Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1880-12-23

Lie fire; and Leo stretched his hinge
before the BIAS. Then they
sat down to THAR wor.:, for work s'as
q necessitv in these latter
days; and even little Armies tiny
fingers did their part. The sturdy,
little boy. growing more and more
like his dead father, cracked nuts,
and shot strawsat Leo, and finally
grew weary, and betook himself to
his trundle-bed.
"What'l! Kriss-Kringl bring me,
mother he asked, popping up his
curly head. -
His mother glanced across at HE
chubby stockings suspended against
the wall. and her eyes filled with
tears. Her store of Christmas-gifts
was very scant, yet she answered
pleasantly.
Something nice, perhaps, darling
if you'll go to sleep like a good boy
Annie worked until her blue eyes
grew heavy; and she followed her
brother to the little bed,..but not to
sleep-she lay awake listening to the
voice OF the wind. 1t was a terrible
night, cold and windy, and the dis
tant boom of the sea was incessant.
Her mother trimmed the lamp, and
continued her sewing.
Don't work n more, mother,
said the child. Come to bed, please
I'm so lonesome"
"But l must finish this garment'to to-
night, love. We shall need more
coal on Monday; and there's no mon
ey till this is paid for. Go to sleep,
there's a darling; you're not lone
some withSmother SO near"
But the child still remained awake
her blue eyes full Of solemn inquiry.
Mother" she began again, after a
pause, show nice it is to have a3fath-
or. Lizzie Green is so happy, think;
~ ~asrH-F- \
her father takes her everywhere, and
gets her such %nicethings. I wish my.
father had lived. Do you think moth
81. he knows about us up in heaven?
Can he see how lonesome we are
The poor, pale-faced woman put
out her hand as if the child's prattle
tortured her.
MY darling, yes he knows about
us, and sees us, I think" she replied,
speaking with an effort. But cote
sleep now, please; mother is too5Slred
10 tai
Yes, mother; only let me,tsli you
what I've been thinking. What il
the Lord should let Kriss-Kring
bring father hume to-night-wouldn't
i. be nice, mother p
Eyes, love; but that cannot be.
Father cannot come to US: but we
shall go to him by. and-by." ~
Annie fell into silence, and the
night waned away. The stars burn
ed, and the winds moaned, and the
great sea Numbered; Violet worked
on steadily. She was abrave, strong
woman, and kept her sorrow beneath
heRfeet; but it rose up strong and
fl &c tonight. Old memories of heI
hi Ppy. girlhood came trooping back
fossya words, loving smiles, tender ca;
,ses.tHer tried soul was full ID
y FLOWING. How should She eve
the burden Of life through an
other year {? It was so hard. she
should FAINT in the en%yor,bu but for
henchiidrena sake. Glancins over
I . little souch, and che pair OF
curly heads, she resumed her needle
with fresh vigor. The hours wore
on Christmas morn would soon be
neutrality-suspicious. with its peace
on earth, and its promise Of glad
ness to all men. What would it.briDe
to her?
Tie winds rose, driving the light
snow against the windows. Leo put
ap his ears and listened, then he
arose and trotted off to the door
Presently he began to whine plain
lively.
what is it, Leo?" asked his mis-.
treas.
The dog came to her side, looking
up in her face with ar intelligence
that seemed almost human then be
went back to the door, paving and
whining. Violet put down her work
and went to the window. AS the
wind lulled, she caught the sound o:
a step, a firm, quick step, crunch'ne
the frozen snow. The dog leaped tc
the window, barking and whining
and showing every manifestation o.
Joy. The step came nearer and near
er. a wild terror filled the lonely
woman heart. What danger threat
ened her children ? She glancel TO-
ward the little bed, and there sal
Annie, : her white nightrobe, her
hands clasped, her sweet, spiritua.
face fairly radiant with JOY.
ooh mother, mother ! she cried,
don't you know, don't you feel it
it is father coming home
A wild thrill shot through the poor
wife's heart, terror, hope, doubt, all