The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-02-21
Mrs. Williams New Years Gift

old-fashloned kitchen seem doubly CRATE
full, around which were gathered Father
Williams, his wife, and four children.
The weather-bronzed face of the far
mer has care-worn, discentented look.
He is one of those who make haste to be
rich, and though he is surrounded by
many 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 filled with repinings
His gentle, meek browed wife is sitting
beside him. Her countenance wears a
look of chastened sorrow, and tears glis-
ten in her eyes as they wander to cor
ner of the room where stands vacant
cradle, from which smiled, week ago, the
rosy checked, bright-eyed boy, upon
whose little grave, tonight, the snow is
drifting heavily.
The long silence was broken by heavy
knock at the door.
Farmer Williams opened it, revealing
a respectable, middIe-aged colored man,
who held carefully in his hand a covered
basket. ~
aDoes Mrs. Williams live here?" he in
quired
"She does" a.
"The lady who buried child yester-
day?"
ayes"
"Well, here is New Years present
for her"
Thrusting the basket into the farmers
hands, he turned and walked quickly
down the road, where could be dimly
seen the outlines of covered sleigh,
from which came the faint sound of stifed
sobs. q
! Bewildered and astonished Farmer
Williams carried the basket into the kitch-
en- and set it upon the table.
As he did SO, he was startled by a
| plaintive cry; and upon opening it, there
lay lovely boy, apparently about three
months old.
Farmer Williams sprang to the door,
but the sleigh and its occupants were no.
where to be seen.
In the meantime Mrs. Williams and the
children gathered around the basket with
explanations of surprise and pleasure
As the babe saw the. sweet, gentle face
that bent over it, it suddenly stopped
crying, and, smiling, stretched out its lit
tie hands to her. The heart of the be-
reaved mother yearned toward it. and ta-
king it up in her arms, pressed it fondly
to her bosom. Just then her husband
came back from his fruitless search.
81 declare, it's an imposition!'' he ex.
claimed, stamping the snow off his boots
'But I won't submit to it. I'll take il
over tothe town farm the very first thing
in the morning.
II can't bear the idea of it going there
John" said his wife, "Just see what ;
sweet babe it is"
III don't see but what it looks like 9th
er babies, " returned John, grufiy, doing
his best to steel his heart against the lit
tie stranger, in which he only partly sue
ceeded, for, rough as was the farmer.
way, he had a Kindly nature,if one coult
only reach it. "Any way, the authoritie
will have to take care of it; we can't
We've got more mouths to fill now, thai
we can find bread for.'
| Mrs. Williams lip quivered as hel
thoughts reverted to the little grave il
the church-yard. All, to her heart wa.
one too few.
"Dear John" she said, pleadingly, s'i
seems as though God had sent this bab,
to take the place of our own little Willie
whom he has taken to himself. Let mt
keep it. 1t will not fail to bring bles
slug, you may be sure.
| Farmer Williams countenance relaxed
as he looked into those fearful eyes.
swell, we'll, Mary, he said, in soft
ened voice, aI'll think about it. If W
do, you and the children may have to d
without good many things, for thes
are hard times, and likely to be harder
So you had better weigh the matter wei
before deciding"
''Mrs. Williams did so; and the resul
was that her "New Years Gift" became
4 fixture in Red Stone Farmhouse. HI
grew up merry, winsome boy, twinin,
even around the farmers rugged nature
and taking in the heart. of his adopte'
mother the place of her lost darling, love
and cherished by her with equal tender
ness. Many sacrifices did she make, man,
ioilsome hours did she spend, in orde
that her husband might not feel the ex
pense of his maintenance too hardly
And well did his growing intelligenc
and beauty, and the ardent affection b
evinced fer her, repay her for it all
There was nothing about him that coul
give the slightest clue to his parentag'
Simply bit of white paper pinned to hi
frock, on which were these words, eyi
J, IDENTIFY written by woman, in gracefr
but unsteady hand:
: ARTHUR,
Born AUGUST %, 1851,
WAS A STRANGER, AND YE TOOK NE Il
Farmer Williams made some inquire
in the neighhorhood, and learned that
lady with an infant, accompanied by
servant, had been stopping for week pa
at the village tavern; that she was ver
beautiful, but pale and sad, and kept h
room most of the time. But they hs
disappeared as suddenly as they came.
1t is just ten years from the time th
Mrs. Milliams received her New Y Year
gift. Let us take another peep into Il
- kitchen of Red Stone Farmhouse. III
group is smaller now than then. The ia