Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-12-26

made Mary's eyes go blind for a moment, as
lshe walked hack to the fireplace But she
had tender, unreasonable heart-poOr Mary
lGenin: and that was her sister, the little Jen.
ME, who had been left with her to fight the
world as best they eould-two orphans to.
Igether. They had thought, had colored pho.
Itographs, had half-starved, and been wholly
happy and gay together for years. Now, she
saw that Jennie turned her face away fearing,
perhaps, that she might ''see Mary on her
hungry BROOD"
Oh the old times The old times! Mary
stretched out her arm with en- uncomfortable
longing for the little girl who had slept in her
bosom SO long. For the moment she seemed
drearer than George or the children, because
she had lost her-she he'd lost her, foreverl
Jennie had begun to go from her after she
married Corgill. He was middle aged,
shrewd, money making man and barely con-
cealed his contempt for his unsuccessful broth
erin law; contempt deepened by the CALLING
consciousness that Genin's brain and nature
were as incomprehensible to him IS q writing
in dead tongue
"It is the iron pitcher, Mary thought bit.
terly, ''that swells and floats in the middle of
the stream IL is the porcelain that drifts
among the weeds on shore, and is broken"
But Jennie? There had been a day when
the pretty, light hearted girl knew no better
allegiance than that to her sister and brother.
She used, in her girlish enthusiasm, to call
George Genin, in his flannel shirt and muddy
trousers, ''the gentlest gentleman God ever
made in his image" But, after she married
Corgil--. There was the house and lot
which her grandfather left to ''his beloved
Ichild, Mary" Jennie never forgave that.
The house and lot were eaten up long ago,
but Jennie's love was gone. The little play
thing sister, or the warm, quick spoken, low
ling woman, were strangers to Mary and
George henceforth.
1t seemed to her, on that Christmas eve, that
Others than Jennie were strangers to her.
Her children were growing apart from her;
they were burdens to be borne, cares TO be
struggled with. She no longer crept into her
husbands breast with sense of absolute Sc
Icurity and trust. She never knelt down at
might now utterly silent, because her life was
so unspeakably blessed, because her husbands
arm was about her as she knelt; because her
Ichildren slept beside her; because the face of
her Master was so real and 30 near. That
was all over now. Or had it all been q delu-
sion? Was it because her eyes were clearer,
that she could see things as they were7 That
she could perceive how ill-tempered George
really yas; how greedy Jennie had always
been; how her cnildren we're fretful and she
Overlooked, and God an Implying task'mas'
ter?
She stirred the fire, and walked again to
the window. The night was cold, with bril-.
liant starlight in the dark blue above, the
streets quiet. In the next house they were
singing-a choir practicing, she thought. The
voices we're young and jubilsnt. 1t was
Christmas carol; she could hear the refrain:
'God rest you, little children; let nothing yvu
For Christ. the child Of Bethlehem, was born
this happy night"
1t seemed IS empty of meaning to her in
her present mood as the beating of cymbal.
What had the Christ,child to do with world
so soured and greedy, and worn out as the
one about her?
"There shall be one fold and one Shep-
herd" That was a word which long ago
seemed full of fresh bope, of infinite comfort.
But the fold, doubtless, included few elect
of them the shepherd had care. But OF
these workday hearts, of people so anxious
and grasping, people whose daily lives were
filled with thoughts of making or stretching
out few dollars and cents-they were very
far out of the fold. surely.
| She sat down and took up her sewing agair,
But her eyes were heavy; if she had been
younger, there would have been tears 10
soften the dry burning; but she only closed
them q moment. She thought she must have
doZed, for she did not hear her husband en-
ter; and when she looked up, he was standing
beside her, with his hat on, the sullen gloom
had left his face, and instead, was an eager,
anxious look, that startled her.
"Whst is the matter, George ?" starting up.
Nothing, l hope. Be calm, Mary touch
| ing her forehead with tenderness which he
had not shown for many a long day.
"All the children well ?"
'fYes; only Phil It is his teeth, suppose.
He has had fever all day."
She gave an impatient look to the little
crib. Of all her children, this baby was the
most wearisome and trying. He gave weak
little cry at that moment.
He held her as she was going 20 him.
''One moment, dear; have something to
tell you. The fever-the black erysipelas,
some call it; they have had it in Cairo"
''I know-go on"
at is here-there have been ten deaths to-
night l thought of Phil"
She was at the crib, had the baby in her
arms under the gas Genin turned down the
little slips from its throat and chest. Ono,
two light purple marks, as if Death had put
his fingers on him. She neither cried nor
spoke, sunk down into q chair. gathering the
baby up into her breast, staring straight at
the wall beyond. She heard Georges voice
something about ''God help them p
"Wny do you stand there ?" she cried,
shrilly, ''Is my child to die before my face
What shall do for him, George ?"
''I told Pomfret 10 come as passed; bat it
is too late, Mary"
She heard the bell pulled, and broad,
kindly face was bent pear hers; and strong
hands took the baby down, and laid it in its
crib.
SIT will be more comfortable So, Mrs Ge-
min. / am afraid that is all | can do. This
room needs air." He opened the window,
and in moment after she saw him, with the
other two children in his arms, going up
stairs. followed by the girl, Ann
She heard and saw with a strange acute
ness, as if the deathly sicknesslat her heart
had sharpened every sense. She even noted
AIMS white face and chattering java
'Its keschenl know it doctor. But I'll
not lave She's been kind to me, Mrs. Geu:n
has. I'll not lave her when the hand ov God is
comm on her.
This was the girl whom she had rated to
George as liar and thief.
When the doctor came down, and had Civ
ed tn baby his medicine, saw George beckoa
him to the other side of the room. He was
sitting on the sofa; had not come near her, to
the baby, nor spoken.
She turned and looked at him. Pomfret
was STOPPING over him, pressing his finger on
his forehead with troubled face.
1T it so, doctor2'
The old man nodded without speaking.
George
1T is the fever, Mary; have not been well
all day.
All that night she neither cried nor wept;
her lips were dry and glued together, so that
abe scarcely could speak when she wished.
There was little for her to do; Phil lay quite
still, breathing family in his crib. She could
hold Georges head up to her breast, and look
into the strangely changing face. He tried
to speak, now and then muttering that il
would all be right-he would be about to-
morrow
She saw the torn drawers and ragged shirt
as she helped him to undress. She had al
lowed him to wear them all the winter; when
he grew ill-tempered, she had become careless