Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1873-01-02
VOL. XVIII.
was drawn, gave way to one of those pas
sIonate outbursts of tears and sobs which

was drawn, gave way to one of those pas
slonate outbursts of tears and sobs which
are the sure tokens of youth and hear
unacquainted with sorrow. The tear
the hear. bleeds inwardly ant
long. They are the passionate pro
tests against suffering which we q
last weary of making. Next to the hous'
was a church, and as Isabel still sat will
her head bent upon her arms, an organ
strain, higher than the rest, penetrated
into the room. She lifted her head an(
listened a moment, and then going softly
to side window she raised it and Leaned
out. A side window of the church wa
also partially open, and the chant came tc
her with as much distinctness as if SHE
had been among the worshipers.
peace on earth, goodwill toward men!'
Then she knew that it was midnight
and remembered that at this hour hun
dreds of years ago Christ was born unto
| men.
"No man liveth unto himself" she
| seemed to hear deep voice saying, anC
just at that moment the door-bell changed
loudly, and Isabel lowered the window
and stole softly and swiftly away up stairs
| to her own room, for she knew her friends
were returning from social party, and
| she was ashamed of her red eyes and hot
tear stained cheeks.
stNo man liveth unto himself" she re
peated dreamily, as she unplaited her haiI
before the toilet glass. els not this what
have been trying to do? First, shut
when that failed me tried to wall myself
out from the world in my sorrow. I have
always lived for myself. What good have
I ever done for others? And this is
Christmas Eve, and Christ came not for
Himself, but for others. But what can
do? I know that if I cheered some one
who was likewise troubled 1 should feel
my own sorrows less. Nay, might not
forget it in helping some one more help
less than myself? But will God give me
any of His work to do?"
She was lying in bed when this last
question formed itself in her mind. In
stantly, as if in reply, voice seemed to
whisper to her: keep your eyes and
your ears openm
"Well, will try and remember that
tomorrow" she said, with a drowsy
smile, and, turning on her pillow, in spite
of all the woe-begone speeches which she
had made to herself, she slept as ssundly
as if she were not the victim of shattered
hopes-a perfect mariana in the moated
grange" and the next morning she arose
bright and early, with prettier color in
her cheeks than had showed there for
many days. At the breakfast table one
thought it was the reflection of her pink
morning wrapper, and another one was
sure that the sea air was working mira
cles for her, but Isabel was too busy in
devising ways so that she might not live
to herself during the day, to furnish any
solution of the question.
isabel, I'm sorry your clothes did not
come home last night, but Mrs. Waring
sent to say that she could not possibly
finish getting them up in time, but that
she would send them early this morn
ing"
This from Mrs. Stanley, Isabel's host
ess.
"Oh, well, it doesn't matter, for I
havn't needed anything" said Isabel,
carelessly.
"It would only serve you right if you
did," said Mrs. Stanley, with a playful
pretense of resentment. Pm sure /
don't see why you will insist on sending
your washing out when it could just as
we'll be done in the house. never had a
guest do so before"
"Well, but confess, now," said Isabel,
pleasantly, ''that it is a great deal more
convenient. I save your servants just SO
much extra work and"
''Please, Miss, here's Mrs. Warnings boy
with your things" said Mary, putting
her head in at the dining-room door, and
holding her duster behind her as she did
so. At that moment the family arose
from the breakfast table. Isabel stopped
Mrs. Stanley, who was about to speakto
Mary:
81 must 60 up to my room for a few
minutes, so let me attend to the matter
myself. I know you are all busy enough
this morning"
In the hall she found boy with bun
die done up in newspapers, and nearly as
big as himself.
''Come up stairs" she said to him;
but was surprised to see that he looked
at her inquiripgly, and did not move.
''Come up stalrs!" she said in still
louder voice.
claws, miss!" said Mary, coming from
the other end of the hall; "you needn't
talk to him, for he can't hear you"
"Can't hear me?"
flaws, mol he was born deaf, and has
never spoken a word in his life. His
father was drowned during a dreadful
storm by the swamping of his boat. 1t
wasn't hundred yards from shore, but
he couldn't swim, poor fellow! and even
if he could, guess he couldn'ta' saved
himself in such sea. And the Widow
Waring-she was his wife then-she just
stood on the shore and saw it all-saw
him die before her eyes, and couldn't
even lift her little finger to help him; and
the worst of it all was, that he went out to
help comrade who couldn't make shore;
and so the next day this boy was born
stone deaf, you see-bless his poor heartl"
Poor boy!" said Isabel and with an
impulse which she could not control. she
laid one hand lightly on his shoulder, and
with the other gently pushed away the
overhanging shock of hair from his fore
head. He only looked at her wondering
ly with his great brown eyes, and his
ruddy cheeks grew even ruddier with
embarrassment.
Yes, indeedl Poor boyl" repeated
Mary. "You may well say that, Miss.
And such good boy as he is, too! And
as for his mother-well, she just works
her hands off to keep herself and him
afoat. And he works all day as hard as
ever he can to help her. And just look
how neat he keeps himself! He always
looks just so. And amt it pity he can't
go to school? He's just as smart as he
can be! Look at them eyes of his if you
don't believe me! And his mother-well,
she don't know much, but she's a-tryin'
as hard as ever she can to teach him to
read and write"
"Thank you, Mary; but the child is
cold, and l am going to take him up
stairs and let him warm his hands before
he goes home," said Isabel, hastily turn.
ing away and beekoning to the boy, who
now followed her readily up the stairs.
Once in her own room, she relieved him
of his bnndle, which he had all this time
patiently held in his arms, and made him
sit down before the fire; and then, with
out taking her eyes off of him, she sal
down opposite him, aud stared harder
than ever. Now, this was somewhat
singular proceeding, and disconnected the
silent child not little; but Isabel was
thinking SO hard that she wasn't alto
gether conscious of what she was doing,
until the boy made her understand by
l,a{1 h. "A to