Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-01-16
his questions answered softly :.

coughed and suffered a little, and told
her, Never mind: so she put up two
tiny hands as gravely as possible a
moment or two.
i say prayers at night, too. say,
Now lay me- and l say, God bless $
father and mother and Myrtie-that's
me-and uncle Silas.' l don't know
him, but papa tells me to say that
every night, and mamma says some
day I'll see him. l guess God will
bless him he does most everything l
ask him.
Silas Farley had taken the worlds
hard blows right bravely, but in all his
life had never come moment like this,
when in the childish face before him
he saw Philips boyish features plain
enough, and heard the voice of Philips
child echoing his name as though it
were household word.
The deep fountains of his life were
stirred, and happy tears rolled down
his face like rain. He tried to gasp
two or three times, and failed then
all at once laid his big hand on the
little one beside him, and said softly .
'I-Fm-mcle Silas = and then he
drew the little creature TO his heart !;
'and III take YOU straight home this
minute. Bless me, where's nv hand
kerchief:'
1t was sight for angels, as the
sweet o,d lesson of Christmas time,
Good will to men, found an echo in
the heart that had no room for it be-
fore.
There was brief and hurried plan
proposed, followed BY peal of happy,
childish laughter that startled the dim
old house, and uncle Silas and little
Myrtle were soon in II carriage with
sundrv strange things beside, going rs
quickly rs they might towards Mvrtie's
home. Slas knew quite we'll where
to find it, and more than once had
walked past it in the dark.
CHAPTER III.
In the dreadful stiffness OF their
childless home the deep darkness of
Christmas exc came down upon the
sorrowing and distracted parents,
who were again going out to search
wildly and hopelesslv. they were
praying nov for help to find their child
for strength to boar. If search va.
vain. The lamp in the hall had just
been lighted when ring Of tile door
bell startled them with its peal. Alas,
it was only great parcel, 4 tall ham
per, which the driver and another man
brought i'll quite carefully, setting it
down in the hall, Philip saw on the
card, From uncle Silas. with eyes full
of wonder, but turning to the man who
stood there all mutllcd up with cap
over his eyes.
we are in awful trouble here:
will not open it tonight.
If you please, sir the driver spoke
now-'if you please, sir was to take
the hamper back The strange man
laid his hand on Philips arm As he was
cutting the string.
You wont be scared at ANYTHING
strange, just as the cover went back
from Myrties happy face!
There were no words at first There
was tremulous little cry from the
mothers lip, Il deep Thank God "
from Philips heart, and over all the
childish, ringing voice, that woke the
old house merrily.
Safe and sound. in new white fur
coat and cap, stood the little maiden
triumphant, telling her story by bits
and patches-her stolen clothes, her
wanderings up and down till she
strayed on to the ferry-boat, and so
went to and fro many times uncon-
sciously, her meeting with the kind old
friend
And here she came close beside the
strange man who had come with the
hamper, pulled Oft his rough muftier
and cap, and shouted:
And l found uncle Silas this is
him. l prayed and prayed like every
thing, and then God let me find him.
Amt God real good to me?'
Philip the old mans voice shook
sorely- -'Philip,' it is Christmas eve.
when angels come, they say, among
US; shall we let them in and bid the
bygone's sorrows go!'
You can tell as we'll as l how gayly
Christmas eve was spent; yet ever
more with the beautiful dream of the
Christ-child came Myrtie's face to
uncle Silas as he saw it first. When
his steps went faltering down the val
ley there were loving, faithful foot
steps close beside him all the way, to
comfort and to cheer; and when the
songs Of peace on earth were ended
here, dear uncle Silas sang it in the
Christmas yonder, l am sure.
An Arkansas local sOlilOquizes thus:
"SOme Of our exchanges are publishing
as curious item a statement to the
effect that q horse in Iowa pulled the
nlnO ont Of tho huuOholo IF q ho r,.oI fo.