The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1875-01-02
CHRISTMAS EVE.

Christmas Eve amongst the CatSk1IIS
The stars looked dimly down upon the
wild scene, cleaning family on rock,
and tree, and lonely, gloomy road
stretching so far down III the distance.
Their beams fell also upon the figure
of solitary traveller woman with a
child in her arms, picking her way
slowly up the dangerous ascent.
Such a cold night, and such long.
dreary road Would it never end
How the wind whistIed and roared
through the bare branches of the pine
trees How mockingly it shrieked,
" Coming home, looming home, .
down the steep mountain path until the
very echoes laughed in scorn !
Yes, coming home With weary steps
and aching heart, toiling along the
slippery road, falling ever and anon in
the deep snow-drifts, only to struggle
up and on, over and over, fighting a
fierce battle for life-dear life.
Not for her own No, no She had
lived too long already!' and the woman
laughed strange will laugh that had
no glee in it, ''But for the babys sake
poor little Nellie r
The wind took up the mother sigh.
and the echoes repeated Poor little
Nellie
How bitter, bitter cold it was Thank
God, the baby was warm, though
What was that? Only the snow falling
down the mountain-side. How weak
she was growing! Would she never
reach the end of her journey Alb,
there was the old house at last !! Dark,
silent, and gloomy, not curtain drawn.
not light to be seen How well she
remembered the olden times when every
window was ablaze with light and happy
laughter, and merry songs welcomed
the coming OF the Christmas morn
Yes, there was the dear old home.
There was the very window at which she
used TO sit and watch the birds build
their nests, and the villagers slowly
toiling up and down the road Under
meath was the old apple-tree, into which
brother George used to climb to toss
the fruit in her little white opron.
What light heart that boy always
carried in his bosom, and how dearly he
loved little sister - She could almost
see him now, looking at her with his
earnest eyes, the soft bright crrls float
ing back from his boyish face. She
could almost hear the ringing laugh and
springing footstep, the CHEEKY "good
morning" and laughing Z" goodnight,
goodnight, and pleasant dreams.
All, me. 1t was SO long ago. The
child had become woman since then
"a worldweary, heart-sick woman.
And the boy-a bearded man, per-
haps. Long since, no doubt, another
had taken the place in his heart con-
secrated to little sister But never
mind 1t was not for herself she
came to plead. She would go III, and
laying the child in his arms, would say:
For the sake of her you once
loved, take this little helpless one in
out of the cold. Love her, protect
her, and teach her to be good, that the
lovinS Christ-child may smile upon
and bless you on the morrow
And then she would turn and go out
IN the night, anywhere, anywhere SO
long as Nellie was safe it mattered not
what became of her.
Rap rap rap The noise almost
filed her with dismay, and the knocker /
fell from her cold fingers, SO loudly 1t
echoed through the deep night A
sound of coming footsteps, bolt with |
drawn, a hand laid upon the latch. a
sudden flash of light, few moments