Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-02-04

cos GuO StdlU, SOU0A coAu AAuA soou3
aged sixty-seven, ran down the street,
bounding over the snow-heaps and half
frozen puddles like schoolboy!
Why did not Margery ask her husband
whittier he was going at SO late an hour?
All but these sudden and late departures
Of his were not common. She knew we'll
that Mercy called him away. and she loved
him the more, if such thing were posi-
BILE, the oftener he obeyed her summons.
John was soon at the house of the doc
tor, his fellow-worker in many a good
deed, and in few minutes afterward both
stood at the bedside-if a bundle OF straw
may be called bed-of the dying woman.
She was unconscious of their presence. In
her hand was piece of bread, which her
son had broken off the loaf and placed
there; but the arm was too feeble to raise
it to her quivering lips. The doctor stopped
to feel her pulse. AS he gently touched
the unresisting arm, he looked sadly for
an instant at the boy, who stood bewil-
dered in a corner of the room, which was
dimly lighted by spluttering oil-lamp, and
whispered to himself, ''Poor, poor boy!"
john well knew the meaning of the look
and the words. The end was come Step
ping over to the boy, he took him gently
by the hand, and knelt down. The boy
instantly did the same.
A happy feeling shot through Johns
heart, for the quick movement of the boy
told him that some one, perhaps his moth
er,Iwhose tide of life.w was almost at it's ebb,
had taught him to pray,
Yes-kind, good John, although UNI
known to you. at that time, the poor dying
woman had been true mother to the
trembling boy that knelt beside him, and,
in the midst of her many troubles and
Affections, had ever turned his youthful
thoughts to that all loving Saviour, who
blessed the little children, and promised
that they should be partakers of His great
and heavenly glory.
Short and fervent was the prayer of the
good man, and when he arose, he saw the
doctor laying across the throbless bosom
of the woman the arm which he had been
holding. Then he knew that the boy was
motherless, and he led him away, unresist-
ing, from the presence Of death, and, CIV
ing the keeper of the lodging-house some
money, in order that the body might not
be disturbed the three, the motherless
boy eIle doctor, and John, passed out into
the lane.
When they reached the High street, the
bells III the church-tower announced, with
joyous peal, that Christmas had come.
The snowstorm had passed, and the stars
were shining brightly in the unclouded
sky-the same stars that shone on the
shepherds of Bethlehem when the angels
proclaimed the birth Of Him who came to
call earth's weary wanderers to His Faith
er's eternal peace and rest; who is Faith
er to the fatherless; who has said that
those who seek Him early shall find Him,
and that none who come to Him shall be
cast out; who has promised blessing and
comfort to those that mourn, and whose
promises abide forever.
81 have brought little stranger to-
night, Margery," said John, cheerily, as
his wife opened the door; 'he's not very
big, so dare say you will he able to find
room for him."
The boy looked timidly in Margery's face,
as if fearful of her answer. Margery give
an unkind reply. She couldn't if she had
tried.
Groom, John ay, plenty Of room, and
welcomed" and Margery kissed the boy,
who burst into tears; whereupon John
blew his nose violently, and hurried his
wife and the boy, whose name was Harry
Fleming, upstairs to supper. Harry ate
little, and when he spoke, it was only to
say, eyes" and s'No." The kind couple
saw that his heart was full. and did not
trouble him with questions. After supper
he was shown into snug little bedroom,
which looked as if it had been specially de-
signed for little fellow like him.
And so it had been. Before going to bed
| he knelt down and prayed one of the pray
ers which had been taught him by his pious
mother. The joyous bells were ringing
their welcome to the hallowed morn, fol
hours after the poor motherless boy had
sobbed himself asleep.
John and Margery sat long over the par.
lor fire, talking about Harry, and pro.
pounding many schemes concerning what
shoald be done regarding him. John lis
tened without objecting to any of the pro-
posals Margery made, although he had set
tied it in his mind that, if the thing were
passiole, the boy should remain in the
house.
"Margery," said John, after long paus,
s'don't you think the boy is very like oul
Willie, whom it pleased God to take from
us Sc long ago."
"Why, John, that very thought passed
through my mind when kissed him, as h,
stood, timid and trembling, at your side.
After another long pause, john said:
''Margery, lass, a strange idea has take1
possession of me tonight. I somehow
think that Heayen has sent this boy to nj
as a Christmas gift"
ga very strange thought, !" said Marger,
in reply.
"And yet not so strange, lass, after all
Where do all our gifts come from bu
Heaven? and all are intended for our good
But then rises the solemn thought, dea
wife, that we must all give an account O
how we use these gifts. Let us conside
this boy, Gods Christmas-gift to us, AM
let us bring him up in.such a manner tina
!; when the time come, we shall not
: ashamed to render an account of our stew
ardship."
, sit shall be as you say, dear John. Yet
} if a day should come on which his friend
or relations claim him Oh, know 20
! too well not to guess what a heartbrea
his departure would be p
l,o1