Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 140, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 December 1904 — RUTHIE'S CHRTSTMAS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

RUTHIE'S CHRTSTMAS.

ay, Joe, let’s go and look at the O Christmas things in. the winders.” "What’s the use? They ain’t none of ’em for us. They's only for rich kids.” “Well. let's look at ’em anyway, so as we can teR Ruthie about ’em.” That settled it. The children ran as fast as their legs could carry them until they reached the shop whose “winders were full of the most wonderful toys; in fact, everything that could be imagined to delight the hearts of children were here most temptingly displayed. Each article was freely commented upon, and duly admired by the two lads, until at last Dan said: “Now let’s go right off and tell Ruthie before we forget ’em;” and they scampered back to the miserable place they called home. Mounting the steep, narrow stairs, and passing through a dark hall, they went softly into a tiny room at the back of the bouse. On the bed in the corner lay a little misshapen figure, with a pale, thin face, and big, hollow eyes. It turned slowly and painfully as the boys entered. “Say, Ruthie,” cried Joe. “you jest ©tighter see the fine Christmas toys in the winders. I’ll tell you about ’em;” and he described with much enthusiasm the marvelous treasures the shop window's contained, interrupted now and then by Dan, who supplied any material his brother lacked. Ruthie listened eagerly. The description of the dolls pleased her best. Joe had observed them particularly on her ncicount, and was even able to describe how some of them were dressed. “Oh, how I wish I cou. t just see one.” ehe sighed, "and hold it in my hand.-- It would be so lovely;” and. in her earnestness the child tried to rise, but sank back With a cry of pain. At that moment, the mother, a blackgowned, sad-faiced woman, entered the room, nud prepared their frugal supper, after partaking of which the children were soon in bed and asleep. Only a few months before poor Ruthie had been as straight and strong as her brothers, but one day she made a misstep and fell down the steep tenement stairs, and hurt her back. With prompt medical attendance and proper care, she would probably have recovered ere this, but her mother had no money for doctors or medicines. She had tried to procure admission for her child in a hospital, but influence was needed, which the poor seldom have, so Ruthie had since lain in her little bed, unable to rise and often in great pain. Since the day of the boys’ visit to the shop windows, Joe's head had been full ®f a. plan, which grew as the days passed «n. One afternoon, just at dusk, before the lights were burning, he went again to the place where he and Dan had seen the windows full of toys. The shop was crowded with ,<ustomgrs, and watching bis chance he stole softly inside, and by reason of his small size, glided unnoticed among the moving figures, until be reached the counter. Stretching out his bauds, he stealthily snatched a doll from among a lot one of the clerks was showing a customer, and slipped out of the door just as the lights flared up. Running all the way, he arrived at home safely. lie rushed up the stairs, and into the room, shouting: “I got yer doll, Ruthie; yon kin hold It. It ain't to keep for always, but you kin hold It. ’ and he waved his prize before Kuthie’s astonished and delighted eyes. She held out her hands eagerly and grasped the doll. She smoothed the flaxen hair, and kissed the blue, staring eyes, auu pressed the unyielding little form in her poor, thin arms. Joe witched her with great satisfaction. “How do you like it?” he asked. “Lovely.” answered Ruthie. “Where did you get it, Joe?” “In the shop.” ■ ■ • ... “Did yer steal it?" she asked, looking ■t him sharply. “No, borrowed it. I’ll take it back •when yer through with it. When’ll yer he through?” ' “Oh, I suppose to-morrow,” Ruthie ■aid with a sigh. “Jest let me keep it to-night.” * <3o the borrowed doll slept that night /with the little cripple, instead of being packed away in its customary box on the ■belt of the shop. The next morning Ruthie, with many tears, resigned her treasure to Joe’s keeping, and told him to take it back to the shop. , “For it wouldn’t be honest, you know,” ■aid the little girl. Joe nodded understaudingly, and in company with Dan, went bock to the ■hop. When they entered, Joe went straight to the clerk, who stood behind the counter, and holding out the doll, ■aid very politely: “I'm much obliged to yer, sir. It ain’t hart a bit. I only borrowed it, so as (Rotbie could bold it a while. She ain’t ■over had one, and she can’t get out to look in the winders, ’cause her back’s L clurk iUred at tba Iwy in amazt

ment. The doll had not been missed and this little scene was beyond his comprehension. v A gentleman, who was standing near, and had seen and heard afl, came up to Joe, and laying his hand kindly on his shoulder, asked: “Who is Ruthie, my boy?” "My sister, sir.” was the reply. “And how* old is she?” continued the gentleman. / “Eight, sir." “And she never had a doll?” “No, sir.” The stranger turned to the clerk. "Please wrap up the doll nicely,” he said; and when the parcel was ready, he paid for it. then spoke again to the boys. “Now, take me to Ruthie,” and Joe and Dan obeyed. As they walked along, the kind gentleman, who was a physician, questioned the lads about their sister’s injury,- and they told him all about her fall, and how their mother was too poor to have her properly cared for. As they entered the room, the mother, who was preparing the mid-day meal, looked up in surprise ns she saw the strange gentleman with Joe and Dan. The boys rushed to their sister’s bedside with the doll. “Here’s yer doll, Ruthie, back again. It’s ter keep for always. The gentleman give it ter yer.” Ruthie. who could hardly believe the good news, looked at the doll with longing eyes, but did not touch it. The doctor, who had been talking to the mother, now came to Ruthie’s bedside. Speaking pleasantly to the little girl, he carefully examined the poor, lame back, and as he finished he said cheerfully: “And how does Ruthie like her doll?” “Oh, sir,” said the child, “it’s beau-

tifut. But is it really, truly for me?” The gentleman laughed and nodded, then taking the doll from Joe, handed it to Ruthie. She grasped it eagerly, and hugged it to her breast. “Thank you so much, sir.” The doctor patted her cheek and continued: “And now, my little ltuth, how would you like to go to a big house, where you could lie in a nice little bed in a large, bright room, with pretty pictures on the walls? And if you will be a very patient, good little girl, and do just as I say, I think that in a few weeks you will be able to walk aoout as well as you ever did.” “Gee whiz!” shouted Joe, while Dan chimed in; “Think of the winders, Ruthie!” and the two boys could not refrain from giving a rousing cheer. It was too good to be true, Ruthie thought. First the doll, and now to be cured, and able to run about with her brothers. She was too happy to say much, and only asked that she might be allowed to take her treasure with her, and the kind stranger’s smiling consent completed her joy. Then the doctor turned to the grateful mother, who was quite overcome at this unexpected good fortune, and telling her to have the child in readiness within njr hour, took bis leave. The preparations were hastily made, and at the appointed time Ruthie was taken away to the hospital, holding tight tne precious doll. The doctor was as good as his word. The little invalid bad the best of care, and in a few weeks was abla to walk about with the aid of a crutch, while her kind friend promised that it would not be long before she would walk as well as any one. The overjoyed mother could not sufflciej|Uy express her thanks to the good doctor, wbe tmdd not listen, only saying, good-natured^: “Tut, tut, e«y no more about kL We

will call it Ruthie’s and his eyes twinkled as he smiled at the happy little girl. Nor did he forget the boys, who found well-filled stockings on Christmas morning, 'besides a substantial gift for the mother. When Ruthie came home to them, straight and weH, there was great rejoicing, and you may be sure that Joe and Dan lost no time in taking their sister to view the wonders of the shop where Joe borrowed the doll that is now Ruthic’s greatest treasure!—Waverlcy Magazine.