Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-12-23
FOOTPRINTS IN THE SNOW
A CHRISTMAS STORY.


snug est country cottage. sat two persons man
and woman, both advanced in years. All around
wore an air of hOmeiy comfort. OF mere Orna-
nent there was little but the furniture, though
plain 81 cOuldbc. and bearing the marks of long
service was good and Solid and its trim arrange
ment and spOtleSS cleanli ness poke highly for tn
good Housekeeping of its owners A square
Dutch carpet. bound with crimson braid, wa
spread upon the stone floor; and glazed oak book
case displayed upon Its shelves a gOodly store of
deli and ancient china. On the chimneypiece a
cuckOo-clOck licked merTily, and in one corner
of the room stood an Old-fashiOned square piano.
on which were piled large number OF well-bOund
books. Two or three old line engTavings,
mostly OF scriptuTal subjects. decorated the
walls, and the lattice window was half hidden
by crimson curtain The whole aspect Of the
cottage betOkened competence and modest indie
Pendence. Nor were the inmates belied by ap-
Eearance, for few among the inhabitants of the
village were more universally respected than
David and MARY Holt. In the same cottage they
had lived for thirty years, paying their way, and
asking no favor OF any man; and for hve-and-
twenty Of those years David had been parish
clerk and schOOmaster, and in the estma alton of
the young Pensioners, little, if at all, inferior
in di lightly to the parson himself. His wife. with
mo less respect. won more affection; for David
Holt was a stern and hard man, always just, but
seldom generous, while Mary was ever tender
hearted, with Kind word and smile for every
body. To her the school children came in all
their troubles, whether arising from blow of
Cricket-ball or the perplexities of the rule of
three, and rarely failed to receive some measure
such were the couple who sat, one Christm
side long clay pipe, real od-fsshioned
Churchw srdenCd, just put aside. lay upon the
snOw-vhite deal table, and David Holt read
ing aloud from pOnierous family Bible, while
his good wife. her hands crossed upon her knees,
sat reyerently listening. As beftted their solemn
occupation. the faces of both were grave aud
quiet, but that quiet gravity seemed only 10
throw into stronger relief the characteristic n
preston of each;-David, Square-headed and
sJuare-cheste1, with massive jaw and chin,
heavy Overhanging eyebrows. and deep-set keen
gray ePes, hard proud, and Gntorgiving, the EN-
hodiment of stern. self -wiiied and rugged pride;
theCld woman, gentle and quiet with dOwncast
eyes, soft gray hair and pleasant smiling lips,
that told OF nothing but love ani charity; and
vet, though the two faces were unlike. a keen
observer might have detected an element OF
Likeness. There are some events (happy those
who have know n none SUCH which, coming into
human life, leave behind them a shadow for
ever 1t needed no second glance at these two
persons to know that some such event-sone
great SIN, OF shame, or sorEowIhad passed over
their lives. But natures differ, 80 tine scars
left by the fiery trial differ, too. In David
Hollis face the shadow bore the impress OF
humbled pride; in Mary's, that OF wounded
the kindly smile that had rested there from
youth, and that old age could not wear away,
though still sweet, was sad as well; and the
kiRd voice, that had 50 often spoken courage
and cheer to others, had now a tone of weaTi-
ness and ever-present pain. The rugged ma
ture of David, on the other hand, seemed to
have hardened under the rod; the hard features
had become harder, the cold gray eye colder
and sterner than ever. Even now while read
ing the sweet Christmas idyl. the sweet story
whose burden Is the song of the angels Peace
on earth, good TO men, - his harsh voice lost
none OF its accustomed harshness, hut uttered
the sacred words defantly. in tones suited rather
e. some tale of battle and violence, than to the
glad udings of everlasting peace.
Slowly and steadily, never raising his ewes
from the sacred page, David Holt read on; but
even above his loud harsh tones could be heard
the unmistakable sounds of a storm raging With
ont. The wind hOwled and roared over the
yIld west-country moor, straining against the
ottage caves, wrestling with door and case
hen', and Pling heaps of snow high against
which no one, with a home to 90 in would
willingly have been out of doors; any shelter
even the poorest and toughest would have been
preferable to exposure to That pitiess storm, and
yet, out in the cottage garden, under the full
fury Of the bitter wind and driving snow, a
woman stood. bareheaded and motionless gazing
through the lattice with wild, longing, hungry
eyes at the scene within. After a little while
she erept into the porch, but not to ask for
shelter. One knock az the door thou III dealt
with a feeble or timid hand, WAS heard; and
tn,n waiting not the result, she came forth
again and He'd swiftly, her long hair streaming
in the wilo ;yind. toward the open moor
After a moment or two the door opened, the
light from within casting broad bright beam
into the outer darkness; and Mary Holt shading
her eyes with her hand, peered forth into the
storm. She caught ight OF the flying figure and
calling to her husband, the two gar after il till
ii disappeared altogether in tie darkness. David
was the first 10 re-enter the cottage. SAYING as
be did 80, " Come IN AissuS, come in wiiI'ee ?
It's some fooush prank o. one o. the village
wenches- She thought to fright US, 1 reckon
Ills wife turned to follow him, but as she did So
stumbled against bundle living Mt her feet.
.. She's left some'at behind her then said the
Old woman, STOPPING TO examine it. when faint
yailing cry was heard, and she started back
an ipstant, then hastily snatching up the bundle
rushed into the cottage. "Oh, Davy, did zee
ever-it's a child,'' As she spoke she laid her
burden on the table. and letting fall the thick
WOODEN cloak in which II was wrapped, disclosed
baby of three or four months old, whose wide
open eyes seemed to testify the utmost astonish-
20, hon h. fraara 10Th
instinct the good soul took the child In her arms
pressing it to her bosom with murmurs of en-
desrment. But David's brow was black as
night. "a pretty thing, the shameless, to saddle
honest folk wi her lone brat; but I'll find her
out. twarrant-ay, that will, If it costs me
twenty pound.'
NAV. Davy, don't zee be too hard on the poor
soul. There's never a sin without a SORROW, and
she must have had a weary sight o. pain and
misery before she'd DC willing to part with her
.'And serve her right, a baggage" replied her
husband alt there's law or justice in the
parish, III have her in the stocks before another
..Davy, Davy." pleaded the good wife. "sure
you've forgotten that it's Christmas Eve, and
the good words you were reading bat now. oh!
master, don't be angry OveTmuch Tonight"
David was about To make a stern Iejonder,
when his wife caught sight Of q small locket of
gold-and-blue enamel, which was hung'about
the child's meek by q ribbon. With q cry IL
she had received n blow, she gasped, 'Oh,
David David. look at this. It's hers, it's Ally's,
A fash OF indescribable emotion passed for a
moment over David Hollis face. and lip and
eye-Iid quiyered- But it was only for y mo
ment, and the stern face hardened again, a
shade paier, perhaps but dark and stern as
ever. When he spoke IL was slowly and dis.
tinctly.
al don't know Of whom You speak; had q
child o. that name once, but she brought shame
upon US. Take her who will, she's none o.
mine"
"She is our own flesh and blood, David
pleaded the old woman, in an agony OF tears.
s'The Lord made her that, and bitter words
won't alter It Oh TO think that she should
have been here, close by our door, and out in the
storm! Davy, won't you-wont you fetch her
back?"
David sat silent, sullenly gazing into the fire.
Dayy, you call yourself Christian man.
YOa wouldn't turn q dog from the door such a
right "a this and yet you III suffer your child
ol.e wandering on the moor, without place to
Iy her head"
..She can ask for shelter"
saSheiter! Likely that she who daredn't face
her own father and mother 'ud seek shelter o.
strangers"