Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-10-22

ner own cottage.
The December storm ragged witt
pitiless fury, the sleet and rain beat
in her face. What should she do:
She had not cent in the wide world
and her sick husband lay suffering
for food and medicine. What had
she done?
Yet despite her dire need, she
could not bring herself to regret hel
generosity.
"Heaven will help me somehow y
she said.
And making her way into the cot
tage again, she tip-toed into the little
bedroom where her husband lay, and
opening a little drawer, fragrant with
the scent of faded roses, she gathered
up her few souvenirs and simple love
gifts; and dropping tear and a kiss
upon her husbands face, she started
forth again.
At a pawnbroker's dismal den, III
the low haunts of the town, she left
her girlhood's treasures, receiving
enough IN their stead to supply her
immediate needs, and returning home
she sat down to pass the dreary, end
less night in weary stitching.
Christmas eve came, and closed
with a clear, cold night-the stars
out in thousands-the world robed
in spotless white. The morrow would
be glorious day. The three little
curly heads were snugly pillowcd in
the trundlc bed, filled with happy
dreams of Christmas morning, and
out under the cold Christmas stars
the poor mother wandered.
A mite of coal, mite of tea, a few
loaves, pair of shoes for George
poor little Cassie must wait-and she
must have Il chicken for her husbands s
soup.
Under the .iaring gas-light, jostled
by the happy people who thronged
the streets, she paused and counted
her all. Not penny over what must
90 for his medicine. Her heart ached
with II sharp pain, and hot tears
blinded her, as she crossed the street
and drew near a crowded market
stall, where fat poultry hung tempt
ing amid wreaths of evergreen, and
rows Of tempting confectionery gilt
tered i'll the gas-llght.
She approached the portly proprio-
tor with a hcsitating step.
"Would he," she faltered, her white
cheeks flushing painfully, "woull he
be good enough to let her have Il
chicken-and-maybe a few candies
for the children, and trust her forpay
till another market night?"
"No; hc never let out his stuff on
credit-them as couldn't pay oughtn't
to eat"
She fell back as if bullet had
struck her.
"John, John, that's her!" whispQ-
ed woman close by, catching at NE
arm OF a great, burly man who car
ried n well filed basket on his arms;
''follow her, quick"
The night was waning rapidly, and
so was the fire, yet Lizzie Grayson's
needle never tired. She sat and
worked and watched for the dawning
of the Christmas morn. The three
little curly heads dreamed on their
pillows and the sick man tossed rest
lessly on his couch of pain.
A rap, surely! and at this late
hour! Mrs. Grayson arose with q
startled look in her eyes. But she
the door and opened it.
A man in a burly overcoat stood on
the steps, with an immense hamper
on his brawny shoulders. He made
an awkward bow, and looked up with
a pair OF kind brown eyes.
"Madam," he stammered, 81 beg
your pardon, but we've took the lib
erty, me and my wite-to-to-well
oh, confound it.! | never could
make no hand O talking. Jane, you
must speak for yourself"
Whereupon he put down the ham
per and backed out, allowing Jane to
push in. She did so in haste, and
caught the astonlshed Mrs. Grayson
in her arms.
"I've found you," she sobbed-
'sthank Heaven, rve found you at
last. We've looked for you every
day for a wcek-John and me-and
only stumbled on you at the. market
tonight. You saved my boy from
she went on, with increased
excitement. 81 think should aided
if they'd took him from me that
night. And he's innocent, too, ma
am, as told you; it's been proven as
the bar-maid stole the money. My
boy is innocent, and fathers come
home from over the seas and brought
good luck to us. He's come home a
rich man- John has-and seein' as
you done me a good turn in my sore
need-well, / hope you won't take at
front-but we brought you little
to make Christmas with.
Bring in the hamper, John"
Mrs. Grayson, utterly overwhelmed
sank into a seat sobbing like child,
while John deposited the great ham
per at her feet.
"My husband lies ill in yonder
room, and did not know" she
began, but the sailors wife cut her
short with a gesture.
"But God did," she put in. ole
knows how to help His own. John,
the lady's husband lies in there sick;
step in light, man, and look to him.
John be q rare nurse, ma'am, great
lubbering fellow as he is. And now,
we'll get these things put away fore
the little ones wake--I knowcd you
had 'em," glancing toward the curly
heads in the trundle bed-''little ones
O. your own, or you never could have
felt for me in my trouble, and gle
me what you needed yourself. There
be no heart as tender as a mothers
heart. And I've put in some goodies
for 'em, bless their curly little heads"
She went on unpacking the hamper,
laying out rolls of yellow butter, and
fat chickens, and now and then a
painted doll, or candy image. II