The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-02-08
The new Years GIFT.

The heroes Of the workshop,
And monarehs Of the s0lli
The New Years Gilt.
twas New Years eve clustering night
The wind dashed the frozen sleet furiously
q. .-ainst the sturdy wall of the old Red Stone
Farmhouse, making the bright fire that was
burning in the large old fashioned kitchen
seem doubly grateful, and around which
we're gathered father Williams, bis wife and
tour chiEdFen.
The weather bronzed face of the fa-me.
had a careworn and disconnected look. He
was cne Of those who make haste to be
rich" and thougt he is surrounded by many
blessings, and every reasonable want as.sap-
plied, as the close cf the old year fnds no
surplns in bis purse, his heart, instead Of
being lifted up with gratitude, is filled with
repinings.
His gentle, meek browed wife is sitting
beside him, and her countenanee bears q
look of ehastened sorrow, and tears glisten
ln her eyes as they wander to a corner of
the room where stands vacant cradle, from
which smiled, week ago, the rosy checked,
bright-eyed boy, upon whose little grave to-
night the snow is drifting heavily.
The silence was broken by heavy knock
at the door.
Father Williams Immediately opened 1t,
revealing a respectable, middle-aged colored
man, who held carefully in his hand a Gov.
cred basket.
"Does Mrs. Williams live here :" he in
quired.
" She does"
"The lady who buried little child yester-
day %
GYssn
"Well, here is a New Tears present for
her."
Thrusting the basket into the farmers
hands he turned and walked quickly down
the road, where could be dimly seen the ont
lines of coved sleigh, from which could
be distinctly heard the sounds Of stiaed
sobs.
Bewildered and astonished, farmer Will
liams carried the basket into the kitchen,
and carefully set it down upon the table.
As be did 80 be was startled by plain
tive cry and on opening it, there lay a
lovely boy, apparently about three mon'hs
old.
Farmer Williams sprang to the door, but
the sleigh and it's occupants we're nowhere
to be seen.
In the meantime Mrs. Williams and the
children gathered around the basket with
ordinations surprise and pleasure.
As the babe saw the sweet, gentle face that
bent over it, il suddenly stopped crying, and
smiling, stretched out its little hands TO
her.
The heart Of the bereaved mother now
vearned toward the child, and taking it up
IN 5ef arms, he pressed it fondiy TO her bo-
som. Just then the husband came back from
his fruilless search.
81 declare it is an imposition n he ez-
claimed, stamping the snow of his boots
! A'61t Won't submit 70 1t. I'll take 1t owe
to the town farm the very first thing In th,
morning.
81 can't bear the idea of its going there
john" said his wife. "Just see what
sweet babe it is -
" don't see but what it looks like al
other babies" returned John, gruffiy, do
! ing his best to steel his heart against tn
little stranger, in which be only partly sue
ceeded, for, rough as was the farmers way
he had kindly nature, IL one could onl
! reach it.
"Any way, the authorities will have Z
take care Of It," farmer Williams contin
ued "We can't-we haye got NOR
mouths to Sill now than we can tind brea,
for"
Mrs. Williams lips quivered as be
church-yard. Ah, to her heart there va
one too few!
Dear john" said Mrs. Williams, plead
ingly, ''it seems rs though God sent thi
babe to take the place of our own little WI
lie, whom be has taken to himself. Let m
keep it. 1t will not fail to bring blessin
upon US, YOU may be sure" a
| 1.-The couutenanee of Farmer Williams n
4 laxed somewhat as he looked into those tesl
full eyes.
"Well, well, Mary" he said, in soft
ened voice, III think about IL 1--we d
yourself and the children wili have to 4
without good many things, for you kno
these are hard times, and likely to be harde
So yon had better weigh the thing well b
fore deciding"
Mrs. Wiliiams did 50, and the result VI
that the New Years present became . q,
ture IN the Red Stone Farm House. Z
grew up q merry, winsome boy, twinir
even around ths- farmers rugged natur
and taking, in the heart Of his adopted motl
er, the place Of her lost darling, and los.
and cherished by her with equal tsnde
ness.
Many sacrifices did Mrs. Williams max
many soilsome hours did she spend, In ord
that her husband might nok fsel The q
pense Of bis maintenance too heavily. Ar
well did the growing Intelligence. ~
beauty, and the ardent affection wbi,
he sviDced Cor her, rspay hes for all. Tse