The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1869-12-30


skating, perhS =, and romps and games
and, best Of alt the Christmas tree, ant
Carl was to light some of the tapers with
his own handA How pretty the,
looked; blue, rose-colored, and white
scattered al among the branches; anc
then the presefsts in mysterious pack
ages, some quite too heavy to go on the
tree; and the children wondered many
times what they you'd find. They had
each present for their mother; in fact
Lizette had several, but Carl had no,
brought his gift home. He asked the
shopkeeper to put it away for him till
he should be ready for it.
"You see" he said to Lizette, II want
1t for real Christmas present. Now IL
anything should happen that she should
find it before, II, oould not do at ALL"
/ ."Isit = book RI asked Liette, curious
ly.
mo, not book. But it will tell
q story" and that was all Carl would
say.
They had been saving their money
for several months, and they had leave
to spend 1t as they chose. They had
made several expeditions with their
mother, and all the household were re-
membered with little gifts to be hung
on the tree. But Carl went alone for
his mothers present, aud, whatever it
was, twas not to be hung on the tree.
"Iou may have the first peep at it,"
Carl said to LiZette, land she is not to
have it till Christmas morning when
the presents are all distributed, and she
will think there is nothing left for
her."
1t was the day before Christmas, and
Carl said, in the afternoon, that it was
time to go to the village. 1t was not far,
and he was going alone. He ran in to
say goodbye to his mother, and she
kissed him and smiled as she had not
for many day. Carl's eyes sparkled,
aud he could hardly refrain from telling
her.
"Oh mother" he cried "you will be
glad tomorrow" Then, for fear he
should say too much, he hurried away.
Lizette went with him down to the
gate, and they pelted each other with
the beautiful s"ow, till their cheeks
were red rs the holly berries that were
glowing within the house, and they
rolled big ball and set it by the gate.
Then Carl said that he must go, and.
calling to Lizette that he knew where
there Wee some splendid holly berries,
and would bring her Il branch, he dart
ell like an arrow down the hill. Lizette
watched him till he y2 WAS sS:: SalX Xeat dark
speuk on the SNOW 'he'i s1ie went lnto
the muse. The time flew quickly, there
was so much to be done, and Lizette
went skipping about, here and there and |
everywhere, asking questions, and Off
without answers, busy u. bee, if not as
useful
After while she thought about Carl.
1t was surely time for him to be at |
home. She went down to the gate and |
they made had sunk down, for the sun
had been shining on it. Lizette piled
on more snow while waiting
"There," she said, as she added the
last lump with her little red fingers,
carl will think II has grown;' and
she looked again, but he was not yet in
sight, aud she went slowly back, often
turning her head and gazing down the
hill
"Mother,' she said, disconsolately,
as she entered the house, ~ do wish
Carl would come"
What! has not Carl come yet" said
her mother, and she looked anxiously
from the window. The sun had set,
and the moon was rising bright and
clear, but no Carl So she bade old
John hasten down to the village.
Don't fret" said John. Tho boys
are all out to-day, and, my word for it,
he has forgotten all about the Christmas
tree. I'll soon bring him home" And
he rode away down the hill.
"Carl will have gay ride back i" said
Lizette, but she did not think how he
would come. For o, l must tell you
that when John got down to the road
that went in through the meadow, and
over the hills where the spruces grew,
he spied something black Oh the ice in
the river, just where the water ran dark
and deep and cold. Something made
him spring suddenly from his horse and
go down to the ice.
1t was Carl's cap that he saw, but
where was Carl? There was a hole in
the ice, and somebody had evidently
fallen in. There We're marks in the
snow, little foot prints leading down to
the water, but none went back. And
where was Carl? The edges OF the ice
were broken, as though he had strug-
gled and grasped them, and slipped
again.
! All this John saw in two seconds, and
! a horrid fear came into his mind, and it
seemed as though All icy hand was
clutching his heart. A little way down
the stream was another opening in the
ice close nv the Willows that were