The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1880-12-31
HOW CHRISTMAS GAME 10 TOM,


MES tonight"
Splash went one little body into the
bath-tub, and splash went another, and
again third, and then, like so many
roses after shower. out they came drip
ping, and laughing and screaming with
glee. The little mother was kept busy
enough, tor it was Christnas-eve, and the
carols and anthems were to be rehearsed
for the last time, and Mrs. Morton's
clear soprano voice could not be spared.
Indeed, her voice was all that kept Ted
die and Clover and Daisy in their neat
little box of a house, for their father, a
brave fireman, had been killed more
than two years before at q fearful fire,
and since then their mother had striven
hard to MAINTAIN her little family by
sewing and singing, and dong whatever
work her slender hands could accom-
plish which would bring in food and
clothing for her children
"Be dood, Teddie," repeated Daisy
after her mother, as she shook out her
little wet curls at him, and Glover SOL
EMMY raised his finger at his bigger
brother, with the warning:
Remember Santa Claus comes to-
night"
'Yes, and the stockings must be hung
up" said Ted, who forthwith proceeded
TO attend to that important duty.
"Therei how do they look :-one
Clover's; and one red, that's Daisy's"
They we're pinned fast to the fender with
with many pins and much care.
But, mamma" said Clover, 1.-The
stoves in the way. Santa Claus can't
get down with that black thing stopping
the chimney
"Oh, the fire will go out by and by,
and then he may creep through the
stove-pipe and out of the door"
He'll be awful dirty. them" said
Daisy.
''Well, 'he was dressed all in fur from
his head to his foot, and his clothes were
all furnished with ashes and soot,' so
that Is to be expected. But really, dear
and let me tuck you up; it is time tor
me to 60"
Very quickly the rosy little faces were
nesting in the pillows, and Mrs. Nor
ton, after kissing them, put out the lamp
and left them to their SAUNDERS. Hasti-
ly putting on her cloak and bonnet, she
paused at the door of her sitting room
to see if the fire was safe. The room
was dark, but the cleaning stove, the
chairs and table were all in order, and
in one corner, under a covering of pa
per,. was the little tree She had
decked in odd moments to delight the
eyes of her children. She could
not afford wax candles, SO the
morning was to bring the tree as well
as the other gifts. Sure that all was in
readiness, she tripped down the stairs,
locked her door and sped over the snow
to the church, the two tall towers of
which stood out against the starry sky.
AS she entered the church, her mind
full of her duties and her heart ten
der with thoughts of her childen, she
thought she saw dusky little object
crouching in the angle made by the
towers; but she was already late, and had
no time to linger. Up she went to the
choir, which was full of light, but
the body Of the church was dark. With
out any words, she took up her sheet of
music and began to sing. Never had
the carols and anthems seemed SO
sweet to her, and her voice rose
clear and pure as a birds. The organ
ist paused TO listen, and her COM
panions turned satisfied glances upon
her; but she went on unconsciously, as
bird does until the burden of Its theme
is finished, and it's exultant strains are
lost in silence. They went over the
whole church service, the glorious TIE
DeuBa, the BenedictuS and the anthem for
the day, Unto US Child is born, unto
US Son is given" and every delicate
chord and fugue had to be repeated until
the desired perfection of harmony was
attained. 1t was really very long and
arduous study; but of all days Christ
mas demands good music, and they were
willing to do their bess. At last all were
satisfied and somewhat tired but the or
ganist turned to Mrs. Morton and asked
her if she would sing one hymn for him
alone, as he especially desired to hear
her voice in this one tune. OF course
she could not refuse, and to an exquis-
city harmonious air she began.
'.Calm on the listening ear of night
Come Heavens melodians strains.
Her silver-mantled plains.
Light on thy hills, Jerusalem,
The Savior now is boInl
And bright, OF Bethlehem's joyous plains
Breaks the first Christmas morn -
Only the first and last verses of that
exquisite hymn; but like ''angels with
their sparkling Tyres" her voice seemed
to have lost its earthliness, and scared
as If it were winged, up to the very gate
| of Heaven. When she ceased singing
| there was hush upon all, as if they
had been carried near to the celestial
portals.
One by one they pressed her hand in
| quiet coBgratulation, and with "Mer-
ry Christmas babe her goodnight.
Mrs. Morton was little excited with
her unusual efforts, and while the old
organist was locking up, thought she
would run down and warm herself in
| the church, AS she FASTENED toward
the great heater, she tripped over some.
thing, which to her great surprise and
I al hn T1ar00ivnA yrh arn0arl6 N
be great bundle was in reality sleep
ing child.
Yes, child, and a little one-a boy
of not more than seven years, with elf.
ish brown locks, and eyelashes which
swept the olive tint of his cheek. All
curled up in heap, in clothes which q
| man might have worn, so big and shape
less were they, with one arm under his
| head for a pillow, and the other tightly
grasping a violin. Far had he wan.
dered in the cold wintry air, until, at
tracted by the light and warmth of the
great church, he had stolen in for shell
tel, and then as his little ears drank in
the melody of the rehearsing choir, and
the warmth comforted him, he fell fast
asleep. He was dreaming now of the
warm, sunny land of his birth: olive
trees and orchards, purple clusters ol
vineyards, donkeys laden with oranges
and the blue sky OF Naples shining oveI
the blue bay. Then, in his dream. an
angel came floating out of the pure ether
waiting sweet perfumes on its white
wings, and singing-oh what heavenly
/ strainsi-till his little soul was f,lleC
with joy; for the angel seemed to be hi
mother who had died, and her kline
voice again saluted him, and be answer
/ ed softly, .sMadre mia 20
-Poor child % said Mrs Morton. soft
", .iit seems pity to awaken him. bu
we must do it; he cannot stay here al
night" The old organist touched him
but his sleep was too sound for touel
to arouse him, and Mrs. Morton had 4
again and again lift his head and strok'
his little brown hand, before, will
amazed and widely fearful looks. he an
J swered them.
"Who are you. child, and what ar
: you doing here 81 asked the organist-
sim Toni, Toni" was the answer
and he began to cry ooh, please let m
go; the Padrone will kill me-
aWhy will he Kill You. and why ar
|, you here p
sHe viii kill me because ! have q
!. money. have lost, also, my way"
! aHave you no bone, no mother
I asked Mrs. Morton, gently.
; mo, signora, no, madame, no mothe
W.. I'll lire ard VirAarEra an