Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-12-20

Then Joseph Lebas fairly broke down. The
cure and his housekeeper had both left them for
the night, having put him a lamp and some
supper, which the poor fell9w left untasted
as II his heart was breaking.
''Oh- my friend. my comrade!" he cried, 'thou
who hast taught me 50 much, 50 many lessons,
forgive me- old companion, that did not sooner
discover how serious was thy malady. Who
knOws-only GOd'-he said, reverently, "but
it may be that If we had come this way Sooner.
the timely succor might have saved thee. All,
my Roger, had planned such pleasant life
sences from home. There is money now enough
to buy bit Of ground, and tools and wood too,
and can be carpenter the rest Of my days,
moaned and moved more restiessiy than before.
'.Yes, yes; know thou sayest what is that to
thee now thou art going to die; and IL there be
crowned there. my Roger. Yes, yes; as the
good cure said, but now my sorrow Is selfish;
but can not help it. my friend. What shall
say to Pierrot, Roger? How can 1 comfort him
for the loss Of his kiend frind?n
At the word Pierrot the faSt-closing eyes open
widely, and Roger gives a growl OF pleasure
quite different sound from the lOng-drawn-
out means which have shaken his poor body.
For an instant Joseph's lips part in joyful
surprise. Can It be That his dear friend will
recover, after all? And then the eyes close, the
limbs are strt tched out, and he knows that
Roger Will never wake again.
IH.-JOSEPHS COTTAGE.
1t wants week to Christmas. Till now there
has been no snow, the weather is crisp and bra
cling In the north and even beside the ISere 1t IS
far less mild than it has been.
On the sunny side of the lovely valley little
10y was standing at the door of small cottage
WreatheG.W an 0vergrOwth OF brown vine
branches within fence little cabbage gar
den was bOrdered white and red with tulips and
naIciSsus: but the ground looked neglected; it
seemed as If the flowers had come of themselves
SO irregularly were they planted. Fields OF
growing corn and other products were every
where in the fertile valley and above these rose
dark woods and lofty Alpine crags, high above
the river. Beside the cottage door sat an ugly
brown mongrel, giving impatient looks at its
little master.
Mother'-the boys face was turned to the
cottage door, so that one only saw head Of
curly gold as the sun shone on it-"mother, will
father ever come? look for him every day since
MichaelmaSs."
Inside the low-roofed cottage pale young wo-
man, much wrapped In shawl, sat rocking
little cradle.
Yes, yes, Pierrot; your father will come. You
must look tor him every day."
The little fellow clapped his hands, and turned
round such merry face-short and broad, like
his sturdy little body, with bright laughing
blue eyes, pair of roguish red lips, and turn.
up nose. 1t seemed as If he had stood In the
sun to rpen, for he had skin like golden pip
pin.
!" Mother"-he had been running a race with
the ugly brown mongrel since his mother spoke
show soon Will baby run races with me; he's not
much use now" He gave discontinued lool,
toward the cradle. Then, as his mother did not
call baby Roger? He will never be so nice as
Roger is. Roger is big and strong and car
ries me on his back, and lies down when bid
him. Mother, want Roger. am sad without
him."
The mothers pale face flushed She bent over
the cradle and kissed the little sleeper. She was
very good and gentle, but she was not clever,
and Pterrots words troubled her.
Roger is good beast. Pierrot," she said;
but he Is only beast; he can never be thy
will play with you and love you and he will talk
to you too, my Perrot; and, she added, eagerly
as new thought came, "you can do more for
Believe me- child. it is sweeter to love and care
for Others than to be loved ones SELF"
SIS it?" Pierrot looked doubtful "Wen, I
of the road and see If father is coming? ~
He came back, as he had come so often,
shaking his golden head; but to-day his eyes
and for the old friend who had been his play
fellow for as long as he could remember.
1t Is Christmas-eve, and although Liline keeps
a brave heart and will never listen to her neigh
boris doubts and SurmiSeS, her heart sinks as
she thinks Of Christmas-day without Joseph.
He left her just after Easter, and she SO longs
her In his absence-her beautiful baby. She has
named it Roger; for she thinks that 1t will
please her husband, and Lline never thinks
about her own choice in anything
She has not so many household cares for TO-
mOrrOWS festival as an English mother would
have. Christmas is to Liline the birthday OF the
Lord and therefore the special festival Of all lit
tie children; and her chief care has been to sew
new coat for Pterrot, and to make him bright
red flannel cap which suits his golden curls rare
ly. She is trying this on, while PIerIot tdgets
"Mother! mother!" be quickl" the sturdy
rosy fellow says, as he looks impatiently through
the tangle OF yellow curls; this is just when
1 always go up the road to where father said
was to look for him. and suppose he came and
did not find me?"
They had both been too busy to look toward
lint dom Nfnfnn r. hail had
it said:
"And he is Gomez
And there was Joseph Lebas, with tears in his
eyes and radiant smile on his lips. as he
clasped wife and child together in his arms He
Gid not see the cradle, and Liline'S pale face
filled him with dismay. But he stood there ST.
lent, hs.ding her to his heart.
And Roger, father, where have you put
Roger" Pieirot was .rugging tmpatiently at his
fathers blouse.
Tears swan in Joseph's eyes. He stopped and
TOOK his little son In his arms.
Rgef IS sd dead he sad graneiy nd
have seen me long ago. All! well mayst thou
weep! for Liline had begun to cry, aud Pierrot
flung himself on the floor, bowling, at his
heart, dear wife, to lose my dear old comrade"
Lline looked at her husband, and when she
saw the tears rolling down his cheeks-saw,
too how worn and sad his face waS-She wiped
her eyes and smiled, as she bent down to the
cradle.
BE cOm1Orted, dear husband" She said, as
she put the soft roll OF flannel into his arms.
"God has sent you another Roger this Christ
Observation-Disclosures Bazar.
DOll's Knitted and CrOcheted Car
merits.
DOLLS wOOLLEN CRAvAT AND MUFF.
Materials Observation-Disclosures wool and two
knitting pins, No. IA, Walkers guage.
For the crayat cast on ten stitches.
First rOw-Knit.
Second row-Knit one, turn the wool three
times round the first finger OF the left hand pass
the pin through the next loop OF left-hand pin,
and through the loops on the finger work OF ali
together. Repeat from to the end Of the row.
Repeat these two rows until the crayat is til,
length required cast off, sew both sides together
to form roll The front Is finished by cord
Of chatn-stitches, wooden tasSelS, and fancy
button.
For the muff, cast on sixteen stitches. ana
work as described for the cravat, work piece
three inches in length, join round, line with
wadded silk, draw up each end into a nice
round, and finish with a bow of ribbon; silk
cord Is passed through the num- by which 1t is
attached to the dolls neck.
CROCHET: PETTICOAT FOR DOLL.
Materials required-Blue and white Andalus-
ian wool and small bone crochet-hOok,
The bodice and skirt are worked separately.
For the skirt, make chain with white woOlt4o
length required to fit the doll, work one double
into every stitch; in the next row, work one
double into the back horizontal loop OF each