Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1879-12-25
quest had he not spoken second time
Drawing near the table he said :

quest had he not spoken a second time
Drawing near the table he said
"Gentlemen, | was once a married
man myself, but my wife, God bless
her, is dead. For the love | bear her
memory, for the affection | have to-
ward the remembrance OF my little
one buried with her, | ask you to let
me aid in this matter v
The sadness in voice and face was
so sincere, and the utility Of sending
man who had been thar and knoweI
what wmnen folks would like, pre-
sented itself so favorably to the mi
ners, that with but little hesitation
they allowed him 10 do as he had
wished.
L al hour he was gone, and the
settlement was lost specnlations as
to what he would bring back for the
strange lady and her child.
The morning of December twenty
fifth dawnel crisp and cold. The
fresh, biting air Of the mountains
raced among the trees right merrily,
whisking the snow into little wretth5
and frolicking among the brancheswith
real holiday gayety. 1t was nearly
noon when the stranger rode into camp,
loaded with bundles. At II e Magno-
lia he met an eager crowd Of miners,
who, headed by Judge GashWloler,
wer, soon on the road to the stran nge
laly's cabin. Arrived there, they felt
A sudden hesitation about entering,
1t was like intruding upon some sa,
cred ground and they were almost
tented to deposit. their bundle, on
the threshold and fly.
You take the stuff, sail the Judge
to the stranger, "ahd 80 in fust. You We
bin familiar with wimmen, and know
how to handle en-. Well wait out
side"
But the stranger felt the same hes
itation. Perhaps his long absence
from femme society made him bashful.
Perhaps thought of the memory he
revared, caused him to hold back.
Finally the Judge consented to take
the lead, and, dofinq his hat, knocked
softly. The door was opened by the
child, who bade them enter. Beside
the fire sat the mother, who rose t.
meet them. All passed in but the
stranger, who stood outside,
"Narm,' y said the Judge, who some
now lost his usual ease Of speech and
iosture, "we--that Is, the citizens Of
Mud Flat, has come to wish You q
merry Christmas, and to offer vou
these few tokings Of our respeck and
esteem.
Having thus delivered himself, tn"
old gentleman deposited the bundles
on the table and stool beaming sc
renrly on all his companions. The
strange lady, completely overcome by
this unexpected kindness, could no}
find works to reply for moment
linen, in a broken voice, she said
"This is glad moment in my sor.
rowful life. You are good, kini men,
and | know God will repay your gen.
erosity te the widow and the father
Iesss. l.
She etoppel suddenly, and stool
with blanchcd d cheeks and distenled
eyes, staring toward the door. The
miners turned, ana beheld th' strang
er, who, with a great stride forward,
and cry expressing the widest Joy
can sht the woman in his arms.
They stood thus, heart pressed to
heart, and lips to lips for an instant
Then the atranger turned his eyes de
voutlv toward the ceiling,
"Thank God, he murmured gent
'ly. The wife | had supposed dead,
is restored to me.
The miners stole softly away and
left the stranger standing thus, with
his arms tenderlv twined about the
woman of his love, and the IiCtle
child clinging fonlly to his knees.
The air was ba lmv outside; the
sun shone with nettabIe sweetness
upon the scene blue jay screamed
his delight from a neighborlng tree
and the wind played u joyful tunt
among the rocks.
Christmas had come to Mud Flat.
Interview About siH Fish
cries.
BY MAX ADELER
Young Parker, who is a reporter o'
t.I Ia