The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1880-12-24

less child. Ibeseech you with all my broken
heart, l beseech you with these scalding
tears to keep my babe, to watch and tend
and care for it just as you would your own,
just as you did the little life that blessed
you once, that made you happy once, long
ago."
Ezra, what is it she says about our little
babe! Read that part over again."
~ beseech you with all my broken heart,
l beseech you with these scalding tears to
keep my babe, to watch and tend and care
for 1t just as you would your own, Just as
you did the little life that blessed you once,
that made you so happy once, long ago"
Just as you did the little life that blessed
long ago." repeated Mrs. Potts, bending low
to hide the falling tears. NOW 60 on, Ezra,
and finish"
"There are others richer in purse than
you with whom might have left my child;
but your great richness of heart, your ten.
der sympathies, your love Of God and man
are riches prize for my babe above the
wicked, fascinating wealth Of the world,
ing. Oh, God! il my wretched life had
been as spotless as yours; il the bleak winds
OF temptation had been as gentle to me as
they have been to you; If Christ had tended
me with that unfaltering care He tends the
tiny sparrow, my babe might be calmly
sleeping now on this breast, so torn and tor
tured with ceaseless agony. Again be-
seech you to keep my innocent darling, to
care for it as you would, as you did your
own; and though its parents may have sunk
low down in the cruel eyes Of this cold, win.
try world, remember how He, born in
bethlehem manger, gave you that blessed
hope of redemption which makes your life
SO bright and glOrious-and this little babe
may grow to bless and comfort you when
Vnp nd foot
trembling near the grave. Watch over her.
beseech you; guide her Alright, beseech
you, and may Christ bless you; may Christ
bless my baby as He has not blessed its
"SUFFERING MOTHER"
1t was very fortunate thing for Ezra
Potts and wife that, just as he had finished
reading, the babe began to worry and re-
full POttses, for it would have been q most
difficult matter for either of them to speak
because of the tears that filled their eyes and
the great lump that had risen in their
Threats. In few minutes, however, sweet
looking Mrs. Potts, in her neat gray dress,
friiled cap, and spectacles, and whose dispO-
sitiOn, by the way, was every bit as amlaDle
as her looks, said very slowly:
81 have thought, Ezra, ever since you
came in, that maybe-maybe it was her child
our kitty's baby"
"Pshaww cried Ezra, striking his foot
very hard upon the floor and looking as saw
agely ut his beloved wife Dorothy as it was
possible for him to do. Never talk such
again. l wouldn't stand it; no,
indeed, wouldn't"
"Perhaps 1 was wrong in speaking my
mind, Ezra, but, somehow, couldn't help
it; and, Ezra. don't you think the baby looks
was small?"
"Nonsense again" cried the sexton, hit
ting the floor such second rap with his foot
that it fairly frightened the little creature in
his wife'S lap half out of all its little senses.
Sc If you talk any more such internal stuff I'll
sling that bundle plumb into the street.
mind YOU, plumb into the street."
"Why. EZra!" cried his wife, "yOu know
you wouldn't, would he, baby" And she
kissed it half dozen times. and fondled it,
and made sight over it. and then held it up
for Ezra to kiss. which the old fellow did.
80 Well, Dorothy, you must make up your
mind"
.'My mind, Ezra:" she cried. "Make up
mind about what:'
"About keeping it, he answered, point.
ing at the baby, with a very grave face,
though he didn't feel grave-not a bit, good,
clever old soul.
"Lord bless u.s." cried Dorothy. at was
the Lord knew well enough where this little
thing ought to cOme-Of course He did,
"Oh, my Lord" cried Ezra. "Oh, my
soul, what a woman! NV soul. what wife
and what a ba-bee! Yes, to Ezra Potts,
sexton, and Dorothy. his wife-a daughter
praise the Lord, daughter" And Ezra
laughed and shook himself, and laughed
Potts to laughing; which, in spite of all they
could do, set the tears a-rolling down their
cheeks.
They must have been the happiest, jolliest
folks in COnnyvile that night-Or anywhere
else. in fact. But by and by Mrs. Potts put
the baby away to bed and made Ezra go and
sleep in the company chamber. lest he would
forget himself and crush the little creature.
And, Mrs. POtts'S word for it, he came to
visit the bed no less than four times in the
night to make himself sure the child had not
been surreptitiously spirited away while his
good wife slept.
When the morning came-gOodneSs, what
4 morning that is to be remembered!-itw was
such Il time as was never known before or
since in that house. In the first place, the
good old parish minister came Gathering in
before they had eaten breakfast and begged
they would excuse his haste and the absence
IF his neckerchief, but he must see that
child. Sakes alive! they'd excuse anything
Of him that morning, and he must needs
stay and have some breakfast and offer
thanks afterward, for Ezra said that on that
IlldnkS must DE OUcTeU Dy one more
thorough in the business than himself: he
wanted it done up brown, he said-the Curl
ous fellow.
Then came the children trooping back
again, bringing little presents and things:
md soon afterward came all sorts of older
people bringing larger presents and other
hings; and they all made so much Of the
babe and declared it was the most wonder
ul little creature anybody ever did see in
hat part of the world, or anywhere else.
And the good minister over in the corner
aid it all reminded him of that beautiful
scene in the stable of Bethlehem, when the
wise men came and gave their gifts to our
new born Christ. He wanted to know, too,
I all of them could teach by example the
,reat lesson of forgiveness He taught; if all
Gould forgive their repentant debtors as He
orgives us our debts. And Ezra, laying his
land on the good minister's, said, with
streaming eyes, ''Praise the Lord, yes"
But such presents! RattleboXes, whistles,
Ill sorts of dolls, wooden horses and candy
logs. and red soldier with blue gun, and
real gem of cradle from old Isaac's, the |
.abinet- maker, and Squire Phelps gave it a
hundred dollars in sterling silver. Every
,ody was so happy, too. Teach resident of
Jonnyvilc had had just such baby given
hem they wouldn't have been one bit hap
bier. No, indeed!
After all had locked at the baby, and taken |
in their arms and kissed and talked to it |
O their hearts cOntent-the baby, by the |