Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-12-23

hymn written long time ago by a good
man, for his little boy, on Christmas
Eve, and he meantime Saviour. Would
you like to hear the rest, sir?"
"Go On, my pretty, go on" John
said, admiringly; sc if itain't like book
to hear the little woman talk"
Again the pure tones fioated up.
Snow we must talk about to- morrow, f."
he said; 'won't there be famous din
ner, though, with little Faith behind
the plum-pudding ?"
"And such famous company, father
You are to fetch old Mrs. Grimes after
church, and little crippled Tom, and
the poor French dancing master and all
his children. I am thinking of a tree
for the children"
Womanly little Faith How demure-
ly she mapped out pleasure for her fell
fow-innocents. And John smiled, as if
nobody had ever been charming before
After while, his little woman came
back to him in her thoughtful vein.
She slid from his knee, and again perch
ed herself upon a stool where the fire.
glow played over her faxen hair and
warm blue wooden dress. decked at the
neck with it's bunch of holly berries.
''Isn't it almost bedtime, pretty
one?"
g Yes, father, in minute. This has
been such pleasant Christmas Eve all
alone with you. I think it must have
been meant for children to enjoy them
selves on the night when the dearest
little babe of all was given to the
world"
"Wait, then, till we drink our toast
in the Madeira [ set aside nine years
ago, bottle for each birthday until
you came of age. Here's glass, my
pretty, and many happy returns, with
no thought OF marrying for many year
to come"
John always proposed this, and always
laughed heartily at his own little jest,
while Faith slipped her wine, trying
hard not to make q face, because her
father had offered it to her. And as
they stood there, hedged in by home
comforts, and basking in each others
warm love, a peal of bells clashed out
merrily from neighboring steeple, a
greeting to the holiday incoming.
"The dear old chime, father p cried
Faith. Hank let us hear it out.
Please take me to the shop door, where
the wind will bring it nearer"
He found warm wrapping, and fold
ing her tight, led the way to the door
opening on the street.
The little girl clasped her father
hand, and shivered as the icy atmos-
phere broke on them. .....
Silently, silently, the feathered snow
was falling through the dim, deserted
street. Very fair and pure it is in It's
myriad flakes, like lying down; but,
very chill and subtitle when it wraps
mantle round the PROSTATE human
form
"My God !" cried John Bright, sud
denly; " It can't be p
He let fall Faiths hand and darted
down the steps. He swooped down in
to the drifted snow, and brought UP
the tiny, dark thing he saw lying
there.
ooh, father, father" cried Faith, in
tones strangely old with anguish; g not
stray child tonight %
But it was a stray child. on this
Christmas Eve, when other babes were
safely hou ed, and Nesting in warm
beds. A stray child, keeping her hoi-
day upon the frozen breast of mother
earth.
They bore her in from the darkness
of the night, the bells still ringing out
their joyful peal; they Graded her upon
soft pillows, and chafed her thin limbs,
Faith pouring tears into the cordials
they forced between her teeth.
The chime had long ceased when the
stranger opened eyes like faded violets
once more upon the living world.
"Are you warm, now, little girl 3"
Faiths voice asked, tenderly.
"And how came you to freeze on nv
steps?" said John, speaking grufay, to
hide the tremble in his own tones.
The little vagrant began to SILVER and
shrink away as he spoke, while look
OF piteous fear came over her.
cob! please, sir, she faltered, CT
was a-lookin' at the shiny things, and it
was warm behind the box
ssWarm the blessed lamb Hear
that, will you !" shouted John Bright.
Faith, my pretty, but another drop
Of the birthday Madery between her
lips. You mustn't talk now, little chap,
only I'd like to know where your home
folks might be found. Mother an
father, you know, or brothers and Sis
ters, an such. e,s
'sI bain't got mona" said the child.
turning over on her pillow, and gazing
with weak wonderment into the great
bed of glowing Goals. So
'Gran'ma, p'raps?" suggested John,
looking downcast; "or pastors and
masters, or somethin' like those in the
catechism. Eth, Faith %
"Nary," said the little vagrant,
family nodding her head. ct don't
belong to nobody, please mister
"But where do you live, my poor lit
tie girl Z? /" came in Faiths matronly
tones, as she stood, sober and patient,
still chatting the tiny discolored feet be-
meath the covering.
81 lived down in Bill Tibbs cellar
last week, but Bill got Gagged by the
perlice, and we cleared out. Bill was
Orf11i drink and fit an fit h11t thew