Life — December 26, 1889 — page 39: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

- LIFE: THE MILLIONAIRE’S CHRISTMAS. A TALE OF HUMBLE LIFE, T was a bitter cold night in Decem- ber, and the wind moaned and shrieked through the leafless branches of the tall trees that stood like gaunt sentinels about the mansion of the humble Millionaire. Standing at the front parlor win- dows of the great house, the Million- aire’s family were awaiting the father’s return, The wife was trying, in her brave, hopeful way, to cheer the hearts SY of the little ones, so that the Mill- ionaire might be greeted by a clus- ter of happy, smiling faces when “Oh, mamma,” cried little Mary, plaintively, “I don’t want to go to school any more, because the other children will not play with me! They sneer at me because, they say, my father is not a Son of Toil. Oh, it is so hard that we should be only the children of a Millionaire instead of an Honest Workingman!” “My darling,” cried the mother, in a choking voice, as she clasped her offspring in her arms, “you must be brave and patient! I know full well that the Millionaires are down-trodden and oppressed, but your dear papa tells me that better days are coming, and that ere another winter sets in the Honest Workingmen will find themselves in the soup.” “Is papa coming home soon?" whimpered little Charlie. “Tam getting so hungry.” “Hush, my child!” replied the mother. to ask the haughty Walking Delegates to permit him to keep “Papa has gone his mill open four hours a day instead of three. It is buta poor boon that he asks, and yet I fear me they will refuse. But here he comes now, Run away and play, darlings, and you will soon have something to eat.” The Millionaire entered the parlor and threw himself into an easy-chair with a deep sigh. “Tt is useless!" he exclaimed. “They say that they can- not break the three-hour law which was passed by the Legislature last June. ‘There is only one course left for us to take, and I have resolved to try that. But is not dinner nearly ready?” “Not quite yet, darling,” said the affectionate wife, in soothing tones. “The Cook has gone toa meeting of her Union, and she has promised me to ask their permission to let us have corned-beef hash occasionally. She is a good creat- ure, John, and does all in her power to make our lot easy and pleasant for us.” “But isn’t there a little cold meat in the house?" “Why, John! Would you violate the laws of the Butchers’ Union, which forbids us to serve a roast more than once?" ‘ 17 “True, true,” murmured the Millionaire; “but at least you can make me a cup of tea.” “I would willingly do it,” replied the faithful wife, gently but firmly, “and we would drink it with pleasure, but it would be at the risk of our lives. You know the new Union is furious whenever—” “That is true,” replied the Millionaire; “let us be thank- ful we thought of it in time. We have much to be grateful for. We had better postpone our meal until to-morrow, and, in the meanwhile, we must not forget how unhappy our lot would be in another country. It is only in this Great Republic that statesmen are of sufficient calibre to cope with these labor problems.” A BACHELOR'S REVERY. TT" Christmas Eve I kissed her ‘neath the mistletoe. Five years ago, Her frock was white, and her hair was yellow, I thought myself a lucky fellow. We plighted our troth and vowed to be Models of love and constancy ; But within six months she married another, And said henceforth I should be her brother. pristmas Eve, ‘The fire burns low ; Within its coals sweet visions glow ; But of all the faces therein I see, The dearest is that fickle she Whose frock was white, and whose hair was yellow, And who jilted me for another fellow. MH. AM, UNNECESSARY PROHIBITION, Wife (reading history of the Pilgrims): THOSE OLD BLUE LAWS MUST HAVE BEEN HORRIBLE; THE IDEA OF PROHIBITING A MAN FROM KISSING HIS WIFE ON SUNDAY. Husband : YvS, THEY MADE A GREAT MANY UNNECESSARY LAWS IN THOSE DAYS.