The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1869-07-09
The New Years Gift.

oia hed Stone Farmhouse, making tb
p,isnt lire mat was burning in the large
:, oiu Hslloned kitchen seem doublv graft;
lul: and around which were pathrrc,
laiher Williams, his wife and his foul
o Inc weather-bronzcd face of the fathe,
n'o care wornand a discontented look
: 'e was one of those who make haste tc
oe rril, and is surrounded bv mnny
DRESSINGS, and every reasonable want /.
! snppilcd, as the close Of the wear find
no surplus in his purse, his heart. instead
oI being llitcdup with gratitude. is filIel
with rcpinings.
lis gentle. meek-browed wife is sit
ing beside him, aud her countena,u.e
wears Il look Of chastened sorrow. and
tears glistcned in her eyes as they wan
de- to "A corner Of the room where stand :
vacant cradle, from which smiled n
week ago, the rosy checked. b,fUht-eved
boy. upon whose little grave to-niohtthe
snow is drifting heavily.
! The silence was broken bv n beoyr
knock ST the door.
Father Williams Immediately opened
~ revealing respectable, middle-aged
|,olored man, who held carefully in his
| - 'S'NhN w udSheI.
inquired. "e
she does"
The lady who buried little child
yesterdays '''' 0'"'0
| Yes"
Well. here is n Now yo,r
her. p'ee''' ior
Ihrusting the basket into the farmers
1ahds he turned and walked ouicklv
uowh the road. where could be dinlv
seen tiic outlines of covered sloiuI, |
from Which could he distinctly heard the
sound of stif1ed sobs.
Bewildercd and astonished. farmcr
Nlliians carried the basket into thell
Kitchen and carefully set it down unon
the table. "P'"
AS he did so he was startled bv n plain
tivecry; and upon opening it. there lovIs
u lovely boy apparently about three
Farmer Williams sprang to tbe door
out 'he sleigh and its occupants were no II
where to be seen.
IN the meantime Mrs. Williams and L
the children gathered around the basket It
win eXclamations Of surprise and pleas Ii
ufc. AS the babe saw the sweet. oentla jc
lace 'hai bent over it.it suddenly stopped ia
crying and smiling. stretched ont its i;itle
hands to her. ''''io p
1hc heart Of the bercaved mother now %
yeaired toward the child. and takipy !, III
up IN hcr arms. she pressed il TO her "
poSonl. Just then the husband came q
PACK nom his tIuitleSs search. la,
declare lis an iInposirion!. he ex-
'ialliled, stamping the snow off his h
'oos. "but ! won't submit to it.IuIfe
.'hc ~ over 10 the town farm the very lp
irst thin" in the morning"
can bear the idea ofits goinu t,,ere Ill
'"hn. said his wife. Just see what !,
wcct babe il is" "' . to
uon ! see but what it looks like a1 m
thrr babies, returned John. grutlly do. IN,
~ MS best to steel his heart against tbe
''ic strangerin which only in part suc- in
ceued. Tor, rough as was the farmers
'ay, he had Kind nature, if one conld lht
My rcachit. is
ANY way. the authorities will have 10 Inc
IKE care OF it, farmer Williams con. on
hucd: I'VE canf-we have cot moro III
louths TO fillnow than we can find broad hi
~ ''"" oieau
Mrs. Williams lips puivered as ber ly
'oughts reverted 10 the little orave in yo
e church-yard. All, to her heart there
as one too few. m
Dear Jonn. said Mrs. Williams. sai
endlngly. 1T seems as though God had as
nj this babe TO take the place of onr|
vn little Willie, whom He has taken 80 ful
mself. Let me keep it; it will not fail hir
re-" '! oe m !
Farmer Williams countenance relaxed wa
mcwhat rs he looked into those fearful inc
=; .sWe,, wall ,r.r,.r in !,
led voice, I'll think about il. If weIAr
. You and the children will have TO 90 am
thout good many things, for these one
hard times and likely to be harder. wit
you had better weigh the thing well bou
fore deciding." 8.
Mrs Williams did SO, and the result mot
8 that the New Years present became |"Yt
xture in the Red Stone farm-housc. war
grew up merry, winsome bow B
ming even around the farmers rugged was
ure, and taking, i'm the heart Of his Viii
'pted mother, the place of her lost who
ing, and loved and cherished by herIliam
n equal tenderness. a.
dany sacrifices did Mrs. WilliamsIhe s.
ke, many toilsome hohrs did she for !
nd, in order that her husband MIGHT liam
leel the expenses of his rnaintena nee ban(
heavily. And well did his growing &C
diligence and beauty, and the ardent com