Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1877-12-25

A story !-ny cnllu, WueTo "oulu
| get a story?
"Out Of your head" and Box point.
ed a small finger. That's where
mamma gets them. About the little
dig that stayed at home, and little
Puss that fell into the we'll"
Mr.. Barclays face was covered with
his hands; his wife sobbed aloud.
Box seemed puzzled. "You're not
bad, are you ?" he said coaxingly,
tugging at the stlong hands that hid
a miserable drawn face. "Only bad
boys cry. Then will sing for you
like mamma does ?"
"Carol brothers, carol, carol merrily.
Carol the good tidings, carol joyfully,
And praya gladstone Christmas to all
good Christian men;
Carol. brothers, carol, Christmas day
again"
piped the high voice, clear as bell
A loud cry outside startled the lit.
tie group, and then q tap on the win.
dow drew all eyes in that direction.
Pressed against the wide pane was
the face Of the new soprano, her eyes
wild yet full Of Joy, and her white,
frightened features returning slowly
to their natural expression. "My
mamma screamed Box, nearly tum-
bling to the ground. Away went
drum and gun as Mr.. Barclay hurried
to the door. In "a minute the mother
knelt on the rug, holding Box to her
heart, pressing kisses on eyes, hair,
and lips, and murmuring her great joy,
"Oh my baby my baby y she cried
passionateiy, while Box accepted the
caresses and tried to speak Of his drum
and gun. ...
"There they is !" be shouted at last,
Santa Claus bringed them T.
How can l thank you?' said the
soprano, rising and looking from the
man to his wife. "What a day have
spent; walking ever since morning,
and l only stopped at your gate be-
cause | was to tired to 60 on. Then
| heard his dear little voice singing"
She took the chair that Mr.. Barclay
profered, and let Mrs. Barclay unpiu
her shawl and take off her bonnet.
Where's papa?' queried Box 4
want to show him these
He went in another direction. Box
strayed away from our boarding
house while we were at church. They
had not missed him, and we started at
once in search of him.
'He has been here all day, and We
wondered at his contentment, said
Mrs. Barclay.
He is used to being left with stran-
gers, poor little fellow l cannot take
him to church.
And he is so good. How old is
he
-Four to-day. He was my Christ
mas Box, and somehow he has kept
the name.
His father must be very proud Of
him. said Mrs. Barclay, her features
softening in sympathy for this worn
excited mother, who only thought that
she had lost her son.
His father! my baby never saw
his father. He calls my brother pa
Il he loves his uncle very dear
ly, buu his father died abroad, a
month before he was born.
And was he an American?'
oh, yes. We met at Dresden; he
was painting there, and my brother
and and l were working hard at mu-
sic. We were married, and then
went to Rome he took the fever there
- Her voice sank in sobs.
And he was young?'
Twenty eight
But baby has grandparents to love
him
No. My parents are dead, and
my husband had not heard of his for
years. They had disowned him. Poor
George! when he was dying he used
to fancy in his delirium that his moth.
er was with him.
Did You call him George said
Mrs. Barclay in faint voice. 1 had
a son named George, and he would be
just thirty-two.
What was your husbands name :?
asked Mr.. Barely, with a vain effort
TO steady his voice, which sounded
harsh and broken.
His name was George Barclay
The office Of superintendent of pub.
lie stores at Baltim ore, held by Mr..
John Lea Oh h.pman. salary $4,000,
has been abolished by an order from
Secretary Sherman, and the duties as
signed to Mr.. Ellington Fulton, keep.
sr of public stores No. l.
Last Friday week in the criminal
Court Of Baltimore Judge Brown SEN
,enced twelve young men found gull
" Of rioting last July at the Sixth
Regiment Armory and Camden Sta.
ion. The sentences varied from eight
"a