Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-12-21

long ACCUSED to set at this fireplace
it was the kitchen then-and watch the
sparks crowd together on the black .iamb
and tell stories. Wonder what makes
me think of him tonight. Maybe I'm
going to him."
ooh, father" and Lizzie was clingine
to HIM, her pretty curly head shining
against his old coat-slecve. "YOu shan'1
talk that way, father. Just go on think,
ing you're boy again, and hang up
your stocking tonight, Tor the sake Of
old times.''
evil you put an apple and some dough
nuts in it, Lizzie Dolly? Well, I'll see
Bless US if here isn't mother!' he almost
shouted, as silver locks and sweet face
appeared at the door. Why old lady,
never was so glad to see anybody before
So AIMS better is she and you thought
you'd keep Christmas with your old
mana Bless your dear heart!
Lizzy had taken off the gray silk bon
net and wooden shawl, and seated hel
mother in the old arm chair, before Mrs
Rolf noticed the extra splendor OF the
tea-table.
'It's for the minister, my dear. We've
got a live minister up stairs caught
him for Christmas. The deacon sent
him, he's SO full, and glad enough was I
though he didn't make up for you, old
lady. Why here he isl"
The young man had entered softly, and
now stood by the door, like one in a
dream.
"Come in, sir This is mother. Didn'1
expect such good luck, for she went tc
see our sick girl. I-why, what's the
matter, sir?'
The question was not untimely, for he
who staod by the door had turned almost
CHASTITY white, while the muscles of his
mouth twitched.
"0old, amt you sir?" asked the far.
mer, going toward him. "Come up &c
the fire. Llzzy, turn him a cup of not
tea. I've noticed that ministers amt gin
orally a warm FLOODED people-not like
US, 1 mean, who chop and hoe, and plant
and dig"
By this time the young man had near
ly recovered his composure. He took
his seat at the table, asked a blessing
and this time his voice sounded not only
musical but tremulous, as if there were
tears very near it. But no one noticed
1t but Lizzy, who sat behind the tea~urr
now, and l fear, thought of nothing but
the minister, who, in his turn seemed te
have eyes ouly for that tender, PLACID
face, on whose temples shone the silver
curls of beautiful old age, the face o.
the dear mother.
"Hope you've enjoyed your tea, SIR
said the farmer, as they drew up to thu
ti'e, and Mother Rolf took her knitting
needles from the little checkered baske
on the small stand in the corner ''Bles!
me, 1t does me so much good to SCI
mother here! I'm that lonesome whe1
she's gone that feel like a feather float
ing, don't know where"
'Father is so used to me-" murmurec
mother, smiling. while the fire gave the
bloom and the look of youth to her age6
face.
"Well, yes, if forty years togethe,
makes folks used to each other. You SEE
one of the children, Ann, is delicate, and
mother has to 60 there sometimes; for
tell you, after all, there's no nurse like
mother. The Lord blessed us in daugh-
tiers, sir. We've got three
Il didn't hope to have son in nv old
age, to take care of things gin'rally. o.
if they become something beside farmers
I wouldn't a cared. It would "a set me
up wonderful, expect, to have minis.
ter for son. Perhaps the Lord saw il
want good for me. I'm not the one tc
blame the Lord for my own folly.
"My boys were fine boys, but didn't
know how to treat 'em. I was brought
up pretty much alone, and didn't know
boy nature. Bill and Benny were bright
little fellows; handsome, too, like nv old
lady here; but I spoiled them by being
Overstrict.
1t makes ME ache sometimes to think
how went on with them children. Bill
he was the wild one; I tried to bend
him, but I broke him sir. He was quiet
enough, but too fond of his way. The
other was moro gentle, and I had great
hope of him. Mother, here, she used tc
Try to soften my hard ways, but I had
my own ideas about governin, and would
carry them out if I died for it. The
stick first, the stick last, and the stick
always.
"Thcre is better way said the visit
or.
mo doubt of that, SIT. Why, do you
know, when them boys was planting
with me, the minute they'd begin to
talk I'd stop 'em. No talk while at
work. that was my motto. No wonder
they rebelled; no wonder they hated me-"
"They didn't hate you, father" came
from the corner Of the fireplace, with
mild emphasis
"I'm afraid they did, old lady, and I
can't say wonder. They loved each 9TH
er, them two boys. If one was whipped,
and that was gin'rally Bill. the other
would stick to him through thick and
thin. I've known little Benny to get on
his knees to me for his brother. Well"
and he sighed painfully, "God forgive
me. He knows thought I was doing
right
''And Benny asked the stranger,
what became Of him?"
"Ah, Sir, Christmas is something sad to
me. Benny was growing up to be our
Joy and pride-seventeen years old, sir, a
fine, manly fellow-when he was broug ht
home five years ago to-day, by three men.
In this room they brought MIN, sir, stark
and dripping, on this very MI ht, as it
were. A weary, weary Christmas that
was, with his dear dead body in the next
room. AS full of health and fun he was
when he went out to skate with the little
girl he hoped to maryland that's the
way he came home. There was soft
place on the ice. She was just saved, poor
thing! A good, good lad he was. He's
gone to Heaven. He never give US scarce
any trouble, from his babyhood.
You don't ask after the other one
Bill" said the old farmer, curiously.
There was no answer.