The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-12-13

possessed, anu uylnS, ieit Ills TWO GILL
dren, Mary and Albert, almost penni-
less. Shortly after his death, Mary
married Mr.. Hall, and her brother
started for the gold fields of California,
and, although she had written numerous
letters to him, she had never received
any word from him, and she had long
since given him up for dead.
Christmas morning dawned clear and
beautiful. Inside Jack Frost had fres-
coed gorgeously the windows; while
outdoors the earth was clothed with its
pure white blanket of snow Little
Harry Hall rose early, and, kindling the
fire, soon had the kettle singing merrily.
Then, after placing two bowls on the
little pine table, putting the milk to
warm in pan on the stove, and getting
the corn bread and salt from the cup
board, he went to the door of his
mothers room, and, knocking gently, he
cried:
Merry Christmas, mamma! Break
fast is ready"
Breakfast ready! / wonder how many
of the children who read this
story ever sit down to such scanty
breakfast as that None, / sincerely
hope. After breakfast Mrs. Hall gave
Harry the sewing, who, after kissing
his mother good-by, started off. He
was not long in reaching Mrs. Bells,
who paid him for the work and gave
him, besides, a beautiful red apple,
which Harry put in his pocket to keep
for his mother, and then started joy
fully to the store to purchase his Christ
mas present. Mrs. Bell had paid him
fifty cents, and accordingly twenty-five
cents was his. He had already made
up his mind what he should buy. And
what do you think it was? A pair of
warm mittens for his mother. He
never once thought of himself, nor how
cold his own fingers were; but he re-
membered how red his mothers looked
when she came home from her errands.
AS he entered the shop gentleman
stood talking with the storekeeper; but
as Harry drew near the: counter he
ceased, while he was being waited on.
Harry timidly asked if he had any
twenty-five cent mittens. The shop
keeper said no." but, struck by the look
OF disappointment on the boys face,
added
Let me see. Well, here is a pair
with small hole in one of them which
you can have for that; your mother can
easily darn it,"
Harry thanked him, and, handing him
the money, went out. As he reached
the street he was startled by feeling a
hand laid on his shoulder, and, turning,
saw before him the gentleman he had
left standing in the store, who, putting
his hand on his head and looking into
his eyes, said kindly:
My lad, will you tell me your name? ?"
Harry answered, politely:
My name is Harry Hail."
AT the name the gentleman started,
his hand fell from the boys head, and
he asked, hurriedly:
"Is your mother living, my child?"
"She is, SIR answered Harry, "but
my father is dead"
The gentleman then asked Harry to
lead him to his home Harry did so,
and on the way the gentleman told
Harry he was his long-lost uncle. Mrs.
Hall was watching for Harry, and was
much surprised to see him with a
stranger, but when they reached the
door and the supposed stranger spoke,
saying, DO you not know me, Mary?"
she needed nothing more to tell her that
1t was her brother, returned at last.
Surely it was joyous Christmas for
the Halls. In the evening Harry's un-
Gle stated to them the story of his adj
ventures. How he had never gone to
California, but went to sea instead; how
he had written to his sister, but had
never received anything from her. And
lastly, that he had prospered, and was
rich, and that he had purchased their
dear old home, which he had found, on
visiting it, was for sale, and how he had
almost despaired of finding his sister,
whom chance, at last, threw in his way
BY New Years Harry was in his new
home; and you may be sure he did not
want for presents. And he never forgot
the poor. He had tasted the cup OF
poverty, and knew its bitterness. He
would spread before them all the pocket
money given him by his uncle; and
here, with the wish that his Christmases
may be merry and many, we will leave