Jennie Gerhardt

the true representative of the people. Born a native of southern Ohio, he had been raised and educated there, if one might except the two years in which he had studied law at Columbia U

d never been able to do. And yet his integrity had not been at all times proof against the claims of friendship. Only in the last presidential el

e would endeavour to hearten himself with his pet phrase, "All in a lifetime." Thinking over things quite alone in his easy-chair, he would sometimes rise up w

arried. In his youth he had had a serious love affair, but there was nothing discreditable to him in the fact that it came to

ndured his losses, there was that about him which touched and awakened the sympathies of the imaginative. People thought

tes to re-elect him, but it would require the most careful political manipulation to hold them together. Other men were ambitious. There were a half-dozen available candidates, any one of whom would have rejoice

as, fifty-two years of age, clean, honourable, highly distinguished, as the world takes it, but single. He could not help looking about him now and then an

ught to himself. "Alo

aroused him. He had been speculating upon the futility of his po

rselves?" he thought. "How little differe

, as she had suggested to her mother, at this time, instead of on M

r; and, as on the first occasion

iment upon the promptitude with which the washing

she had put the bundle down, "how

thought we'd better bring your

difference," replied Brander light

een offered no payment for the service rendered, wa

other?" he ask

well," said

le sister? Is

thinks so,"

nued graciously. "I

chair, the young g

is throat lightly. "What seem

ned Jennie. "We thought once

girl's poor clothes and her wondering admiration for his exalted station in life affected him. It made him

now," he said kindly. "

ty-s

he any

und now, although he c

er said he was a gla

s,

ranch of manufacture. It had been part of the political is

ildren go to scho

d to own that one of the children had been obliged to leave school

further detaining her, he arose and came over to her. From his pock

l your mother that I said she shou

k and see how much it was. The great man was so near her, the wonderful chamber

here any day you want your w

wered; "Monday -

ple was unusual. Poverty and beauty certainly made up an affecting combination. He sat down in his chair a

ere they live," h

he managed to remove from her mind that timidity and fear which had made her feel uncomfortable in his presence. One thing which helped towa

titude toward any one. He felt exceedingly young as he talked to this girl, and he often wond

er known. Everything he had was fine, everything he did was gentle, distinguished, and considerate. From some far source, perhaps some old German ancestors, she

thy was always a more potent factor than reason. For instance, when she

til I got outside that it was so muc

y in her folded hands, saw distinctly before

is!" she said. "He

clothes she almost rubbed them to pieces, feeling that whatever she did she could scarcely do enough. Gerhardt was not to know. He had such stern views about accepting money without earning it that even in their distr

case from his dresser which he had observed her admiring. Every time she came he found excuse to detain her, and soon discovered that, for all her soft girlishness, there lay deep-seated in her a conscious dep

ht be. He was a United States Senator, however. The neighbourhood they lived in must be very poor. He stopped to

, perhaps, what a breach his absence would make in their finances. But there was nothing to do about it; they managed to pinch along. Gerhardt, now better, searched for work at the various mills, and finding nothing, procured a saw-buck and saw, and going from door to door, sought fo

reciation of the joys of childhood, they love to see the little ones enjoy their toys and games. Father Gerhardt at his saw-buck during the weeks before Christmas thought of this very often. What would little Veronica not deserve after her long illness! How he would have liked t

ay aside three dollars in the hope of getting enough to buy a ton of coal, and so put an end to poor George's daily pilgrimage to the coalyard, but now as the Christmas week drew near she decided to use i

ocery stores and meat markets were strung with holly. The toy shops and candy stores were radiant with fine displays of everything that a self-respecting Santa Claus should hav

Gerhardt said i

poor this year. He hasn

this. Every time after so saying he looked into their eyes, but

he must bring enough coal from the yards to last over Christmas day. The latter went at once with his two younger sisters, but there

. Gerhardt the first thing when she

said

t enough fo

replied, "

ed. Taking the lamp, they went out into

it; "why, that isn't near enough. You

ing his lips, "I don't

st six, was already busy in the back bedroom wa

t. "Bass has worked har

nt to," pou

t, "maybe tomorrow you'll be w

e's conscience was too troubled to all

called to his elder bro

re?" sa

t some

r, "I guess not. Wha

said George, with an obs

rnoon?" questioned his brother shar

couldn't find enough. I can't ge

't try very hard,

g in after having stopped at the grocer's for her

t go with me t

get any this

, "but ma says I d

aid his sister. "Bass

rently, "I won't." He was adjusti

unless we get it off the cars. Th

too," excl

n't," sai

"Get the baskets and let's go r

artha and William buckets, and George a big clothes-basket, which he and Jennie were to fill and carry between them

. I'll be along in a minute. When I come by don't any of you pretend to know me. Just you say, 'Mister won't you please

aid Jennie, ve

d in. All of the children gathered within the shadow of one. While they were standing there, waiting the arrival of their brother, the Washington Special arrived, a long, fine train with several of th

it long?"

be a brakeman, tho

arly the suggestion of travel and comfort had a

took himself seriously. He was of that peculiar stubbornness and determination that had the children fai

ed to be taken, and piped out childishly, "Mis

ded to climb up on the car, from whence he cast down with remarkable celerity more than enough chunks to fill their baskets. Then

was the honourable Senator himself, newly returned from Washington, and anticipating a very unprofitable Christmas. He had arrived upon the express which had

?" he said, and paus

"Oh, there is Mr. Brander!" Then, dropping her end of the basket, with a caution

be a Senator to-night, here where these children were picking coal. What could the joyous holiday of the morrow hold for them? He tramped along sympathetically, an honest lightness coming into his step, and soon he saw them enter the gateway of the low cottage. Crossing the street, he stood in the weak shade of the snow-laden trees. The light was burning with a yellow glow in a rear wi

adherent of Brander, and one who felt honoured by the Senator's acq

get you to undertake a litt

said the grocery-man. "When did you

hristmas for a family of eight - father and mother and six chil

, certainl

everything. I'll give you the address,"

Mr. Manning, rather affected himself. "I'

om the mere necessity of preserving his senatorial di

ll the astonished and appr

d, finding that he could only guess at what sizes might be required, ordered the several ar

"Really, it was very thoughtless in me. I mu