The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1869-01-28
"Died?" | said, my hopes sink

ing, a'
D Burnt 70 dcath!9 che said. sad.
y a"WeIhad a Christmas tree for
the children in the Hdrsery. NV.
sister had been a widow ouly three
months, 50 We had no holiday
gathering. but we dressed a tree
for the little ones and lighted il on
Christmas Eve. The next morn,
ing they, the children We mean,
were all in the nursery. and We
supposed one Of them tried 10 light
the tree. Certainly tits that they
set the room on fire and before we
could save anything The whole
house was in flames. All.escapcd
but my sisters child, her only
one; he perish ed n the fire." L
Are you certain?" i,"'NN I'd
"Where else could he be? Nv
two little brothers and my sister
were saved with difficulty, and the
roof fell in while We were all frau.
tically searching and calling for.
Arthur, or as We always called him,
Trot. Ny sisters health gave way
entirely under this blow. She
had concentrated all rthe strength
of her love, upon this child after
her husband died, and the loss
prostratcd her utterly. We took
her 10 Europe; We have had the
best advice for her, bat she is
slowly dying Of broken heart"
at is from no impcrlinent curl.
osity," said, that question
yCu. Will you answer my inquir.
ies?" ..
We were speeding over the fro.
zen ground coward my home, as
she answered.
Certainly" %
This little child--had he a pet
name for yorr' ,."
Yes; my home name. They
all call me Daizy, and he called
me Aunt DaizyY'
"And your sisters names arc
Mary and Sue, your brothers Wal
ter and Baby .l.t-l.. aa- n
Yes, yes" she said, turning
pale.
"And Trot's nurse, Ellen, did
shego to AustraI.a?" 'i ,a'taF
"Yes, o year ago last fall. Your
face is radiant! Speak quickly
our lost boy!"
We were at my door; her face
was white with emotion, but she
obeyed my motion, and let me
lead her from the sleigh TO my of,
fec. l made her sit down and
began to explain, when-"UncIe
Charley's come! Uncle Charleyr'
rang out from my pets voice, and
Trot burst into the room. lillian
rose to her feet with a wild cry OF
"Trol! Arthur Darling!' .'e'
e. For q moment be stood bewild-
cred; then sudden rush of memo
ry came over the childish heart,
and hc sprahg into her arms. -'
1sAunt Daizyl Where's mamma!
[ want mamma! Quick quick!
Uncle Charley. Aunt Daily, take
me TO mammal #. ifH ,"'HN
For nearly three hours We sat
in the little Office before Lillian
could tear herself away from the
child, but at last she let mo take
her to the sleigh, consoling Trot
bya promise that tomorrow he
should see his mother. 'aIi '.! 3D.
l left the disclosure to her wo.
manly tact. But, on the morrow.
when | drove over with. the Child
dressed in his black velvet suit, al,
tered 10 fit him by Mrs. Watsons
trembling fingers, and moistened
| am sure by many tears, found
all prepared for the great joy. ..
Such Christmas never dawned
for me: To tell OF the gratitude Of
the pale widow, the joy of the
grandparents, the bois,erous greet.
ings between tho children is be-
yond the powers of my pen.
OF course tho precise time and
manner of Arthur's escape from
the house we could only conjecture.
The nurse was in the kitchen
nearly an hour when the alarm OF
fire was given, and the flames had
gained great headway before they
were discovered, the family sitting
room being on o different foor, ana
some distance from the nursery
Of course tho fearless boy had lett
the house before the attempt to
light the tree was made, but The
Others, absorbed in Christmas de.
lights did not miss him. The dis
-tanee from the house to the sta
tion was very short, and Ellen
had gone to New York from the
little village. near which Mr.. Ora
hams house was situated. The
departure for Europe, and thecer.
tainty all felt of his fate, had pre-.
vented any search being made for
the boy, and we presume the rail.
way officials supposed he belonged
to some party on the train.
1t was a glad day for all, for if |
lost my little treasure, l won from
Lillian the right Ito be called in
good truth !TFot's sUncle Charley.
.Nt glut I'pBnh . 70 ''.f'.l'L
An old gentleman was recently
waiting for the cars IN the depot
nf fha lGhinocyn Rnnly' Island md