The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1877-12-22
.I think I'm 60 /. up ) st.ir., . s.id the

think III 60 up stairs" said the
minister, rising abruptly.
All, sir, you're sorry you come to
stay with one who has done 20 Wrong!"
"No, no; don't think Of Il! Here il
my hand, - and he hurried from the
room. The little family dispersed in
silence.
A bright, glorious sunshine and blue
sky greeted Christmas Day. The
stranger came down stairs all smiles.
Happy Christmas, sir!" cried the
farmer; I" Happy Christmas, old lady!
just please to step this way. Here's
our stockings that the child put up.
Why, Lizzy,, Lizzy, bless your heart,
,oe're nothing but children, after all!
There's yours and mine, and one for The
minister. How fat they are! / haven't
laughed so hearty for twenty Christmas
Mornings" and he proceeded to pull
out the contents. -
"Doughnuts, old lady-and-here-
why, Lord help me, here's . pocket
book! and 50-dollar bill init! And
here's letter! Where's my specks?
You read It, mother"
"Dear father, ;" began the old lady.
sob, it's from our daughter in New
York! There's were the money come
from-and-'' Suddenly he turned
pale, as the first few lines were read.
What, from Bill-my boy!, Our
boy, old lady-that go0d-for- nothing
blessed rascall No, mother''Lhe came
forward with shaking hands-'sit can't
be-good news, and ON Christmas day!
Sent the money, did he? Here's a
handkerchief, wife; wipe your specta-
cles, quick. I don't wonder you cry:
I'm crying myself, I believe. win
spend Christmas with us!' I can't be-
lieve it. I must be dreaming. When
can he come? There's an express at
four this afternoon. Bill-gone-dead,
buried, years ago coming if knew
what
"He's here now!" exclaimed the
stranger, in broken voice, crying and
laughing, while with a glad shout Lizzy
ran into his open arms. es
"Don't hug him to DEATH" exclaim-
ed the old farmer, the tears chasing each
other over his bronzed cheeks; and then
he too held him against his heart as if
he would never let him 60. Then he
put him at arms length.
"Stand of, my son, and let me feast
my old eyes. Yes, yes, there's mothers
face-not bit of mine, and I'm glad of
it; for all the heart there was between
US was hers for long years.
"And so you're minister, my boy:
minister! the son of my old age a
servant of God! Now can l depart in
peace. And you forgive me, my boy,
my son, my only son!" and he fell on
his shoulder, weeping.
"Freely, father. God, who knows how
hard it has been to keep my silence till
the hour came, kdows 1 forgive you.
Through his mercy found friends, and
many of these years 1 have been far
away, for the kind man who took me
into his family lived abroad much of his
time. You know l thought my mother
was dead, that your heart was steeled
against me, that"
"For the sake of heaven, my dear
boy, let US talk no more of that. You
are here; my old heart is satisfied"
Iwish l could transcribe the quaint
doings and sayings of that day. But all
the words one has at command, all the
fine writing, all the fine thoughts, could
not convey an adequate conception of
the happiness that made that household
brighter than kings palace that glori-
GUS Christmas day.-Yoath's Conlpan-