Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1872-12-24

trussed the fat turkey, and filed hin
full with stuffing, and wat he'd hin
while he was roasting just as solici-
tDusly as if che were not ready u
sink down and weep her life away
for her lost child.
By four o'clock in the afternoon
everything was ready. Dinns
smoked on the table, and filled the
great kitchen, when the table was
set out, with a 3, worry smell.
The weather had changed sud
denly, and heavy storm clouds drift,
ed across the sky, driven by the
fierce wind. and the dis ant hiiltops
were wrapped in mists of snow
LanborntOn was near the sea, and
the low beat of the waves on the
broken beach came ever and anon 70
the ear IN q wall of despair.
Mrs. Haihes lighted the candles in
the tall silver candlesticks and set
them on the table. The voice
which called her husband to dinner
trembled. She was wondering il
Emma had q Christmas dinner that
day, or If indeed she was still alive,
and dweller in a land here Christ
mas was remembered.
The deacon sat down at the table,
put his steel trimmed spectacles on
his nose, and opened the rye Bible
which lay beside his plate 1t was
always bis custom TO read the first
passage u1on which his eyes rested,
and on this occasion be read aloud !;
"For ifye forgive men their tres
passes your Heavenly Father will
also forgive you; but if ye forgive
not men their trespasses, neither
will your Father forgive your tres
passes
There was no soitenipg Of the
stern voice as he read the beautiful
words; DO tenderness of feeling
crept over his iace at thought Of the
loving Christ who uttered them
Bus NJ 8. Haiues eyes ran over, and
she bowed her head upon her hands
"Oh, john" she cried "think Of
Emmai-fve years ago to day since
she went forth bIighted by a faith
er's curse-and Heaven only knows
it she is still among the living Oh,
my child my child"
The deacon rose slowly from his
seat, his face pale as death. his long
tight arm extending solemply to
heaven.
Martha" said he, de iberately,
"if you were not my wife | would
turn you from my door. Such
Scriptures as these have no reference
to wicked and disobedient children
who persist in going TO ruin in spite
of counsel and Gdmonition from
their legal guardians"
There was faint moaning sound
at the door, and the quick ear of
Mrs. Haines caught it al cncc. So
did the old house dog, for be leaped
from his warm corner by the fire
and sprang TO the door with cry OF
welcome.
The deacon took a step forward,
but his wife was before him. Per-
haps some subtitle prescience helped
to prepare her for what she was to
see. for she did not cry or faint at
the sight.
Across the doorstep lay the still
figure of a woman holding in her
arms little child The snow was
drifting over them both, but the
light from TIE blazing hearth shono
cut broad aud red. and tinged wi tn
ros ate blonm the wan, white face
of rmma Clayton.
Mre. HaiOes was slender little
woman, but she never felt the
weight of her Unconscious daughter
as lifting her in her arms she bore
her into the warm kitched and laid
her on the lounge.
Livid with rage the deacon strobe
toward bis wife, and laid a rough
hand on the shoulder of the uncon-
cious girl But for once Mrs. Haines
did not shrink from her husband in
his rage.
John" she said, firmly, "she is
my child will do mothers duty
to her !"
she is no child of mine I" said the
deacon, fercely, "she chose her path
of life, let her walk therein T. Again
be laid bis hands on the girl and
would have dragged her to the door,
but Mrs. Haines stepped before him.
Her face was white rs death. and
every VEN stood out like cords upon
her forehead
Deacon Haines," said she, "do
this thing, and though you were
thrice my husband, | will not remain
under roof one moment after she is
thrust out aud may God judge be-
tween Us
Just then, while the deacon, par
alyzed with amazement. stood
motionless before his wife. the little
child crept to his side and put two
warm, soft bands around his hard
fagers. The sweet, grieved face
with the soft blue eyes lifted to his
stern countensnce, might have melt
ed anything but a strong human
heart
"Grandpapa," said she, "please
don't hurt poor mama She is sick.
and she has come so far in the cold T.
"GraDdpada l"-the word he had
never expected to hear addressed to
himself.
His memory went back over half
a century aud more,to the grey.hair-
ed man be bad called grandpa
the man who was AWAY kind to him.
who petted him, and made him whis.
ties and wooden horses, and told him
quaint stories of the old, old times
when the country was new and bears
and Indians as plenty as bIackber.
ries He remembered when be stood
by that kind old mans death bed.
and fit the withered. trembling hand
he remembers the grieving tones
of the falling voice which said:
goods blessing upon you. John !!
and when you. too, lie down TO die.