Callsta turned on him like a little wild animal and con demned him because be had fulled ? She had avoided speaking to blm afterward, and this was the first time tliev bati ra(J, alKl sbe wus tuiuing to him now as if she bad forgotten that ue had lost the grim battle for hei j0ved ones. "hornr mv folks died." went on callstn steadily. "But it can't be done! The minister talked to me nhont it and I got to thinking last night may be the best way to live over happy times is to give them to somebody else thnt never bad any, so I've brought all the presents I've given mother and futher and the children ever since then and 1 want the folks here to have tbem." Two tears rolled down her cheeks from Callsta's overcharged heart, aud others followed and fell into tne glass of grape juice which Dr. Keyes held at her lips, and perhaps it wus that or the lurge warm band which rested on her shoulder that revived the little woman to renewed strength. "You need never be without a fami ly. Miss Callsta." said the doctor at last In u husky voice. "I have a fami ly here forty people old and young. and little children. They need help and encouragement and comfort. Some may have another chance in the world if they receive a word of womanly sympathy in season. Will you be ray right hand hero?" I'd like to," sobbed Callsta thank fully. Together they distributed the con tents of the two baskets, and Callsta found her tongue suylng soft pleas antries and her cold face responding warmly to grateful smiles. She saw her mother's kindly look and her father's approving nod In the faces of many of these indigent old people, nnd the delight of Bobby and little Ann were repented tenfold by the orphaned poor children of the doc tor's household. 'You have been an ungel in disguise to them this Christmas day." said the doctor as be carried Callsta home In his sleigh thnt evening, for Cnlista had stayed to the dinner of pork tenderloin nnd apple sauce, with vegetables and many dainties contributed by the good overseer from his own scanty pocket. Callsta Thorp's house was empty no f0re taking up the burden of life and attaining Independence In the end. The following Christmas Callsta was welcomed ns an old friend by tho In- mut.a 0f the poorhouse. ,t ber bidding each one had hung j,ls or her stocking on n line stretched haimii home utider the Christmas stars. "We remembered every one," she aaid contentedly, 'eanlug back among Rrtft robes. "Every one?" he repented doubt- fully. "Why. who hnve we forgotteu?" "Me," he said gravely. Callsta's heart thumped painfully nt th( .,... ,10tl, i i,a decn voice. You imvt, forgotten, me. Callsta. I uaVo given you my heart. That is my dft. You have God's gift. too. the lovo of mv ,)oor eonle and his love iu youp ,"ipartt t too want u Rjft. There wns a hushed silence theu un- tI. callstn fouud courage to ask shyly. ..what shall 1 clve to you-my best fromi?" ,.(jV0 nw n paco D your beart, Callsta. I must be there also. We wilt worj- together. Surely you have room It.. vour ltnirt for mo tool" ut, leaned over and looked In her where Joy shone serene. 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