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About The Loup City northwestern. (Loup City, Neb.) 189?-1917 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 23, 1898)
Tommy 1 O’Dowd's Christmas, H K HliadnwH of Christmas eve were falling over the city as George Thomas, a New York city mechanic, stepped down on the sidewalk In Park place on his way homeward. His earning capacity _ was $18 per week, Iwt because of the prevailing hard times his Income had been re Spuccd to $12. This sum, with Hlttpio little change, comprised his 1mh capital. As be buttoned his coat •trout his neck lie reflected ruefully that this was a very small sum with Which to meet his expenses and to buy Christmas presents. The wind blew (pjrtakly down Park place as be walked trd Broadway, thinking of the corn rent day, the empty coal bln, and new dress he had promised his le. His thoughts were saddened as remembered that his little boy aid have been nearly five years old be lived until Christmas. There a sense of constriction In his it as he thought of last year's Isttuas tree, bright with spangles, Hated with light and whitened with jrn balls. Then against the walls leroory stood out clear and distinct figure of his little l>oy standing In white nightgown In the gay dawn |Cbrlstmas day, with flushed cheeks eyes dancing with delight, looking Jthe marvelous Christmas tree. rOn Park row, near the corner of Cambers street, there was a toy store | most wonderful variety. As Thom came down the street, his mind ln on his own misery, his gaze fell #n one of the most pathetic figures had ever seeu. Before the window the toy store stood a little boy, lose nose was flattened against the ae. His body shivered with the cold, his soul was aflame with desire, Jch was expressed In his hungry Thomas estimated his age at 6 He wore an old coat, which had lently been made for a boy twice age. Pins usurped the place of Itons on thp garment. His feet were Into a pair of yellow gaiters, as ms wear affording excellent- but ventilation. Hla trousers, held pieces of string, were frayed and |Wcd in a manner suggestive of ct that the boy had been daudled MlH'l tUt. UK1 MK n*." poverty » attna i noinm mutt id *•* detail* aa hr atopped he* Ida boy anil walthed him The la* tad ftpratloa In l.Sa little fara, pint-had goatrtta, the blur r Ire la* f Iba ayaa. and tha wold.h luoh • wan iMtvrw fatal away n tha |Mmad iu Thornaa aad aald y natalar. Itr m« up ao I kla aaa y «M*a»•lira1' • I triad Iba boy la bta at mag a» I bat bta rang* of iblua la* all iba Taaialua delight* of tba a* aiuddar waa gola* I’ bar* tta Iraa, but aba aaya aba ran l dlt yaar, 'rattan aha ala I |. iha arrulta In d* llarw gw* ft a vaah day. dal t a lot o’ money, ain't It? Hully gee! Look at de dinky little tin eojer! Ain’t he a corker! Mister, Is your little boy goln’ to hav’ a Krlsmus tree?” “I’m afraid not this year sonny," Thomas replied. “My little boy Is In Heaven.” “Where's dat? Across de river?” “Yes, It Is across the river,” replied Thomas, gravely, putting the little fel low down upon the sidewalk. “What is your name?” he continued. “Tommy O'Dowd,” replied the boy, “and I live in Middle alley." “Well, Tommy,” said Thomas, "you go with me to the telegraph office and then I’ll go home with you.” And so, hand in hand, the strangely assorted pair went to the telegraph of fice and Thomas sent this dispatch to his wife In Harlem: “Dear Mollie: Detained down town by important business. Will be homo at 11 o’clock." “Do you know the way home?” asked Thomas as they came out of the tele graph office on Dark Bow again. “Yes," said Tommy, scornfully. “I know all de streets. Ye goes down New Chambers street till ye comes to Roosevelt, den ye goes down Roose “THE LITTLE FELLOW SAT UP RIGHT.” velt till ye gets to Cherry en den y' are In Middle alley." They followed this Itinerary, Tommy running ahead to point out the way. They entered the alley between two enormous brick tenements, through a big Iron gate, and after a wearisome climb up crooked stairways arrived at the O’Dowd residence. Tommy went Into the room, and as Thomas lingered on the threshold he heard a strident voice say: "So that’s you, you little scut! Sure you had the heart o’ me ar bruk I was that freckeued! Ah. good evenin’ to ye, sir," as Thomas stepped Inside. "Come In, sir. It’s little we have, but ye’re welklm as if ’twace a palace, sir. Tommy, ye amodhoun, you, get the glntleman a chair." “I hope you will excuse me, Mrs. O’Dowd." said Thomas, "but 1 saw your little boy looking In a toy store win dow and thinking he might be lost I came home with him." "Now. ain’t that kind o’ you, sir." exclaimed Mrs. O'Dowd. "Sure It's not many would do the same, no there." "Uut ye needn't be freckened about that little tdaggnrd. Faith, he'd And hla way from Harlem to the itatthery. so he would." In euch senial convene the time passed, while Tommy and hla mother supped on mackerel and potatuee. And wbeu Tummy had been tucked away fur the nlsht In hla mother'a bed uuder the main-I. on which stood a plaster cast of the Virgin, with hands out spread In b*n*dt» lion, I homes had a whispered talk with Mrs O’ltowd, la tri rupted at frequent Intervals by euch en Umutlous as. “Oh. dear, may your shadow never grow lean!" "May your wife never attend your funeral," ate. At I o'clock Thomaa waa walking up Noueevetl street with eager footsteps lie stopped at a grocery store and made a purchase, then hurried up Into Park Itow again, The lay store man waa putting up hla shutters, hut Thomas prevailed on him le go I aside, and at It a'cloeh he was hash la Middle alley again Tsars af delight IIM Mrs IVJared * eyes as she met him at the vatraaw to the alley and led him Up ! the labyrinthine staircase There waa j more myaterlous whispering. Then Mrs. O'Dowd flew downstairs again to get a bundle of kindling wood. It wa« well that Tommy was a sound sleeper, as the fleeting forms of shadowy fig ures and the rustle of papers would have disturbed him. It was 11:30 when Thomas arrived at home and greeted hie anxious wife. When they retired Thomas said: "Molly, set the alarm for 4 o’clock tomorrow, and get your wraps ready, for I Intend to take you along to help play a Joke on Tommy O’Dowd." She piled him with questions, he gave her evasive replies. At 6 o’clock Thomas and his wife arrived at Middle alley. "Is he awake?’’ he asked anxiously of Mrs. O’Dowd, who met thorn at the door. "No; the saints be praised, he's Bleep in’ like the dend. Como here at the dure and watch.” The door had been thrown wide open, but Mrs. O’Dowd bad hung her Sunday shawl over the opening. Be hind the folds of this garment the three persons watched and waited. The blinds had been carefully closed, ho that not a ray of sunlight came into the room. Three kerosene lamps were blazing with light to their utmost ca pacity. It wag painfully still In tho room, and by listening Intently Thom as thought ho could hear the gentle breathing of tho little boy. As the minutes ticked slowly away the sus pense was almost unbearable. A move ment In the bed caught the ears Of the listeners. Then the boil clothes were thrown aside and the little fellow sat upright, apparently paralyzed with amazement. Upon a little table be tween the windows stood a Christmas tree two feet tall stuck Into the middle of a bundle of wood. The light was reflected from a hundred pieces of red paper tied to the scrawny boughs, a dozen red and white popcorn balls bung like apples on the limbs. Little candles twinkled through the scant fol iage, while barber-pole candy, a tin soldier and a Jumping Jack were prom inently displayed. It was an Aladdin like scene. And before this radiant vision, like a saint before a shrine, with hands clasped In adoring admira tion, stood little Tommy, while his mother was weeping tears of Joy with her face hidden in the shawl. ThomaB and bis wife stole quietly out and left them. "George, stop,” said Mrs. Thomas when they reached the corner of Roosevelt and Cherry streets. Uplift ing her face, which was convulsively working with tender emotion, she said: "What did it cost to play (hat little Joke on Tommy?" "Just 71 cents, sweetheart,” he re plied. They walked on for another block. But Mrs. Thomas was bubbling over with excitement, and she stopped her husband again and exclaimed; "But you haven’t any Christmas present yourself.” “Nonsense, Molly, haven’t-" He was interrupted by two soft arms around his neck and a kiss. Then Molly began to «ry. But George quick ly soothed her, and as they sat In the elevated car flying toward Herlem he said: "Molly, I thought I was a very much abused man last night, but I’ve chang ed my mind. I think I could walk from the Battery to Harlem on soap bubbles and never burst a bubble to* day." HU Personal Appearance. We are left entirely to conjecture as to the personal appearance of Jesus the boy, and we have no means of knowing how He looked as He wan dered over plain and by seashore, ov erturning the world by His words. There is, however, a story descriptive of Him as a man which comes from the fourteenth century. He was ex ceedingly fair to behold. H1b stature was full seven spans. Ills hair was light and not very thick, slightly tend ing to curl. His eyebrows were dark and arched. His eyes were bright,with a dash of yellow. His beard was blond and not long. He wore Hts hair down his shoulders, for it had never been cut. He stooped slightly, very slight ly, at the shouldere, us- )> walking wholly erect. His complexion was of the color of ripe wheat, golden hue,and His face was not round uor yet loug, but oval like His mother's, ami it had Just a tinge of ruddiness. As one look ed at him he was strangely Impressed by the intelligence, the gentleness, the freedom from all passions therein ex pressed. * IHilu l Umt ll | w*at a wai«|i k»r t'kriat tufewigaar Yaw arw ral**r rwi| u> kata a waltfc frmMlw I'm u aid aa ika llitla M nail m<I ka «m lak* kla wwtak all l» In Bermuda the no!) often produces four crops of vegetables In a year. Consul Greene notes the case of one farmer there who last year planted an acre of tomatoes, and derived there from a revenue of $1,600; while another acre, devoted to tho culture of lilies, yielded $1,800. General Andrew T. McReynolds, who died recently at Grand Rapids, Mich., was the oldeBt Knight Templar in the world, and assisted In suppressing the nullification rebellion In South Caro lina in 1832, afterward serving through both the Mexican and civil wars. THE HOPE OF THE CONTINENT, Weatarn ('amtila the "llraail llaaket of I ho Empire." The attention directed to the wheat fields ot western Canada during the past year has caused thousands of set- 1 tiers from different parts of the Unit ed Htates to make their homes there during the past few months. They re port that their experience corroborates what had been told them of that won- | derful country, and they are sending hack to their friends most favorable ' reports. During the past summer a number of Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota editors visited western Can-1 ada, and the following extracts are from a very flattering letter written for the Germania of Milwaukee by its able contributor, I'rof, Sheridan: “The numerous elevators along the line, towering so far above the sur rounding country that they may be seen for many miles distant, sufficient ly indicate that the chief Industry Is the growing of wheat. At the village of Indian Head more than a million bushels of wheat were marketed last i year. This was but a fraction of the amount of the same product marketed at the larger cities of ilrandon and Re gina. At Indian Hoad the representa tive of the Germania was told by a farmer that he was about to harvest his third crop of wheat from the farm upon one ploughing given H the fall of 1886, the crops of the current year and of last year having been sown upon the ettibble of the preceding crop. This farmer expected a yield of not less than forty bushels to the acre. The farms are very large. The abseuce of hills and rocks contributes to making farming on a large scale an easy mat ter. There was an abundance of evi dence that the country surrounding the cities named above is an extensive re gion of fertile lands, furnishing as great an opportunity for cattle-raising and dairying as for the growlug of wheat." "We were surprised to find here a rich growth of nearly every species of cultivable plant known in Wisconsin. Various species of trees were growing, showing that Its soli and Its climate are favorable to the growth of forests. The writer bad never seen a more promising growth of wheat, oats, and garden vegetables than was observed here. The experimental farm of Wis consin, located at Madison, produces noth lag better.” “The people along the line of the railroad, however, assured us that we were still far distant from the north ern limit of the wheat-growing belt, and that five hundred miles farther north wheat and other agricultural producte were cultivated with success. The inhabitants do not depend solely upon the growing of wheat, hut utilize vast acres in raising cattle. The grow- j lng grain and vegetables showed that a plentiful supply of rain had fallen during the current year." “From this city (Calgary) our party was taken north 200 miles to Edmon- 1 ton, a town of 5,000 people situated on the north Saskatchewan river. The country at this point is beautiful, pre-1 senting very much the appearance of many sections In central and southern Wisconsin. The people are engaged In mining for gold, and In raising wheat, potatoes and cattle; dairying is also followed. This valley seems to be fa-j vored with sufficient rainfall to pro duce a luxuriant growth of grain and vegetables. The soil is very fertile and timber is abundant. Fields of j wheat were observed that promise a yield of forty bushels per acre. The many good farmhouses seen from the railway are evidence of the prosperity of the settlers. Edmonton Is the ter minus of the road and the place where the overland expeditions start from for the Yukon, It being about 800 mile* from Dawson City.” “The members of the association j made the acquaintance of the Cana dians of the Northwest and learned something of the vast extent of their ( territory and of its great resources, | which are destined to make it our most; formidable commercial competitor In t the world's markets for the sale of ag rienltural products. We learned that I the Northwest Territory of Cnnndn, In- : stead of being a barren waste, as taught, by nnr geographies of n quarter of a century ago. Is capable of sustain- i lng an empre of flfty millions ot peo ple.** For further Information apply to Canadian Government Agent, Depart ment Interior, Ottawa, Canada, or to W. V. Bennett. HOI New York Life Uuildlug, Omaha, Neb. •Joyfully dear U the homeward track. If we are but uure of a welcome back '* Cura tor Conatuaiitlon baa been a family iiMalioiat »i«U u* <1«m Ivk. —J h. :orj 4,1 Ava , Chicago, Ul. Why tan't the doctor who U alwaya taking at.ni. ImhI) off a funny fellow? A eataloffue of 30a prlxet, amiable to atrery laatti and roudltlun. milkd on inquiry l*rl«e< tlyen for aavlnv Dio ir.ond "C"' ttci.io wropp-ra Addrcaa On natty Hoap Work*. Mouth Omaha. .\’«h ii uy lan'l tha delirium t return* a tight III* _____ i« (imp a toih if own n«i ru« i,ot i« o«>♦», • vo - ' AU ante i‘ i tOtkil th* auii< I II It I* 1 > t« mi* A Vita «n u»« k*i I, H 4 «* tal law** yum—T%« ytaHura of hdlw nt i ra«> l or an a»*iai»t«. m tha pullet ; fnm. ,| The New York correspondent of the Philadelphia f^edger saya that a few days ago ex-Senator Hill dined with a friend In a public restaurant In Al bany. During the meal seven demo crats from different parte of the state entered, and, seeing the ex-senator, walked up to him and shook hands. In each instance HM1 asked ‘."What was the matter with the democratic vote in your county?" and each time the reply came: “Too much Crokerlaru." Mrs- Frederick Douglas*, widow of the colored orator, Is to be on the lec ture platform to deal with the history of hla race In this country. Tarring and feathering was once a legal punishment for theft. It 1* said to be found In the statutes of both The World's Hiippljr of Wheel. An English expert claims that the wheat producing soli of the world Is unequal to the strain that will be put upon It. Even now when the food sup ply i« ample, thousands die because their disordered stomachs fall to digest, the food they take. Hostetter's Stom ach liltters strengthen and tone up the stomach and digestive organs. The yearly output of cigars from the Philippines Is about 440,000,000. VERY LOW RATES. Vie (he Mlxnourl, Keiues end Texes Hallway. Semi-monthly excursions to the Southwest. The gi'eatent opportunity to visit Texas, the empire state of the union, unparalleled a* to resources and products and with an area exceeding all the Eastern and Middle stales. The statistical reports of products as com piled by the commissioners of Texas Indicate this section as having the greatest possible advantages In Its mild and equable climate and In the variety and productiveness of Its soil. For further Information, descriptive pamphlet and dates of excursions, ap ply to tieo. K. McNutt, D. P. A., Kan sas City, Mo. If a pessimist has nothing to worry him be worries about that. 9IS.OO PER WEEK. We will pay a salary of $16 per week for man with rig to introduce Perfec tion Poultry Mixture In the oountry, the greatest egg producer on earth. Address with stamp. Perfection Mfg. Co., Parsons, Kansas. If you want a wedding cake dream, eat it before retiring. Diamond "C" Soap does not shrink flannels and it leaves all fabrics la the most desirable condition. If sin Is ugly, It at least understands the art of beauty culture. I>r. Belli Arnold'* Cough Killer I* *a •icelJcnl reined? fur children. Mn. Win. 11. Krogue, Uuluuihua, Kmi. 33c. * Is III*. If men were not such fools girls wouldn’t be such flirts. RiUbllihcd 1780. w "t Baker’s Chocolate, celebrated for more than a century as a delicious, nutritious, |and flesh-forming beverage, has our well-known Yellow Label on the front of every package, and our trade-mark, “La Belle Chocolatiere,"on the back. NONE OTHER (JENUINB. MADE ONLY BY WALTER BAKER & CO. Ltd., Dorchester, Mass. Matthew Arnold has recently been quoted aa say ini; that Tranklm's "tri umphant common sense” (ailed him when ho proposed to rewrite the Bible in a atyle bettor suited to modern taeloa than the English of the Kim; Jarnss version. Dut this waa only one of the philosopher1* pleasantries Franklin the humorist stands out very plainly In the December installment of Mr. Paul L. Ford's Century papers on his "many-sidedness”—not least In the drinking song reproduced in fa© simile of his handwriting. Why isn’t a woman who makes bal loon ascensions an air-ess? HBoes vour ead Ache ? Aro your nerve* weak? Can’t you aleep well? Pain In your back? Lack energy? Appetite poor? Digestion bad? Bolla or pimplca? Theae are aure algna of poisoning. From what polaona? From poisona that are al ways found in constipated bowels. If the contents of the bowels arc not removed from the body each day, as nature intended, these poisonous substances are aure to bo absorbed into the blood, al ways causing suffering and frequently causing aevere disease. There Is a common sense cure. AYER’S They dally Insure an easy and natural movement of the bowels. ? You will flndthatthe use of q Ayer’s darsaparina with the pills will hasten recovery. It cleanses the blood from all Impurities and la a great tonic to the nerves. WrUm thm Oootor. Our M••Heat Department ba* ona of the moat eminent pbyaletsa* In the Waited KtaUa. Till th» doctor Juit how you are eulTertn*. Too will reeelye the beat mediae! advlen withoutcewt. ^T. Low*.!, Hut. W. N.U. OMAHA. No. 52-1808 When Answering Advertisement* Wad!) Mention This Taper. 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Live* Of .uff.fln* itud un»< r» from tbl. rcpnl.lv* <IIwm* lurnotl Into hcnllh .ml b.ppl. iitwa through tli* UH of Richard's Catarrh Expellant. RICHARD’S CATARRH EXPELLANT •Ul Ml* |U« ).<l t< Wl« .1 •••*! tlll.IM.I'llIkIM Wlll.il. Ilf hir Hw .»!**<« Il» p*pOf MO ><»•*** iltxMW »IM' I Hkl. A«*4 THE C. H. RICHARDS CO.. t^lAMA^N^^ jy wtvs PWQjccmes cz+Z. NEURALGIA. a. *«» ST. JACOBS OIL. i I'nta •<*#*•«•»•*• MllHiMtti, (Mil ••ui »«t>l«*«•<!.