The Wingham Advance Times, 1935-12-19, Page 8TAGF, KIGiiT
WINGHAM ADVANCE -TIME a
Thursday, December 19, 1935
l:RE and it's the Ogre
hums if I"
Mrs. Scannel op-
ened the door, snow
drifted in around the
dark figure in the In-
verness cape.
"Adolphus Breep,
Madan)," be said, son-
orous and unsmiling.
"The :Ogre!" Mary
Scannel insisted, brush-
ing a stray lock of
w.nd-blown white hair
away from her eyes.
"Well, do you be.
tvantin' us to catch our
death of cold? Come
into the house and
we'll rid ourselves of you as soon as we can!"
Adolphus Breep stamped his feet on thethres-
licild and entered, wiping off the snow -flakes that
had settled on his beetling brows.
"What is it this tune?" Mary inquired. "Mon-
.ey again, I would be guessing for.it's always mon-
:ey where the likes of ye are concerned."
sorry, Madam Scannel,' 'said Adolphus,
with a show of deference; trying in vain to light -
sen the tone of his rumbling voice.. -
"You're never sorry for no one& she exclaim-
ed. "Sure everybody in Hell's Kitchen knows that
you'd tear the heart out of an old woman like me
.for a little silver; and what you'd do at the sight
•ef some gold, I'd hate to be thinkin'. Get on with
your business, Mr. Adolphus Breep, for the soon-
.er you're clone, the happier we'll be."
Adolphus took off his rusty black fedora and
shook away the snow -drip over the unpainted sink
'Do you mind, Madam. Scannel," he asked, "if I
steer by the fire for a minute?"
"Annie!" she yelled. "And. Bridget! Move away
from the stove and let the man warm his bones
for a bit. .It's a cold night, that it is, and I would
net turn a dog away from the fire."
The wind rattled the shutterless windows and
thrust its icy finger under the door. Outside, the
street was deserted .except for an occasional dim
figure that drifted beneath an arc light for a mo-
ment and was lost in the storm again.
"No," ;said Mary, "it ain't fit, for man nor
beast. ' It's only the likes of you, Adolphus Breep;
would be out on a night like this. And you're on
no errand of mercy, that I know."
"Have you paid the rent, Madam Scannel?"
• "Not at all. And to be saving your breath
—though I shouldn't—you might as well know that
we haven't paid the grocer nor the butcher. Try
and collect a penny of it, if ye can, Mr. Breep!"
"But something will have to be done about it
surely, Madam , Scannel."" -
"Do whatever ye like!" Mary laid her hand
on a broom and shook it threateningly. "Last
winter ye tried to turn its out of house and home,
did ye not? But you might have saved your pains
for wehad the money ready when ye called on
Christmas day." Her soft round body shook with
laughter at the recollection.
`Yes, Adolphus Breep agreed, "you had.
'But how we'll do it this year," her eyes
?brightened with anxiety, "nobody can say. 'Tis
worse with us now than it was then. My man has
"been laying in his bed for the past two months
-with a strained back. And Michael, the only one
-who's old enough, has been able to find work for
just this Christmas week, Sure and we are in a
bad way. Though why," she added, her courage
flaring up again, "I should be telling the likes of
you all our troubles, I' don't know. Certain it is
that there's nothing so low as a collector who
takes money away from the poor."
Adolphus. Breep surveyedthe small room
slowly. The once white walls were yellowed with
age and sooted with smoke: Beside the coal stove
nwas a rickety rocking -chair that he would not risk.
Alis weight upon. The only window had been
mended poorly and its large cracks let the little
inarmth out and the bitter cold in. Through the
partly closed door of the other room came the
stentoran snores of Michael the father and Mich-
ael the son.
"What else do you owe?" he
.to the business at hand.
"The druggist for Medicine and the doctor,
too:"
"What does it all amount to, Madam Sc
rich?,
"Over a hundred dollars, and not a penny
fess " Cant you pay on account
';a little something
now?" Adoluhus Breep suggested.
"Not a cent!" Mary emphasized the ultimat-
um by pounding ,a worn fist an the kitchen table.
"I; wrote a letter to Mr, Milling but 'we ain't heard
a word from him yet. There's so many poor that
i �. !not have time to help tis this
� do 1~e tftittkin ben v
year like he did last."
"Aren't you perhaps relying too much upon the
generosity of this mysterious Mr. Mailing?"
'g'
"We're not depending on his good will at all,
'
have y ' e know; we're doing our best to get
along by ourselves. But the devil himself won't
give us a chance to snake our own way, and it's
'lucky we are that we have someone to tarn to
c
who may give us a hand. Mr. Mailing is
rich
and--" rr
"Perltalis his wealth is ill-gotten,.
"Now don't be sayht` a word agin him!" Mary
hooted. :"Though we don't know a thing about
asked, turning
n
Adolphus Breep quietly picked up his cape, drew it about his shoulders, and
him, every poor family in Hen's Kitchen will
swear on the cross that he's a great, good man.
And I'll not have the likes of ye saying wicked
things about one who's not here to- defend him-
self!"
im-self!„
The door to the other room opened and,
Michael the son carne out, rubbing sleep -filled -eyes.
"What's all the racket? he grumbled. "Can't•
a man sleep after a hard day's work?"
"It's Adolphus 'Breep, the Ogre," his mother
said, nodding to the Heavy figure before the fire.
"Oh -ho, so it's you!" Michael said, his eyes
flashing. "Angat d d what right have youto come into
the home of a peace -loving family without being
asked.?" He raised his hands threateningly. "Get
out of here now before I lay any hands on you
and do 'something I'll be sorry for after. And if
you know what's good for you, ye'11 stay out of
Hell's Kitchen until after Christmas." Flinging
open the door, he stood beside it glowering as
Adolphus Breep' passed him and went otit into"the
night.
zeas . gone, he wenn down the steps ..and walked
slowly: along the street, weeping with rage.
When Michael reached home, his mother look-
ed up at him with anxious eyes.
"Did you see him?" she asked.
"No, Mother,'' he replied. "The pian servant
wouldn't let me in."
"What then, can we do?" she said, a haunt-
ing look. in her face. "'Tis not only us bat the
McDonaids, the Lallys, the Devines and all."
"The doctor says that father will be all right
in another couple of weeks,' 'Michael said, putting
his arms about her comfortingly, "and his old job.
is waiting for him. So we'll . be sitting on top
of the world then.
"But what will we do now, any boy?" Mary
said: "'Tis Christmas tomorrow and the Ogre
will be coming around in the morning to collect.
But we haven't a penny for him and he'll have us
thrown in the streets in the very dead of winter."
"The Ogre!" Michael's eyes lit up with in-
spiration. "Tell me, Mother, has he been collect-
ing bills all day?"
"I've got it!" he cried, "The
ICHAEL the younger Ogre!"
climbed the stone steps , "What are ye thinkin' of?" . his mother asked
to the door of the big ' fearfully, and as hejumped up and strode : to the
house facing the park, door she ran after him and caught his arm. "Mich
rang the bell, and • nett Michael! she wailed, holding tight to hi"s
waited impatiently. coat. But he thrust her off roughly, grabbed his
When a servant cane cap, and ran out,
to the door, he asked` Mary Scannel stood at the window long, a.
for the master. shawl drawn about her to keep the wind from her
"Is Mr. Mailing in, throat. Her eyes were anxiously fixed ' across the
please?" he said, trying street on the circle of light shimmering on the
to hide his haste. snow from the -lamp overhead. Dim, furtive shad -
Ogre! The
"Yes," the butler
said, examining Mich-
ael critically,
"I'd like to speak to
him for a minute."
"What is your er-
rand, sir?"
"It's about a letter my mother wrote hint a -
week ago," Michael explained.
"What about?"
"I don't see why I should be telling you,"
Michael said, feeling the anger rise within him.
But looking at Michael's worn suit and .thin,''
shabby overcoat; the servant easily guessed his
mission,
"If it's a Charity ease," he said, "I'm afraid
that you can't be admitted now."
"That's what you told Jerry McDonald,"
Michael said; "And you said the same thing to
old Terrance Lally when ;the poor man called -the
other day."
"I'm sorry." -
"I3tit I will see him!" Michael shouted, his
temper finally getting the u aper hand. "We've got
. to have some help till my father 'gets working
again, when we can pay it all back. I've got to
see hint, I tell you, acidyell not stop me now!"
A sympathetic smile passed across the butler's
face; and turning, he quickly shut the heavy door,
r"t ped into ositioe, Michael raised
As the bolts sc . ,
his clenched fists and drunumed upon a panel with
all his ?night.
"Tet me in!" he 'shouted, continuing to beat
ttpoti tfie door without avail When his strength
ows lurked just beyond the white circle and mov-
ed closer whenever a figure passed. After looking
and waiting for an hour, her body stiffened as a
large man turned the corner, the skirts of his In
Glfrtsimas anti tilt
ltd jtar
Ring softly, bell, your message -sweet;
Oh, winter winds, breathe low your song;
For Christmas casts her getns away,,
With farewell kisses, to the throng.
Adown the snowy path site comes,
And takes the Old Year's trembling hand;
And swift and light the snowflakes weave
A veil around theta, as they stand,
His - robe is stiff with frozen sleet;
His lock to shreds of white are cast
By rushing wvind, as on he goes
To drift into the misty Past.
C)h, trees, bend low! a crown is ,dropped,
The gift ottr old friend leaves the new—
Stern Father Tittle holds wide the gate;
And Christmas leads the Old Year through.
Rosamond Livingstone McNaught.
slipped
silently out of the house.
"No. We searched all his pockets but there
was no money anywhere." '
"That's very queer, Michael." She lowered her
head to Adolphus Breep's breast and listened in-
tently.
Michael!" she exclaimed, "His heart ' is beat-
ing stronger. He'll not die at all."
"More's the pity," Michael mumbled and stood
up revently as a priest entered, ' followed by the.
doctor,
ANNY asked to have
you stop at the station
house this morning,
.1Vlary Scannel said to
Adolphus Breep as he
sat beside the stove,
his head cleanly, band-
aged and his left aria
in a sling. "He wants
you to entera com-
plaint against then
men that nearly kilt
you last night."
"I don't think I shall
do anything about it,
Adolphus replied.
"That's the first kind
words I have ever
heard from you," Mary
said, trying to ,hide the gladness in her voice.
"That may well be because it's Christmas."
"Perhaps," Adolphus half agreed as he stood
up. "You have been very good to me, Madam
Scannel, but.; I'm afraid I shall have to go now."
"But we want you to stay and have some of
the lovely turkey that's roasting in the oven. The
saints have been good to us this day and no one
is unwelcome in our home: Not even," she added,
her eyes sparkling, "not even you, Adolphus Breep:
?Thank you, Madame, Scannel," he said, his
heavy lips struggling with an unaccustomed smile:
"The ;Salvation Army has sent us a wonderful
feast," she said. "And the old Michael is on his
feet for the first time. And though there's little
(rope for tomorrow, we are going to be happy this
day." ,•
"Did you' hear from Mr. Mailing, Mary?" old
Michael asked, shuffling into the room with the
help of a cane.
"No," she replied, the cheer fading from her
face. "And we won't for he didn't send anyone
around to investigate.
in, in the river _wind. `Though 'He didn'tlast year, either, Mother," Michael
whipping verness cape } Pp the son said."But he sent the Christmas money
her eyes were feeble, she recognized him by'the AncL we paid it all back when fa
Yjust the same
wide -brimmed fedora pulled well down over his
he? was working." •
eves vand' the, Inverness drawn tightly about his
shoulders. He walked steadily toward the illum-
ined circle and when he reached it thedarkness
about became alive and closed suddenly around
"No, we did not," hie father'said.: "I brought
the money to his house, that I did, but the serv-
ant would not I•et me in and he said his master did
not want a penny of it. The bill, he told me, had.
been returned in righteousness and paid in the
Mary was frozen with fright as the man went ,glory of ,dad."
the snow tinder the blows delivered by the
down into "It's queer,"said
ever seen Mr. Mailing.
"He's a mysterious , man."
"And yet he incus out everything:"
"'Tis a fairy gift perhaps," Mary said wond
ering.
"Bat why, Mother, does oes : he never sheer/ his
face?"
"Maybe he does not want to be flaunting his
wealth here in Hell's Kitchen where the weak ones
Reachingthe prone man, she knelt in the snowy 1d envy hire the gold. And maybe' he does not
won n y
and lifted his Bead, into her lap.
"Oh, Danny! she cried_ as the officer came
up. "They've kilt him entirely!" Taking snow
from the ground; she wiped the blood away
from
'iris assailants, The light above shone steadily
down on the writhing black mass until, at a sharp,
shrill whistle from a watcher . at the corner, it
broke up quickly and dispersed into the .night
again leaving only. the prostrate` form in the street,
fearfully still, the snow drifting over it silently.,
Mary drew a painful; breath, clutched the shawl
about her shoulders, and ran out just as a police -
an
m `s sprinted across the street toward the light.
p
son, "that nobody bas'
want us to be thanking him personal for all .he's
done for
' thepoor, But he knows that he has our
prayers; and that is enough for'a great, good man."
`
"He's been helping everybody these many
Adolphus Breep's £ace. "Help me to take him in- years," her husband said_ ,,
to the house, Danny, and then` go for the priest!"
The policeman lifted the unconscious• man and "Not everybody, Michael man," Mary pointed
out, "Only the deserving. And perhaps," she add- �,-
with Mary's help carried him'into the Scannel kit- ed, glancing at her son, "we've lost too much of
cheat where they placed him on the children's bed
our faith this year
in the corner.'
There was a sudden loud rap upon the door
"I.'li go for help now," Danny said. But as then, and before anyone could reach it, it was
he opened the door Michael rushed in breathless' flim open and a child rushed in.
"Do you know'anything about this Mike?" the g
y g - "What is it, fames McDonald?"''Mary asked,
officer asked:
"No, Danny," said Mary, looking warily at
her son.' "Michael worked late at the store today,
it being the night before Christmas, and he's just
home from work, Conte, Michael, help me with
this poor man."
"I'll have to be hurrying," the officer said as
he went out. -
"Annie!" Mary called tri her old daughter.
older aug er.
seeing fits bright
eyes and flushed cheeks.
"There's a messenger a -coining, •Mrs. Scan-,.
hell".. he cried as they gathered about him: "He
stopped at our house and at the Lallys' and now
he's headed this way!"
"The mysterious Mr. Mailing!".they shouted
with, joy
As they danced about the boy, filled wth hap-
py, expectation at.their coming good fortune, Adol-
"P�ut some water in the kettle and heat it quickly' phos Breep ,quietly picked up his'cape, drew it
Michael! Help me to take offhis clothes." about his: shaulders, and slipped silently out of the
"All right, Mother," Michael said obediently. house.
"You've kilt him, Michael;" Mary whispered, In all the excitement nobody saw him go,
drawing the. hair away from Adolphus Breep's face But Mary Scannel,, as she went to close the door,
and examining the wound on his brow. • heard the fluttering of his Inverness cape in the
"We were angry, Mother,". Michael said, "for wind. Not knowing ,what it was, it 'sounded ta.
the way he has been Snooping around the neigh- her on this joyful` Christmas day strangely like the
borinood bothering people about their bills and not soft rustle of an angel's wings.
caring at all that it is Christmas. Why ca
ul he
not.leave us alone for this one week in the year,
Mother? Why couldn't he?"
"He has his work to do, Michael, and he. must
do it."
"No w , t such ogle Mother. Hell's :Kitchen will
be a happier place without him and we'll be better'.
bff when he is dead."
"Michael! The devil has his band on your
heart tonight,".
Annie brought a pan of hot water and at her
mother's direction, irection took out a clean sheet and tore
it into strips which Mary soaked and put on Adol-
phus Breep's stead.
"The money, sMiehael,> she whispered looking
n one y,
deep e into her son's eyes. "Pet the money back be-
fore Danny conies."
' 'You're lying to your own Mother, Mtchaet To the C Y
Copyright McClure Newspaper Syndicate.
THE CHRISTMAS' I-IOLLY
The ! the holly! oh . twine it with bay--'
1 he holly Y ,
Come give the holly a song;
For it helps to drive "stern winter away,
With his garment so somber and long,
It peeps through the trees with its berries of red,
And its leaves of burnished green,
When the flowers and fruits have long been dead,
And not even the daisy is seen.
Then sing to the holly, the Christthas holly,
That hangs over peasant arid king,
While we laugh and carouse,'neatlt its, glittering
"There wasn't an ?money:" bo ghs,
I herf ty � � �
v boll we'll sin
i el hristmas
2i