The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-01-03

|
best some way" he said "We'vc both ouI
cross to carry; and maybe it'll serve to bring
us nearer to each other and the Lord"
As for Maggie, everything was right for
| her. She sung and smiled, and kept the little
house full of sunshine in spite Of the crutch
which never seemed Il Bit in her way. Every
| Christmas Eve they two sat by the fire, and
Tom told the story of the baby that lay upon
the track; and Maggie listened, with her eyes
SHINING in the freight, and even the cross
grumbling old crutch grew amiable for a
while.
II thought the good Lord had forgotten all
about me- away up yOndcr among his angels
ard all the time He was nigh at hand, atakin
thought how to save me, said Tom, with rev
crcnt wonder.
Hes good and kind Lord, Father" said
Maggie
YES, a good Lord" said Tom, fcrycntly
"Do you mind the hymn they learned you
at missionschool, Maggie
"To save thy soul from sin and shame
! Thy Lord helpless child became
| Well. I can't seem to get it out of my head
that the Lord did more than that for me lie
come twice for me; once in Bethlehem, that
time the angels sung; and once ten wears ago
this very night, right here at the crossing.
| And it's nv mind the Lord come to amany
doors where they never know what they lose
by shutting of him out"
"I'vc got my Christmas gifts all ready"
said Maggie. "SuCh a lot OF 'em, toOm And
picking up the crutch before it had a chance
to growl she whisked it over the floor to the
corner cupboard, and back again with big
covered basket See, Father! Something
for everybody at the crossing" And Maggie
| ,I, oil 30 do
| St Nicholas himself Warm cloth slippers
for old Sandy Mcbride. Cut out by an old
shoe and shaped like the foot of a equity ele-
phant; but that was no matter.
"Thc tailor gave me the pieces" said Mag
gie, "and quilted the soles on his big machine.
And this flannel nightcap is for Granny Pet
ers; she's been wishing for one n long time"
She clapptd it on her own bright head, and
looked SO funny that even the crutch laughed
a little.
Well, l can't begin to tell you. Soft balls
and Lhard balls; rag dollies, paper dollles
and queer little old dollies, with heads made
from hickory nuts looking in their Quaker
dresses and white caps like a regiment of
blessed old grandmothers. Pretty pictures
pasted on box covers and painted gaily; nit
tens made of old stocking tOps and finished
with bright yarns at the wrist; pin-cushions,
holders, all manner OF ingenious little trllleS
out of odds and ends of ribbon,
calico and silk. Nothing came amiss to Mag
gIe.
Something for everybody but me-" said
Tom, pretending to look grave.
"Oh! dear" said Maggie But you and
don't want any Christmas gifts. don't see
how anything could possibly make us any
happier"
All the time the old crut3h was laughing to
itself. 1t knew Of two secrets One was a
splendid long mufiler-gray, with green
stripes at the end; every stitch knit by Mag
gle and safely hid away for Toms Christmas
present The other was a pair of brown
gloves tlannel-lined and trimmed with fur at
the wrist, that were rustling in their paper
wrapping that very moment with impotence
for Maggie to hang up her stocking and go to
bed
They were both asleep, Tom and Maggie,
that night when the chimes rang from st.
Madeline's stccplc. But | know that the an
gels and the Lord of the angels blessed them,
for they had done what they could to bring
peace on earth and goodwill to man
Neo York Independent