Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-01-11

old man' said William, during the
day. 81 called few days after took
him home, to inquire how he was get
ting on, but he had gone from that
place"
"Do you know, William, to that old
mans sufferings you are indebted for
yonr wife? That day saw the differ
ence between you and Carl Granger.
His heartlessness frightened me, and I
fed to you, and grew calm and happy, %
said Florence, while beautiful flush
spread over her face, chasing away the
care-worn look of few moments be-
fore
-" You fled to poverty, toll, suffering.
Oh! my darling, I hoped to have shell
tered you from such.
81 fled from worse. Come, cheer
/ up! all will yet be we'll did not tell
| you, the last time [ was out, [ saw Carl
| Granger very much intoxicated. He
Is living now entirely on his expecta-
| tions."
Mamma mamma! Kriss Krin-
gle's coming See See Hurrah Old
Kriss liked to have forgotten us,
guess !" cried little Willie, shouting,
anu CIappIuS LIS uduuS.
Florence arose to look out, when a
knock sounded on the door; opening
which, she beheld standing before he1
the old man of whom she had Just been
speaking.
"Come in! [ am glad to see you
| Where have you been this long time
And how did you find us 2" Florence
asked, taking his hand and drawing
him in
''I found very easily what [ have
never lost. I've thought of you often,
but chose to come to-day. It is a good
time to come" answered the old man.
"Come sit down here" said Viii
liam, getting up and offering his own
comfortable chair.
"Wait bit If I set down, I don't
want to get up soon. Better know first
how long [ can stay" answered the old
man, still standing.
GAS long as you like. We are poor,
very poor, but if you want home with
US, we will not send you forth. Sit
down" answered William
"The same unchanged !" murmured
the stranger.
"What shall we call you" asked
Florence.
"Kriss Kringle! The children call
ed me so. Let them continue. And
you may say Uncle, if you PREFER" he
said.
A comical expression was on his face,
smiles continued to play about his thin
lips, and be seemed very happy.
| When Florence went out to prepare
the frugal dinner, the old man called
the children, and listened to their lisp
ing voices. William was watching, very
much amused, when the old mans words
were whispered, and little Willie, seem
ing to understand, lowered his tone, and
the heads of the old and the young were
close together, at some mysterious plot
ting.
| The fathers amusement was changed
to the greater amazement, when, soon
after Florence came back, Willie ran
up, exclaiming:
"Christmas gift for mamma, and pap
pa too! Kriss Kringle sent them to
you!'
It was only little roll of paper
Opening which, they found, told in
words never palmer, s'No more power
ty! no more toiling!" Many thousands
of dollars they held in their hands.
They could not speak at first. But
after while, when they poured forth
their thanks, Kriss Kringle said:
"Your home is minei you and yours
are mine All have is for you'll You
won it six years ago both of you. And
that day you had another friend with
you. knew him by name before; [
learned his nature then. I heard his
remark when I was going out. Ha ha |!
He lost something then, didn't he {?
Eh 2"
Florence and William thought the
old man was very shrewd to have read
the hearts of all, that Christmas-day
But he meant not what they thought
They knew it in after years.
"Go, make our children happy!" he
urged. 'tAnd, my good child, take
this handing her more money, ''and
make the poor old folks you meet, and
the little children who are looking
longingly in at the gay windows, make
them happy too
Oh, what a joyous Christmas it was
For five years the old man dwelt with
them, and then he sank calmly to sleep,
loving hearts and gentle hands soothing
him.
And then, from lawyer of high
standing, came the startling informa-
ton that William Hartley and Florence
were the only heirs to all the immense
wealth of mark Granger. Then, too,
it was, they knew that Carls heartless-
ness and rude, unkind speech had
wrecked all his prospects of ever pos
sessing his uncle's wealth. He knew
it, too, when the news reached him. In
the will there was but one request
Make the old folks and the children
happy" it was They follow his bid
ding. Every Christmas-day finds them
doing the work they love so well.