Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-12-23

hats so, cap J" cried a husky voice inside
FiIth's not the man to die like rat in a hole"
The men about him drew back for her in
silence The great blsated man lying in the
midst OF them-the seal of death on his SCARED
purple face-that was her little RI bby He did
not notice her at first, talking 10 the police OFF,
cer, who was wetting his lips. tenderly enough.
al told You I'd balk you, john" with half
laugh. There was something yet OF the Old
genial, sweet ring in his voice.
=" Let that go, Firth. Look here!n She had
knelt beside him.
s'MOther ~ A spasm OF pain came on, which
they thought would be the last; but in the midst
of il, he suddenly touched her hair gently-an
old afiectionate trick which he had when he was
His head rested on womsn's breasts fair
haired, pretty girl. When his mother came. the
men would have led her away, but he stopped
them swearing at them No, she's not my
wife. But MiIly loved me-"
They were all busted about him. he was " Rob-
ert' to them all; seemed TO come close to them,
felon as he was. His mother held his hand,
which grew colder, each moment in her own;
but his head rested on the heart of the woman
who had led him into sin. She had taught him
to love her, and so kept her hold upon his soul at
"fd like to make you my wife, before go,
Hilly," he said. "Yon did the best YOU could
for me, poor girl, but you didn't know what was
rlgnt. NO, you didn't know. Hiseyes, wander
ing off to the dark space into which he was going
SO soon, alone, grew stern and solemn. They ali
knew then that he looked into death, and that
She came up close to him-his mother; "Rob-
ert," she said, I" My sOn-do you trust in God %
lie thurst her back suddenly. .. Don't talk to
me of Ged now: | learned to hate Him when
was boy, and I've never been able to bring
myself to-no matter. It's too late" He shut
his eyes, but looked up at her in a moment.
Don't worry, mother. You had your chance
once, but you lost it somehow. It's Bob Firth
that's gone under"
There was silence. The captain whose hand
was on the breast of the dying man, took il
nd erArnfIr al.
sailors passing by the outskirts OF the crowd
stopped and buried their heads.
hes going with the tide, they muttered 20
one another.
Underneath Them in the gathering night the
unresting sea rose and fell; out of the distance
came the inarticulate wall like lost soul, gone
from those who vainly followed. whose hold had
slipped from il forever.
She crept closer. She could not vet believe
that God wodld take him from her; she put her
hands on his hPs-the lips that long ago had
drawn the milk from her withered breast-but
they were icy cold; they would never answer
her again. His eyes grew fixed The awful
inserutable meaning deepened in them as the
path In which he was to tread opened before
him.
/" Robert!" she cried. a" Robertiu
1t was too late Wherein that path might
lead, no voice or hand of hers had power to st.y
him now. Then she remembered the wears, the
countless days and nights when her bows head
had no pillow but her breast, when the little
hands were stretched out and the little heart
pure, and holv
She had not had time to know her boy then,
Now --t they would have taken her away
she lifted her head-there was a white face
"Why, mother, mother, wake" The Iamp
burned dinly. There was a red, chubby face
close TO her own, and the two stout little arms
tugging at her neck. In another moment She
was on the floor, straining him to her heart and
crying out, d" Was it RObby? and was il not tn,
late? and had she yet little time-a little time!
bling and sobbing, with the frightened child
his head upon her breast, not withered but soft
and white, petting him and soothing him in a
way that In all Rob's life he had never known
before. When he was asleep, she tried to prsv
But she could remember none of the adura-
tons for mercv she ordinarily used; she ONLY saw
smiling child in the stable, with the kings and
Lowry shepherds Fastening jOyfully to it, and the
angels from q happy heaven singing OF peace
and goodwill to men.
She went down to Ann, her checks like roses,
want 10 be with the children Tomorrow
De Lord knows, yes, missus. It's de fust
Christmas oh dere freedom. DE last dey was
slaves"
$50 you shall, then. Wen make it a Christ
mas they won't forget But you must help me
now" ~
When John Firth came YEARLY home that
night, looking up the gate to see the dull, dark
little house, he found it blaze of light He
opened the door hastily, and two soft arms were
flung around him and warm, fearful face
pressed TO his.
"Oh John. John. have you back again.,
Tod bless you, my darling?' He nearly
Rugged her to death with sheer establishment
81 never was away. But this is my little girl
Mary that haven't seen for years and years
What does it mean?''
Don't stop to ask, am born again, think
She dragged him in with laugh and q Sob
Great fires burned in every room; Ann stood i'm
his way, as ready to cry as her mistress, brand
ishing half-Picked turkey.
''Dats tor de chillen, mas'r. And such a pud-
din! De Lord knows sech Christmas as dis l
neber dreamt OBJ"
Out in the kitchen he caught a glimpse or
tables loaded with mince pies ready for the oven,
more puddings, more turkeys. ''Why do Won
mean to feast the town." laughing out OF sheer
Gght-heartedness, like Rob himself.
here, John, here!" She pushed open the door or
the little parlor, where a tree stood, plitterinp
from floor to ceiling, and then opening box she
poured ont all the shining coins on the door,
kneeling at his feet and heaping them up.
Make the house bright and hOmelike with it,"
She trembied. he saw, and there was a strange
look Of terror in her beautiful eyes, "You must
help me, John, help me, or it will be too late"
Help you to do what, dear wife?"
ITO make ROb's home so dear to him at he
will never be able to shake off his hold on him
To show him how loving and happy the world
can be, and how happy and loving the God is
Which Christmas day will help us to do
cried John. As he held his wife close to his
breast he felt as ii new life had quickened in
his veins, new lease Of long years had been
granted him.
GOD be thanked for our happy Christmas"
he said in a whisper.
"And God said a happy Christmas TO everv
little child" she added in her heart.