The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-12-26

I've begun. / don't wonder you look
ut me, sir. I did think he'd write me
another letter; and when 1 wrote to him
again, stranger sent me word that
he'd gone-and there was what nv
cruel will did for me. Twas mad; my
mind must have been crazed. But it
humbled me, sir; and who knows but
God may require that poor boys soul
at my hands? / not only took his home,
but his mother, from him."
81 think I'll 20 upstairs" said the
minister, rising abruptly.
"Ah, sir, you're sorry you come to
stay with one who has done so wrongr'
mo, no; don't think of it! Here is
my hand" and he hurried from the
room. The little family dispersed in
A bright, glorious sunshine and blue
sky greeted Christmas Day. The
stranger came downstairs all smiles.
Happy Christmas, sirr' cried the
farmer; "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,
sce're nothing but children, after ali!
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 proceed
ed to pull out the contents.
"Doughnuts, old lady-and-here-
why, Lord help me, here's a pocket
book! and fifty-dollar bill in it! And
here's letter! Where's my specks?
You read it, mother"
"'Dear father" began the old
lady.
"Oh, it's from our daughter in New
York! There's where the money come
from-and"- Suddenly he turned
pale, as the first few lines were read.
"What, from Biil-my boy! Our
boy, old lady-that good-for-nothing
blessed rascal! No, mother HE came
forward with shaking hands-.'it can't
be-good news, and on Christmas Day!
Sent the money, did he? Here's a
handkerchief. wife; wipe your specta-
cles, quick. / don't wonder you cry.
I'm crying myself, l believe. will
spend Christmas with us!' 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 1 knew
what"
"He's here now!'' exclaimed the
stranger in a broken voice. crying and
laughing, while with glad shout Lizzy
ran into his open arms.
"Don't hug him to death!' ex-
claimed the old farmer, the tears chas-
ing each other over his bronzed cheeks;
and then he too held him against his
heart as if he would never let him go.
Then he put him at arms length.
"Stand of, my son, and let me feast
my old eyes. Yes, yes, there's moth
er's face-not a 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 q minister, my boy
"a minister! the son of my old age a
servant of God. Now 1 can depart in
peace. And you forgive me, my boy,
my son, my only sonr' 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, knows l forgive
you. Through His mercy I found
friends, and many of these years 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
wish 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 concep-
ton of the happiness that made that
household brighter than Kings pal
ace that glorious Christmas Day
Mary 4. Denison, in Youths Companion.