Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-12-22

still warm. Leon tried to make the ass
kneel down. She did II readily enough, as
II she were accustomed TO II, aud under
stood the need now. Then he laid his warm
cheek against the girls and breathed into
her lips and called TO her, and strove in
every way 10 rouse her.
She stirred, but did not open her eyes.
The baby, however, awoke and cried. That
cry did more to fully arouse the mothers
consciousness than anything else, and TO
Icons joy she murmured, "Hush, my
daringW Then ho called aloud to her,
and at last tried 10 take the baby from her
arms. She opened her eyes then, but half
underslandlngly, and with great difficulty
obeyed Leon's words when he told her to
rise. She could not stand, but Leon got
her upon the saddle, and putting one arm
around her TO hold her firmly there, he
guided the ass down the road and over the
bridge to the gate. They arrived there
safely, though many times on the way Le-
on thought they would not.
He ran into the house and woke Annette
and his grandmother. 1t was some time
before he could make them understand,
but at last they did. Fortunately there
were still embers on the hearth, and An
nette heated little milk, which they pour
ed down the poor woman's throat. This
brought her to herself enough for them to
lead her iuto the house, where the warmth
soon revived her. Leon put more wood on
the FIRE, which soon gave out a good heat,
while Annette and the grandmother warm
ed blankets aud put about the woman and
child, and rubbed the mothers cold limbs.
When they had quite recovered, and had
partaken of bread and milk, Mere Matu-
rim would not allow them to speak, but put
them in her own bed aud len them TO
sleep.
The first red streaks OF dawn were seen
In the eastern sky before Leon had quite
satisfied his grandmother and sister on this
wonderful adventure. Then he went back
TO bed, and did not wake till the Christmas
sun streamed in at his window, and he
heard Annette calling out her greeting to
him from the foot Of the stairs.
Their strange visitors slept till quite late
in The morning, and had not yet appeared
when the father and mother came home.
You may he sure there was much 10 tell
and hear about this odd adventure OF Le-
on's, and then Pere Maturin held up let
ter from Louis, a Christmas letter, which
made the children dance with joy. In the
midst OF II all, their visitor came into the
kitchen from the inner room, her baby in
her arms, and looking quite bright again
afler her rest. She was very small, so tiny
that Leon wondered that such stout boy
as he was should have had so much trouble
in lifting her on TO the ass, and she looked
very young indeed. Then she told them
her story.
Her husband was a soldier. He had met
her at Tonlon, her native place, and mar
ried her there. She had continued 10 live
at her fathers Till he died, leaving her lit
tie money. Her husbands regiment was
ordered TO Algeria soon after, and as she
had no relations in Toulon or anywhere
else, he thought IL best TO send her and her
child TO his mother in Brittany. He had
written home some time before he LEFT, and
said he knew his father would meet her at
ST. Malo, as he had requested in his letter.
But when she reached there amer her long
a stranger in the place, she thought the
best thing she could do would be TO hire
an ass, and take the straight road TO her
husbands home. The landlord at the inn
In the town where she had stopped to in
quire the way, had told her that she could
not isil 10 find the house; but the snow had
come on and hidden the path, and she grew
wearied. They wandered out OF the way
many times, sometimes finding the road,
and then losing it again, till, worn out, she
had fallen from the ass right below the
shrine in the road. "When looked up,
and saw the gentle face smiling down upon
me, thought" said she, "HeaVen would
have pity on me and my baby, aud I said
my prayers, and had just fallen asleep,
when the good God sent you, Leon, TO wake
me. And now dear friends, I will not
trouble you more; If you will kindly tell
me where the Pere Maturin lives will go
and find him, and my Louis and will
bless you always in our prayers"
"Pierre Maturin Louis r. they all ex-
claimed; and then followed such explain
ing, and laughing, and crying and kissing
as never was known before. AT last, when
all was quiet, the father read Louis letter
to them, and 1t was the one they ought TO
have received long before, telling them his
Marie was coming TO them, and would
they love and care for her and the baby for
his sake?
oh, how happy they all were together,
and how pleasant that the joy should come
10 them on Christmas Dayi
When dinner was over, and they had
said everything they could think OF about
this wonderful adventure, and had admir-
ed little Marguerite, Annette suddenly ex-
claimed:
"Leonl did the ass and the COW speak ?"
1T didn't hear them," said Leon, shaking
his head ruefully "but the ass did ev-
erything but speak when she looked at me
over the gate, and then took me to Marie"
"Yes," said his mother, "and though
there is nothing In the idle tale to speak of,
you may be sure God led the ass to you,
Leon, and taught her how TO make her
wants known to you, though 1t was not by
speech and he cared for Marie and her
babe, for the sake OF the Holy Child, laid
In His mothers arms in the stable among
oxen aud asses that first Christmas night"
ST. Nicholas for December.