The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-02-08
Hatrrllamp.
THE NEW YEARS GIFT.

The wind dashed the frozen sleet furiously
against the sturdy wall of the old Rod Stone
farmhouse, making the bright fire that was
burning in the large old fashioned kitchen seem
LOUDLY grateful, and around which were gather
"a father Williams, the wife and four children.
The weather-bronzed face of the farmer had
.sreworn and discontented look. He was one of
hose who make haste to be rich and though
ls is surrounded by many blessings, and every
reasonable want is supplied, as the close of the
I'D year fnds no surplus in his purse, his heart,
instead of being lifted up with gratitude, is fill
I'd with repinings.a ~ .n. .
His gentle, msek.browed wife is sitting beside
aim, and her countenance wears look of cnas-
tened sorrow, and tears glistsn in her eyes as
they wander TO corner Of the room where
stands yacantc radle, from which smiled week
ago, the rosy-checked, bright-eyed bow upon
whose little grave tonight the snow is drifting
heavily. q v1.TF0 -
The silence was broken by heavy knock at
the door, -4.t.
Father Williams Immediately opened it, re.
vealing respectable, middle-aged colored man,
who held carefully in his had d covered basket.
Does Mrs. Williams live he.e {" he inquired.
"She does"
1.-THE lady who buried little child yester-
day. ~ r7or
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 a COW
cred sleigh from which could be distinctly heard
the sound Of stifed sobs.
Bewildered and nstonished farmer Williams
carried the basket into the kitchen, and carefully
set II down upon the table. EEt
As he did 50 he was startled by plaintive
cry; and upon opening il, there lay lovely boy,
apparently about three months old.
Farmer Williams sprang 70 the door, but the
sleigh and its occupants were nowhere TO be seen
In the meantime Mrs. Williams and the child.
. rem gathered around the basket with exclama-
ton Of surprise and pleasure. As the babe saw
the sweet, gentle face that bent over it. it sud
denly stopped crying, and smiling, stretched out
ita little hands 10 her.
The heart VI the bereaved mother now yearned
toward the child, and taking it up in her arms
she pressed it fondly to her bosom. Just then
the husband came back from his fruitless search.
II declare it's N imposition !" he exclaimed
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
81 can't bear the idea of its going there, John,
said his wife Gust what sweet babe il is ~
81 don't see but what it looks like all other
Babies" returned John, grufly, doing his best 10
steel his heart against the little stranger, in
which he only partly succeeded. for, rough as
was the farmer way, nc nau klnuly nature, II
one could only reach it."
Amy WAY. tho authorities will have to take
care Of it," farmer Williams continued; We
can't-we have got more mouths to fill now than
we can find bread for
Mrs. Williams lips quiycred rs her thous hts
reverted to the little grave in the church-yard.
All. to h<r heart there was one too few.
Dear John" said Mrs Williams, peadinyly,
ii. seems As though God had sent this babe 20
take the place of our own little Willie, whom he
has taken to himself. Let me keep it. 1t will
not fail ~ bring blessing upon us, you may be
sure"
Farmer Williams countenance relaxed some.
what As he looked into those fearful eyes.
well. we'll. Mary he said in softencd
voice, I'm think about it. If we do you and
the children will have to 20 without good
many things. for these are hard times, and likely
to be harder. 80 You had better weigh the
thing well before deciding
Mrs. Williams did so, and the result was tina
the New Years present became fixture in the
Red Stone Farmhouse. He grew up a merry,
winsome boy, twining even around the farmers
rugged nature, and taking, in the heart OF his
adopted mother, the place of her lost darling,
and loved and cherished her with equal tender
ness.
Many sacrifices did Mrs Williams make, many
tosome hours did she spend, in order that her
husband might not feel the expenses of his main
tenance too heavily. And well did his. growing
intelligence and beauty y, and the ardent affection
he evinced 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 written by woman, III grace
full, but unsteady hand:
Arthur, born September 30. l was stran-
ger and ye took me in"
Farmer Williams made some inquiries in tho
ncighborhood, and learned that a lady with an
infant, accompanied by servant, had been stop
ping for week past at the village tavern; that
she was very beautiful, but very pale ana sad
and kept her room most of the time. But they
disappeared from there almost suddenly a.
they came
1t is just ten years since Mrs Williams receiv
ed her New Years gift Let us take another
peep into the Red Stone Farmhouse. The groul
10 smaller now than then The farmer who mur
mtlfed ten years ago that he had many mouths
70 feed, has now only ono child left himthe littl,
Aaxen haired girl that is sitting beside his knee
Tho rest are sleeping in the church yard.
A. heavy misfortune has betallen him: tn,
thirS f0S riches has brought its usual curse
Possess with the mania for speculation, h
inortyags4 his farm house and all it contained
The gild0 bubble burst, and the dawning of thu
New Y4E found him ruined and homeless
man. This was the last night that he and hi
were 70 stay'in the old homestead, that had beer
In the family for four generations, and was link
cd tokBR1heart by so many tender memories
On crrow they knew not whittier to &c
1t il lae,Othat many Of the old neighbors-kind
good souls-hud offered him "A temporary home
but il was hard for the proud, self-relant ma,
to accept charity from any.