The Huntington argus. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1872-1905, 1873-07-26
hair. giving the direction, regarding tn.

hair, giving the directions regarding the
disDosNiop Of the toys upon the branches
She could hear the Voices OF happy and
eager children, gathered in the adjoining
parlor. beh nd the folding doors They
we're the children OF friends and neighbors,
and the children OF the poor-God poor
They knew that the meek, holy, gentle
woman who was unseen, was in there,
preparing TO make them happy for the
birthday Of their Divine Friend Year by
year che had been laying up treasures in
Heaven; and now. after ~ elve more years
Of labor among the poor, Christmas eve
had cOme again, aud she was still mourn
ing the death OF her beloved daughter
But no tears, no loneliness could erase her
love for, or trust in, God She believed
that, in answer 10 her many prayers, little
Bessie, the stolen child, would come to her
again. And there, upon the topmost
branch Of the evergreen tree, hung "A little
white stocking stuffed full. with the chIlds
name written npon paper and pinned to it,
and as she listened to tie merry bells in
the church towers, she was praying for the
return OF her darling, gone so many, many
years ago. Though lie slay me, yet will
! trust in Him, she whispered MY
friend, Jesus, will not keep Bessie away
from my bosom forever The candles
were all lighted, the presents upon aud
beneath the tree were all labeled and Mrs
Truelove. with feeble voice, babe the SER
vant-maid ring the signal bell The folding
doors flew. open, and Judge Trueloye
entered at the head OF a throng OF excited
children. The little ones danced around
the tree, shoutingto each other, and some
stood umidly beside the good woman
looking up into her beautiful eyes, and
noting the smooth, backward sweep OF her
whitening hair Old and wrinkled and
feeble though she was. Bessie Trueloye
elected ever love and trust aud tenderness
Some ran to her at length, and with glad
voices told her they had recognized their
own names upon some OF the TOYS. She
shared their exultation and laughed with
them, but her own little Bessie did not
come. Her eyes ran over the features OF
the little girls IN the rpom, but there was
no lace like the face of the lost one
When, all when wonld the PRAYER answer.
ing God send the little wanderer back TO
her homer When, ala! when would Bessie
come stealing forward in her timii litI,e
way to see what Santa Claus had hing for
her upon the tree? The toys were ut last
distributed, and the children, one by one.
passed out into the hail and vent their
way homewaTd No one remained beside
the Christmas tree but Judge Trielove and
his wife. Then one by one the candles
upon the tree were eXtinguished by his
hand, and the gas turned out All wa,
darkness, save where a little wax taper
burned high upon the tree, and beside the
candle hung little white stock ing marked
Bessie A little white stocking had hung
there, alone, on every Christmas eve since
the little girl was stolen, so many, many
years ago. Judge TruelOve bent over the
aged woman and imprinted kiss tenderly
upon the wrinkled forehead. She smiled
and took his hand in hers, and said, Go
away from me now; | will keep my vigil
for Bessie once more He lett her and
she sat in the chair alone with the tiny
taper burning, and the little stocking
swinging high among the evergreen
branches. All was still now. The hour
was late, and the taper burned low, and
she sat pleading With Heaven for her child
at last, in the silence, the clock in the
neishboring church tower tolled solemnly
aud slowly the hour OF midnight There
came no sound Of pattering feet, no call OF
childish voice Al was still. Til, taper
was nearly burnt ont upon the tree, when
Bessie Truelove slowly arose to her feet,
and YEARLY mounted upon chair and
took down the little white stocking and
placed it in a -ldeboard beside row Of
small white stockings, stuffed full, that had
been placed there, year by year, marking
the Christmas time as 1t came and fled 49,
Then she looked mp pleadingly to Heaven,
and said: Thou dost not answer nv
PRAYER for some wise purpose Blessed be
Thy holy name. have only to pra,
again. ! trust Thee with all the affections
of my heart At this instant the solitary
taper fickered aud burnt out. Bessie
Truelove stood in utter darkness. Her
heart was in darkness NJ ERR
AmdndarWe kaa, Juiy, 1873.