The Portland daily press., 1875-03-06

| over her face; and this amused him SO mucn
| that he tumbled head first off his chair, ana
walked feet upward round in front OF her,
said ''Cricky," and still retaining the up-sid9 =
| down position, arrived at chair on the otn-
er side of the room, where he could get bet
ter view of the elegant couple on the cake.
| William sat petriied, and even kindly Mrs.
Jones held up her hands in horror; but Ma
bel laid down the gloves that had just been
| handed to her, and gravely watched the per-
Torrance. When he had managed to seat
himself sideways on one corner of the char,
the child called out in her sweet baby voice:
| boy, do that again! You walk like
monkey, splendidv'
Tom needed no second bidding, but walked
| to the middle of the room, turned a double
somersault and arrived back at his chair, scar
| let and puffy, but triumphant. Mabel said
'sThank you," and again taking the gloves
went on with her distributing.
At last the table was empty, except for the
cake and candy; and Harry called the butler,
and whispered TO him. William nodded to a
girl to go with him, and after few minutes
Inexperienced with several bottles of wine, a
pile of plates, and tray Of wine glasses. Har-
es while he filled them. "Boots" carried
them round with ludicrous air of impor-
lance, and did not spill drop. The cake
was soon demolished, and the plates were
heaped high with candies and bananas.
| Mabel acted her part with the gentle COM
| posure which she had exhibited throughout,
| and touched her tiny glass of water to theirs
| with gracious dignity. Boots" generously
| offered her sip of his wine, but the refusal
| was so gentle that he did not feel hurt. Mer-
| rily flew the minutes; and it was quite ten
O'Clock before the unusual guests took their
| departure, carrying with them all the re-
mains of the feast, and leaving the room quite
| in order.
| Then Harry draw his chair near the fire,
and noticing that wistful look was begin
ming to creep into the baby face, took the lit
tie one on his knee, and rocking her gently
| backward and forward, told her the old,~oln
story OF Jesus and his love for the childred
who came to him for his blessing. Mabel lis
tened quietly; and only little quivering sigh
once in while, told that the child-heart was
throbbng with lonesome, tired pain. Then
he told her how his telling the man at the po-
LEGISLATION all about her, and her name and
age, would be telegraphed all over the great
city, and her mamma would surely find her:
and the childish face grew bright again.
Soon the bright curs dropped, and little Ma.
bel slept, as safe and happy as she would
have been in her own little bed. Cautiously
Harry touched the bell at his side, and when
"Boots" came, sent for the housekeeper. In
to her kindly arms he laid his little wait, and
saw her taken away to slumber.
| Long hours he sat there, reading, and
dreaming happy dreams OF all the good he
meant to do, and thinking how many people
could be made glad with a little OF his wealth.
The house had long been still, and the noise
| of the street hushed to rest. The church
clock struck two, and broke the quiet OF the
night with its iron clamor. Reused by the
! sound, Harry laid down his book and lighted
cigar for farewell smoke. Again the hush
of the night was broken, this time by the ring
| of horses hoofs, and the roll of carriage
| wheels. Then quick feet ran up the stone
steps, and swift and sharp the bell rang
through the house.
Amazed, he listened for the second, and
then threw lis cigar into the fire, and ran
down stairs. Quickly lie drew the bolt and
unlocked the door. A woman's face met his
gaze-the face of a dusk-eyed woman, all pas
sion and grace. White even to the lips, with
great eyes staring anxiously at him, and one
| little hand convulsively grasping the arm OF a
| gentleman who had thrown his other around
her, haltsupporting the trembling form.
''Mr. Burns ?' the gentleman said, inter-
negatively, stepping into the hall.
| Harry bowed in assent, at the same time
throwing the door wide, and closing it when
they had entered.
| Before he could speak, the lady sprang to
| CLOAK that hung there, sank to the floor, kissed
the soft folds ard murmured broken words
OF endearment and joy. A great, glad throb
| stirred his heart, that he had been permitted
! to be instrumental in their finding Mabel I;
and he shook hands over and over with M.
| Snow, and received his broken thanks with
eloquent praises of his "wife," as he called
her. The force of the mothers emotion
| had spent Itself; and with her face against
| Al l;ttl In Oh, oot cuin
| husband assisted her to rise, and then with
| quivering lips she asked to see her darling
Up the stairs they followed him, and when
| he paused at half opened-door, they stood
| quite silent while he went in and turned up
| the gas to full blaze. Then with happy,
| tender faces they stol across the room to the
| great bed, and looked lovingly down on their
| little girl. She looked more tiny than ever,
nestled closely in the heart OF an immense
pillow, in the centre of the bed, with one wee
hand thrown above her mead, and the curly
hair all tumbling into her eyes. Mrs. Jones
had found small night-dress in the store of
children's clothes that had lain for long years
tucked away in the presses upstairs, and by
| turning back the sleeves had made it small
: enough for Mabel to wear. On the sofa lay
the good woman, wrapped in blanket, sleep
| ing soundly, and evidently unaware OF the
| presence OF strangers in the room.
Mrs. Snow would not have the child awak-
ened; and after gazing tearfully at the
| pretty baby for a few minutes, they left the
room as quietly as they had entered, and fol-
lowed Harry into the library. There he told
them all his evenings adventures, and made
the mothers eyes glisten with happiness, as
he spoke of Mabel's brave composure. Then
they told him of the terrified agony of finding
the child gone from the carriage, of the hur-
ried search, and Mrs. Snow going to her
home for her husband, and the whole night
spent in examining streets and police sta
lions. At last they had found a description
of a little girl that seemed like Mabel, al
though the name had not been telegraphed.
They had gone to the chief station, where
/ they found Harry's description and his ad-
dress; and the rest needed no telling
He could not think of letting them return
home so late; so they sent back their carriage
with hasty note to relieve the anxiety of the
waiting ones there. Mrs. Snow soon left
them; and when her husband at last went to
her room, he found Nab ell fast locked in her
mothers arms, and both sleeping peacefully.
Not lonely Christmas did Harry Burns
spend, after all. Early the next morning he
gave Mrs. Jones purse, and started her out
on round of charity, Then, carrying his
"wife." he followed Mr.. and Mrs. Snow into
the carriage and drove to their home. Who
can describe the joy of grandma! And a fun
ny little fellow shot an arrow straight into
Harry's heart, as pretty Aunt Lille, offering
him both hands in hearty thanks, almost
kissed him instead of Mabel Confused and
laughing, she ran away with the recovered
treasure, and proceeded to pet her as though
she had been gone year instead Of night.
Merrily passed the hours of Christmas eve
ming; and when the goodnight words were
being said, Aunt Lilies eyes said Come
again. and Harry's said 81 will"
When another Christmas day had come, a
merry party kissed a new-made bride, and
little Mabel told her Uncle Harry that she
wanted to play fairy god-mother again, espec-
tally to see Boots tumble in his approved
monkey-fashion.
Several years have passed, and each sue
ceeding Yuetide finds the fairy larger and
prettier; and ere many weeks have flown, if
report is to be believed, some one will appro
pirate Harry's "wife," as he appropriated his
"wife's" aunt on the first anniver sary of her
f1o FL.