Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-02-02

fixing q blanket that he had taken from
the horses back, 10 the hickory boughs
overhead, TO keep the snow from driving
in upon me, Tor was covered with it TO
my knees. As God is my judge did not
then clearly know what he was doing,or
| would have stopped him. | did not
feel cold. though knew afterward that
| was then freezing, and did not think
he was cold. did not think at all. |
was far past that. had begun longer
! journey than had started upon.
In that longer journey dreamed of
home, of the wondrous Christmas miracle,
the the lighted tree; OF the glad faces oil
children, whose voices heard. | heard
one of them repeat two OF three times,
with startling distinctness:
1--WE are lost"
was conscious that the child who said
! it had thrown herself into my arms, and
was lying there dull, heavy weight.
But aside from that cry il was all bright
and pleasant-this real, terrible journey
( through the snow, over The rough, dan.
gerous mountain road, in that far oil
! December The dream lasted n long
while, through all that night, and tho
day following, and the night following
/ that.
When awoke from it | was in large
room, which had never seen before. -
There wero piles OF lhe soiLesl blankets
rp0n me- there was great wood lire
blazing on the hearth, and / had never
felt so warm and comfortable in all my
life. There were two strangers in the
room "A man and a woman. whose faces
were kindly ones. but sorely troubled.
When stirred and they saw recognized
them. they came and stood by my bed.
Where am 2' asked of them.
AT Iium. in tie house OF the Mclho
dist minister"
How long have been here
"Siuce night before last. lou came
in the stage, and tho horse stopped be-
fore our door" the man said.
What day is this ?'
1T is Christmas Day" the woman
replied. taking my hand in hers.
II have been III. then ~
yes"
There was boy brought me here.
Where i~ he -
"He is here. too.
The voice that said it was husky with
tears. and the hand shook that held mine.
Has he been III. too
Yes"
is he better now 9'
"lIe was never so well. lie will never
be i'll again
looked into the face oil the woman
who said this, and | saw that her eyes
were red with weeping.
I di,ongaged the hand she held and
turned my face to the wall.
The woman laid her hand upon my
arm.
"You must not ieel like that. II is
better so. He had only one friend, snd
he IS with Him this beautiful Christmas
morning. lie had no home here. 1t is
Christmas day. and he Is at home there. ."
took iu mine the comforting hand
that lay upon my ARA.
II would like to see him. said.-
"Ie gave his life for me-
They took ME down afterward to what
had been the family sitting room. There
were warm. red curtains at the windsws;
bright. glowing carpet on the Oor;
there were punches OF holly aud laurel
scattered here and there. and over all
was the atmosphere of home.
They left me al the door. | went IN
and stood by The side Of the couch on
which they had laid him. The eyes OF
tender blue were closed forever, the
yellow hair was parted ever the boyish
brow. and still about The brave. sweet
mouth the bright smile shonc as 1t did at
that first moment oil our meeting, when
my Implied doubt Of him called |. there.
lie lay before NE, dead, in all The glow
and promise OF his youth.
But the smile. which triumphed above
deaths ruin. rebuked me, and as stopped
to kiss the lips of the beautiful boy. |
knew. as we'll as man could know, that
he was not dead that He who had given
more life to the Dead Girl ard the Wild
ow's Son had given it also to him; and
that ne had only gone farther upon his
Journey than Into sweeler. fuller.
more gracious life than he had ever
known. And | also knew that / should
see him again if but made my own life
as brave, unselish. and true as his had
! been.