The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-12-29

his knee, he said: There can be nc
holidays, this year-no maskers and nc
yule log, not even Christmas caro-
from the waits, my little lassie. There
is no Christmas here
al know that, said Eleanor. But
mamma told me we could keep Christ
mas in our hearts; for Jesus was bern
to help everybody to be good, even in q
cold land like this, even if we could not
be merry
"Bless thy sweet heart Z said the
man, and thy mother, too; for, he
added, turning to the men, sweet Mis-.
tress Plaisted has a brave heart under
her bodice, and it i'll becomes us to sit
grooming over the fire like old beldames
when her gentle hands hold the tough
flax for lis, and she alone of us all re-
members the Christmas tide in the spir-
it of il. Who will come with me to try
for shot at the birds we saw but now
flying just without the stockade
So the children were left alone
and they sat down by the hearth, made
of square, red tiles, and huddled as
close to the fire as they could. What
makes everybody so cross, to-day, Rol-
ly ? said Eleanor, spreading her hands
over the fire. Nobody is pleasant
now, as they used to be In the summer
time in the wood
" 1t isn't cross, dear Nelly said her
brother. But don't you know they are
all frightened, lest we would starve
| The grain is almost gone, and we have
no more to make bread
"'Gone Roly, there was so much
of it, too!'
"Yes, I know. But Clifford said
some strange animal must have bur-
rowed up and carried it off; for there is
hole in the ground in the cellar
"Oh what shall we do9 1t will be
dreadful to starve'-and Nelly began to
cry softly and to starve on Christmas
day, of all the days 7
"Oh we shall not starve tomorrow,
only the meat is all gone. heard them
whispering about it to- day and mamma
does not know that, and you must not
iell, Nelly
"Eleanor looked into the fire for O
few minutes, and then said /: And can
we do nothing to help, brother2'
"'I don't know, I'm sure. wish we
could cheer them up.
"'We nigh. eat only very, very
little
"'That would only make them all
sorry
"Ohv said Roland, 1T makes me
sorry, too, when I think of the good
times we had at home, two years ago,
and to think there will be no Joy bells,
tomorrow. That makes mamma sad, ]
know
"And then Roland began to tell his
sister about the times they had at home,
for she had been 80 very little when they
had last kept the holidays that she
couldn't remember anything about it,
for that had been two years before.
The last Christmas in England, they had
been hiding away in the house of Puri-
tan friend from the soldiers. And roland
told his sister how the bells rang in the
morning, and the village children sang a
carol under the windows, and of how
mother had loved to hear it.
"Suddenly Eleanor jumped and
clappcd her hands. why can't we sing
carol out by the stairs in the morning 2
I" So we can, if you know one, said
Roland.
can tell me the rest; and then we can
sing it, tomorrow morning, while it is
yet quite dark
"'I never thought of that said Mel
ly, 'Oh wait, though. have some
thing that will do. See 7 And she
opened tiny, little cupboard and took
out little triangle.
why = said Roland. Where did
it come froml It's the one had from
the maskers, so long ago.
" Mamma found it at the bottom of
the old chest, yesterday; and / was 60
ing to give it to you, tomorrow.
"It will do nicely, said Roland, and
he struck it. Ting, tang, tong rang
out; and the children smothered it in
Nelly's petticoat for fear the sound
should betray their secret. But /
heard it, and was there in a second. 1t
sounded like bell; and wnen I got
there and found it mistake stayed,
because knew they meant it for bell.
Oh how blue and cold those dear chill
dren werei 1t makes me shiver when /
think of it.
Esquire Plaisted and his wife talked
long time, that night, and Roland
heard his father say that somebody must
have courage on the morrow to try to
reach the Spanish colony and get help
from them, or they should surely starve.
But, he said, the men are all afraid
of getting lost in the forest and perish
ing in the snow, and must go myself
Ii we could but shoot some game, il
would be blessing; for the meat we had
is spoiled, you know
"'Yes, said his wife, Il know it.
But do not despair. The morrow is
Christmas day, and it may bring us good
cheer
"Scarcely the faintest streak of dawr
was in the sky when the two children
crept out on to the landing in the stair
case and presently all the people il
the house thought they were dreaming
of home and the Christmas carol. Bu
it wasn't dream, for the little triangle
under Roland's vigorous strokes, pealec
away as hard as ever it could, and two
sweet little voices sang, in the darkness
and the cold in the solitary house in the
wilderness, the sweet old carol
"'God rest you merry gentlemen;
Let nothing you dismay.
For Jesus Christ our Savior
Was born upon this day,
TO save US all from Satan's power
\ When we were gone astray.
Ohi tidings of comfort and joy,