Wyoming democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Wyoming Co., Pa.) 1867-1940, 1868-03-18
THE NEW YEARS GIFT.

lOhSlf d-dlliSi SLuluy Ndil VI thS N'h
Red Stone Farm honse, making the bright
fire. that was burning in the large, old
fashioned kitchen seem doubly grateful,
and around which We're gathered father
Williams, his wife, and four children.
The weather bronzed face of the farmer
had careworn and discontented look. He
was one of those who !" make haste to be
rich," and though he is surrounded by
many blessings and every reasonable want,
at the close of the old year find no surplus
in his purse, his heart, instead Of being
lifted up with gratitude, is filled with re
pinings. .....
His gentle, meek browed wife is sitting
beside him, aud her countenance wears a
look of chastened sorrow, and tears glisten
in her eyes as they wander to corner OF
the room where stands a vacant cradle,
from which smiled, week ago, the rosy
checked, bright eyed boy, upon whose lit
tie grave tonight the snow is drlftin G
heavily. ...,
The silence was broken by a heavy
knock at the door.
Farmer Williams Immediately opened
it, revealing a respectable. middle aged
colored man, who held carefully in bis
hand covered basket. ....-
"Does Mrs. Williams live here p he in
quircd. -... IL. ~.
"She does" ........
"The lady who buried little child yes
terday?" ............ .rsa
yes" ,r..f ........e
"Well, here is a New Years present for
her.
Thrusting the basket into the farmers
hands lie turned and walked quietly down
the road where could he dimIy seen the
outlines of a covered sleigh, from which
could be distinctly heard the sound of still
ed sobs
BewiIdcred and astonished, farmer Will
liams carried the basket into the kitchen,
and carefully set it down on the table.
As he did 50 he was startled by plain
tive crv, and upon opening it, there lay a
lovely boy. apparently about three mouths
old.
Farmer Williams sprung to the door,
but :hc sleigh and its occupants were no.
where to be seen.
In the meantime Mrs. Williams and the
children gathered aronnd the basket with
excIamations of surprise and pleasure
As the babe saw the gentle face that best,
over it, it suddenly stopped crying, and
smiling, stretched out its little hands to-
wards her.
The heart of the bcreaved mother now
yearncd toward the child, aud taking it up
in her aims, she pressed it fondy to her
bosom Just then the husband came back
from his fruitless search. @
Il declare it is an imposition ~ he ex-
claimed stamping the snow off his boots
" But wont submit to it. I'll take il
over to the town farm the very first thing
in the morning"
81 cah't bear the idea of its going there,
John" said his wife. "Jnst see what
sweet babe it is ~ @ i.
al don't see but what it looks like all
other babies" returned John, grufily, do
inc his best to steel his heart against the
little stranger, in which he ouly partly sue.
ceeded. for. rough as was the farmers wav,
he had a kindly nature, if one could only
reach it.
"Any way, the authorities will have to
take care of IT," farmer Williams contiuu,
ed. We can't-we have got more mouths
to fill now than we can find bread for"
Mrs. Williams lips quivercd as her
thoughts reverted to the little grave in the
churchyard. All, to her heart there was
one too few.
"Dear John" said Mrs. Williams. plead
lngIy, " 1t seems as though God had sent
this babe to take the place Of our own little
Willie, whom He has taken to himself
Let us keep it. Ii viii not fail to bring a
blessing upon Us, you may be sure"
Farmer Williams couptenance relaxed
as he looked into her fearful eyes.
"Well, well, Mary" he said in soften
ed voice, "I'll think about it. If we do
you and the children will have to go with
out good many things, for these are hard
times, and likely to be worse. So you
had better weigh the thing well before de-
ciding."
Mrs. Williams did so, and the result was
that the New Years present became fix
ture in the Red Stone Farmhouse. He
grew up merry, wiusome lad, twin,ng
even around the farmers rugged nature,
aud taking in the heart of his adopted
mother, the place of her lost aarling, and
loved by her with equal tenderness.
Many sacrifices did Mrs Williams make
many toilsome hours did she spend, in
order that her husband might not feel the
expense of his maintenance. heavily, And
well bis growing intelligence and beauty,
and the ardent affection he cvinced for her
repay her for all. There was nothing
about him that would give the slightest
clue to his parentage. Simply bit of
white paper pinned to his frock, on which
were these words, evidently writer, by a
woman. in a graceful but unsteady hand:
Arthnr-born September %. | was
a stranger, and ye took me ii" ...s
Farmer Williams made some inquiries
in the neigbborhoot, and learned that a
lady with an infant, accompanied 10y SER
want had been stopping for week past at
the village tavern; that she was very
beautiful, but very pale aud sad, and kept
her room most Of the time. But they dis
appeared from there almost as suddenly as