The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1870-02-26

| over L was duuOQuCeU. one wore IQOuTQ-
ing, and often longed to question her
about the loss it implied, but our private
interviews were very brief, and but sell
dom occurred, and she never spoke of
sorrow. I, too, had story to tell. Of
course, if she became my wife, she must
| hear about Trot.
| 1t was the day before Christmas, aud
the snow was smooth and hard round
Hopedale so | ventured to propose
sleigh ride, meaning to open my heart to
her as we drove She accepted my pro-
posal readily, and we were soon on the
way. Somehow there fell long silence
between US ]; 1 longed, but not daring to
speak, my eyes fixed on that lovely face
framed in its pretty fur bound hood, the
eyes looking down, the sweet mouth set
with sadder expression than | had ever
seen it wear. Suddenly she spoke:
/ q expect my parents, brothers and
sisters here Tomorrow"
For Christmas gayeties % I ques-
toned.
g No, to escape them. They are COM
ing here to pass the day quietly, far
away from any festivity. 1t is a sad
day for US. Doctor, do you believe in a
broken heart ?"
Yes l know they exist"
''And are fatal ?'
"Sometimes. I have known heavy
sorrow drain away life"
My poor sister," she said sadly, her
eyes filling with tears, g fear her heart
Is broken And after pause she said,
"a year ago-a year ago-poor little
Trot p
Trot - | exclaimed breathlessly.
Ny sisters only child, who died on
Christmas day last year"
Died, said, my hopes sinking.
Burned to DEATH" she said sadly.
" We had Christmas tree for the child
rer in the nursery My sister had been
widow only three months, so we had
no holiday gathering, but we dressed a
tree for the little ones, and lighted it on
Christmas eve. The next morning they
the children, | mean-were all in the
nursery, and we suppose one of them
tried to light the tree Certain it is,
they set the room on fire, and before we
could save anything the whole house
was in flames. All escaped but one, my
sisters child, her only one; he psrished
In the fire."
care you sure ?"
Where else could he be My two
little brothers and my sister we're saved
!. with difficulty, and the roof fell in while
, we were all frantieaily searching and
calling for Arthur, or, as we always
called him, sTrot. My sisters health
gave way entirely under this blow. She
had concentrated all the strength of her
love upon that child after her husband
died, and the loss Frustrated her entirely
We took her TO Europe we have had
the best of advice for her, but she is
slowly dying of q broken heart"
1t is from no impertinent curiosity,
said, that question you. Will you
answer my inquiries p
We were speeding over the frozen
ground towards my house as she ans
wered, Certainly"
''This little child-had he pet name
for you 2"
Yes; my home name. They all
call me Daisy, aud he called me Aunt
Daisy"
And your sisters names are Mary and
Sue, your brothers Walter and baby 2"
% Yes, yes - said she, turf ing pale.
ssAnd Trots nurse, Ellen, did she go
to Australia ?"
Yes: year ago last fall. Your
face is radiant. Speak quickl ly-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 Office I made her sit
down and began to explain, when-"Un-
Gle Charley's come. Uncle Charley
comet" rang out from my pets voice
and trot burst into the room. Lillian
rose to her feet with wild cry of ''Trot
Arthur !! Darling
For moment he stood bewildered
then sudden rush of memory came
over the childish heart, and he sprans
into her arms.
s.Aunt Daisy! Where's mamma? ]
want mamma! Quick quick Uncle
Charley, Aunt Daisy, take me to mama :
For nearly three hours we sat in the
little Office before Lillian could tear her
self away from the child, but at last she
Jet me take her to the sleigh, consoline
Trot by promise that to morrow he
should see his mother.
| left the disclosure to her womanly
, tact. But, on the morrow, when / drove
over with the child dressed in his black
velvet suit, altered to fit him by Mrs
Watson's trembling fingers, and moist
, ened, am snre, by many tears, l found
| all prepared for the great joy.
, Such a Christmas never dawned fol
me. To tell the gratitude of the pale
widow, the joy of the grand parents, the
: boisterous greetings between the child
! rem, is beyond the powers of my pen.
II OF course the 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 when they
J were discovered, the family sitting room
| being on different floor, and some dis.
!, tauce FROM the nursery. OF course the
fearless boy had left tho house before AZ
T attempt to light the tree was made, but
the others, absorbed in chri4tmas de-
liohks did not miss him. Tho distance