Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1866-12-26
THE NEW YEARS GIFT.

|, was New Years Eve; a cold, buster
Ing night The wind dashed the frozen
sleet furiousy against the sturdy walls of
the Red Stone Farm house, making the
bright fire that was burning in tn large, old
fashioned kitchen seem doubly grateful,
and around which were gathered father w IL
llams, his wife and his four children.
The weather bronzed face of the farmer
had caro-worn and discontented look.
He WAS one of those who make haste to be
rich, and though he Is surrounded by ma
ny blessings, and every reasonable want is
supplied, as the close of the old year finds
no surplus in his purse, his heart, instead Of
being lifted up with gratitude, is filed with
replnlngs.
His gentle, week Drowned wife is sitting
beside, and her countenance wears look OF
ohastened sorrow, and tears listened in her
eyes as they wander to the corner of the
room where stands vacant cradle. from
shich smiled, a week ago, the rosy checked,
bright eyed hoy, upon whose little grave to-
night the snow is drifting heavily.
The silence was broken by heavy knock
ut the door.
Farmer Williams Immediately opened it,
revealing respectable, middle-aged colored
man, who held carefully In his hand COW
cred basket
Does Mrs. Williams live here p he in.
CURED.
She does
The lady who buried little child yes
tsrday?"
Yes"
well, here is New Years present for
her
Thrustng the basket into the farmer S
hands he turned and walked quickly down
the road, where could be dimly seen the out
lines Of covered sleigh, from which could
be distinctly heard the sound of stifled sobs.
Bewidered and astonished, Farmer Will
lisms carried the basket into the kitchen,
and carefully set it down upon the table.
As he did so, he was startled by plain
tive cry; and upon opening it, there lay a
lovely boy, apparently about three months
Old
Farmer Williams sprang'to the door, but
the sleigh and its occupants were nowhere
10 be seen
In the meantime Mrs Williams and the
children gathered around the basket with ex-
clamstions of surprise and pleasure. As
the babe saw the sweet gentle face that bent
over 1t, 1t suddenly stopped crying, and smi-
linz stretched out its little hands to her.
The heart of the bereaved mother now
yearned toward the child, and taking it up
IN her arms she pressed it fondly to her bo-
som. just then the husband came back
from his fruitless search.
Il declare it's an imposition!' he ex-
claimed, stamping the snow off his boots
But won't submit to it. I'll take it over
to the town farm the very first thing in the
morning"
Il can't bear the idea of it S going there,
John, said his wife. Just see what a
sweet babe it is -
Il don't see but what it looks like all 9TH
sr babies, returned John, gruff1y, doing
MS best to steel his heart against the little
stranger, in which he only partly succeeded,
for, rough as was the farmer way, he had
aklndly nature if one could only reach it.
Any way the authorities will have to
take care of it, - Farmer Williams contin-
aed, we can't I've have got more mouths
TO tlll now than we can find bread for.
Mrs. Williams lip quivered as her thoughts
reverted to the little grave in the church
yard All, to her heart was one too few
Dear John, said Mrs. Williams, plead
lngly, lit seems as though God had sent
ms ms babe to take the place of our own little
Willie, whom he has taken to Himself. Let
ME keep 1t. 1t will not fail to bring bles-
alg upon US. you may be sure.
FARMER Williams countenance relaxed
somewhat as he looked into those fearful
eyes
Well, well, Mary" he said in softened
voice; 1, II think about it. If we do, you
and the children will have to 60 without a
good many things, for these are hard times
and likely to be harder So you had better
weigh the thing well before deciding"
Mrs. Williams did SO, and the result was
taat the New Years present became fix
tune IN the Red Stone Farm house He
grew up a merry, winsome boy, ,twIning even
around the farmer rugged nature, and TAX
hs ls the heart Of his adopted mother the