Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1871-01-04

beautiful than IL dld tnRt nlSuti anu
caught myself wondering, half uDconsci
ously, how it had como to pass that she
should have married one so much older,
and to all appearance so unlike herself,
as sober gray headed Uncle Herbert.
well, my dears,' said Uncle Her
bert at last, IL will tell you a story.
true story. Idon't think it is quite what
you mean by Christmas story; but the
events about which am going to tell
you happened at Christmas time. on this
ve.v night indeed, twenty years
ago."
We all settled down TO listen, and, after
a minutes pause. he went on:
cit WAS Christmas eve, or rather
Christmas day, for twelve o'clock had
struck. and the few people left in the
streets were getting gradually fewer and
fewer, till it seemed as though the police
men and the waits would shortly have
London to themselves. 1t was bitter
cold night. and snow was beginning TO
fall. Most of the houses were dark ard
silent, though here and there lighted
windows and stray sounds of music and
of happy voices showed where house
hold was seeing Christmas in, aud giving
a merry welcome to the happy season.
Out of brilliantly lighted house in one
of tue West End streets there came n
young man, who looked as though he
felt little share of the general rejoicing.
He was barely twenty years of age; but
though so young. bis cheeks were flushed
and bis gait unsteady with wine, and his
face was contracted with look of hope
less despair. And little wonderi The
house which he had Just left was noted
gaming house. He bad been tempted
by bad companions, and had gambled
and lost--lost far more heavily than he
could afford. One sin brings on another.
In the vain hope of recovering his losses
with tho insane persuasion, coInmon
to all gamblers. that he must win in the
sud if he could but play a little longer
he had taken without leave large sum
of his employers money, had staked it,
aud lost. And then, all at once. a Lor-
rible remorse. mad despair. seized upon
him. Now that it was too late he saw
the full magnitude OF his crime; he knew
too well that the money which, when be
expected to be able to restore it secretly,
he had thought of as borrowed, the law
would call by a very different name. He
knew how that, disguise it rs he might,
the taking of that money was theft
Already he felt IN mag aatios the officers
hand upon his collar, the handouts on
bis wrists. He could see the witnesses
come forward to bear testimony to his
crime; he could hear the voice of the
Judge pronounciug sentence on the thief
He dared not meet tho consequences Of
his sin; and in his mad despair, fearing
TO face offended man, he had resolved to
rush, by suicide, into the presence of an
offended God. He was now hurrying
home to drink his last draught on earth,
the draught that brings tue awful sleep
whose waking is eternity. With his
hands clenched, and his hat crushed
down upon his forehead, be was rushing
madly or, when be heard sound of
shouting, and the tramp of galloping
horses. He looked up, and saw that the
sky above him was red with lurid glare;
and then runner passed him with the
terrible crv of sFirer A house was on
fire in one of the streets through which
he had to pass; and with a strange feel.
ing of reprieve, he turned aside-turned
aside from the road to bis death-to see
the sight. He elbowsd bis way through
the crowd, which gave way right and left
at the pressure Of his muscular arms
The dwellsrs in the burning house had
been somehow got out, and now stood
half naked and shivering in the street.
All, it was thought, were safe; but just
as he reached thsEgroup there was fear
ful shrek, for it was found that there was
one, the youngest missing. The poor
mother .obbed aud screamed, and was
only held back by force from re entering
the burning house, and perishing with
her little one. The father, wringiDg his
hands like one distracted, offered thou
sand pounds to the firemsn, il they would
but rescue bis child.
alt can't be done, Sir" said one of
them; mot if said hundred thousand,
it couldn't be done. The floors will fall
in five minutes, and it's certain death to
enter that house again"
The red fame was already shining
through the first floor windows, and
through the open door could be heard
the roaring Of the fire. which was fast
gaming bold upon the staircase. A
thought flashed across the young mans
mind. His minutes were numbered, bis
life was worthless; its last act should be
worthy one, and if he persisted in che
attempt, he would be guilty of one sin
the less. With quick eager questions be
ascertalned where the child was. The
fremeu guessed bis intention, end held
him back.
"Don't go. Sir, for Gods sake it's
! wasting two lives instead of one. We're
not towards, Sir, but this is certain death.
If you attempt it, the Lord have mercy
on your soulT'
"Amen!' said the young man; and
throwing of the hands that held him
back, be rushed into the house and up
the staircase, which creaked and cracked
under bis feet.
"The fire was raging on the first floor,
the child was on the floor above. The
first floor landing was already in flames,
but the young man with fierce leap,