Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-12-29
have q comfortable fire on the hearth,
Hulda sr,ofie1 IL al Nv ha0n;nr mo not

have a comfortable fire on the hearth,
Hulda spoiled it abby begging me not
to light the lamps, and there she would
SIT In blindman's holiday. I began to
get the rickets myself; and though i
wouldn't have owned to it for
the world, was sorry I hadn't brought
out with me Ms. Post and her baby, and
the young student on the second floor
back. For one thing, hadn't enough to
do. Chloe did all the kitchen work,
Hulda attended to the bedrooms. and the
cooking that was left to me wasn't worth
mentioning. It was enough to break
ones heart to see the dishes come and go
untouched and untasted. would al
most have been glad to see that greedy
Marley come in for one hearty meal.
There was nobody to brew or bake for;
nobody to mend or make for; and, ali
me! what bitter cry had one day when
stupidity stumbled into Bob's snuggery,
| up under the caves Of the garnet, and saw
there the broken fishing rods, the old
| rabbit hutches, the bird traps, kites, mar
bses, and heaven knows what and all I
| couldn't get the boy out of my mind,
| and began, now that | mad plenty of time,
to think that / might have been little
| hard myself, and grew to wonderful
about the children Of Bob's first wife that
I'd given over to the clutch of judith
Marley without one word to cheer o.
comfort.
Inc hard northern winter came on
apace. All the little brooks froze tight,
| the tender green of the larches and will
| lows had given way to red and gold, and
at last there was no color or substance
LETT them but their skeleton branches
against a leaden sky The snow came
down 10 whirling drifts, and day in, dav
our, Inc clock ticked the doleful refrain.
gos out some patchwork, but put it
| away again VINO would inherit nv
hand work2-and made up my mind we'd
have no New Years danues that year TO
stare Us doleiuily cut of countenance.
Poor Chloe was getting dyspeptic already
with oyerfeeolng, and even her wool
didn't tighten uD in the old vigorous
wav.
1t was the third day before New Year
when g storm sci in OF hail and snow and
sleet, SO that it was all we could do to get
the dumb creatures about the place
housed and fed. When all was done I
set the logs to blazing upon the hearth,
and happily kept warm drink IN the
ashes for C9loe. who was still fussing
about the kitchen. The wind roared
around the house, swinging the branches
OF the tees against the weather. boarding;
and said l, "Hulda, God save any poor
creatures at the mercy of this storm to-
night },
AT that moment we both heard some
thing ike human voice strained to the
utmost, and Hnlda started to her feet.
'Be quiet, Hulda,' said, myself far
from easy; Its only the shreaking Of the
wind
But again we heard the voice, aud
again we heard my name. | reached for
nay cloak ana hat, and buckled on my
rnbbers, while Huida stood trembling by,
when suddenly the door flew open, and a
great -ust of storm and sleet came pelt-
ing 10, driving before it man and some
chl'dcen he was budding before him like
sheep IN tempest. They were blinded
with the storm and half frozen, hut the
boy dragged bis sister by the hand, and
poor Bop heid the Youngest child in his
arms.
Don't you know US, Aunt Mage" said
the little fellow. I'm Bob, you tnow.
The wagon all broke down, and we're
jolly glad to get no omc." Hero the lit
tie man began to cry, for his brave heart
WA herr ha at,i Ia; pl>t ~
arms took up the refrain. Bob himself
Was white as the snow outside and seemed
dazed and bewlidered.
''See here, Mag" he stammered out,
slve brought the children TO you to
board for awhlla. Ege1ythings at
skies and seveDs 10 the city; Marley g.
Brothers have gone to smash; but I'll
get something in the way OF a clerkship
again, and pay the chiloren's board. you
know; they shan't be burden to you,
Mag"
A burden! It didn't seem much like
a burden. Such glad commotion as
those little ones created, Hulda and
Chloe putting dry clothes on them, and
trucking them out as il Tor baby mas
querade. The hot posset was poured
down their little throats, and a bountitul
supper was given them Of not milk and
buns.
"There'll be something grand for
breakfast" said, looking upon them as
greedily as ever poor Mar ev did upon
Hulda. How the old kitchen echoed
with their romps and capers They were
all hands ONE, every one OF tBem, with
RnH ffpn
eyes like the pretty dead mothers.
Bob" said, choking yearningly
over tie thought, ''if you'll give them to
me, the whole three, 1 ii spend my whole
life in making them happy: and after
In gone, they shal nave the homestead
and every penny I've got in the world"
Yes, yes" salu Boo, who had never
ceased shiyering, and was now as hot and
red as he had been white and cold, "Ill
pay their BOARD, Magda; this is only a
temporary trouble. | hope to get a
clerkship; but little Bob will never get
through the storm-neverl Keep hold of
your sister, Bob, cried my poor brother,
IN loud voice, land keep the tail of my
coat firm in your hand; don't let go, my
son, tor Coos sake, Boboy-don't let
go!'
He got upon his feet, and seemed to be
| p'odding through the storm as he made
his way to the kitchen door. l coaxed
him up to the bed in his own old room,
that had kept aired and comfortable to
tighten my own aching heart. When the
morning dawnel and the doctor could
get to US, poor Bob Was wild in delirium
the only word he muttered or called
aloud We're about bonds and bills, dollars
and francti ons OF dollars His long white
| fingers seemed to hold pen and scratch