The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-01-01
he supposed held only fine, fat Christmas

he supposed held only fine, fat Christmas
turkey.
stOhl, my goodness oh, my soul It's
baby! a little live baby, as sure as Pm born.
Ooh, my, my-oh, my Lord!" and Ezra
Potts held his dim light very close to the
sleeping infants face, and bent his face very
close to it, that he might not be mistaken
and find it a turkey after all.
It's real live baby!" he cried again.
sob, my soul! oh, my wife won't she, oh,
econ't she be glad? Won't Ezra Potts be
glad, too? Won't Ezra Potts and wife be
glad together? oh, dearl real fine baby.
fell upon his knees, half laughing, half cry
ing, as he bent very close to the babe.
''Oh, my wife, my beloved wife, our
daughters come back to us just as she came
to us at first on Christmas-eve, too. On,
my to Ezra Potts and wife daughter, no,
ho!" And Ezra shook himself very hard
again, and his eyes glistened with tears, al
though he tried hard to push them back.
''The good Lord sent her !" he cried, wind
ing the fine white flannel around the babe.
.Yes, the good Lord sent her, and he
knowed just where to send her-bless His
name-and Ezra Potts and wife sha'n't dis.
appoint the Lord, neither. Oh, my soul!
what Christmas present present straight
to Ezra Potts and wife from the Lord. oh,
what a sexton is Ezra Potts What blessed
SCALOLl, WuhJ " lucky ScXbOnl
and wife" and he laughed so hard again he
couldn't for his life have added "daughter;"
and tying up the coarse, heavy shawl he
caught up his lantern and scrambled up the
belfry stairs, and rang the bells again like five
great furies. M u H
Praise the Lordr' he cried, Juggling on
the ropes like a mad man, 90 for His mercy
endureth forever. To Ezra Potts, sexton,
and Dorothy, his wife-oh, my souli" and
he pulled more madly than before, which
brought the grave-digger, who lived In the
small red house just behind the church, into
the belfry. There isn't bit of doubt that he
believed the sexton crazy, for, besides ring
ing the bells like mad, his coat and hat were
off and his long gray hair was flying over his
head and face.
"Praise the Lord !" yelled Ezra. "Praise
the Lord-to Ezra Potts, sexton of old st.
Johns, and Dorothy, his beloved wife,
daughter And on went the mad, musical
bells, and speeches. stood the grave-dig
ger, as he watched the sexton while he rang
the Christmas chimes as they had never rung
before.
"A daughter, tell you, Corney! A little
live daughter to Ezra Potts, sexton, and
Dorothy, his wife" and letting go the ropes
he donned his coat and hat in an instant, and
grasping the grave -digger's hand he hurried
him down the stairs at great rate.
"See that, Corney-see that thereW cried
Ezra, when he had unrolled the infant.
"Ain' It that Christmas present, Corney,
amt it, thought and he slapped the grave
digger hard on the back, who looked more
stupefed than ever.
"To Ezra Potts and wife, tell you, Cor
ney-I tell you live daughter" He put
his hands on Corney's shoulder and sh ok
him with all his strength, which aroused the
grave digger so much he bent over a trife
that he might more plainly see the sweet,
placid face of the sleeping infant.
Corney was very slow fellow. His BUSH
ness was slow one, for, as the people of
Connyville were usually long lived,
ing business at any time. But, finding his
petrited tongue, he said,
"Wa'al, du declar'! Whar did you cum
by that air chick"
"To Ezra and Dorothy Potts from the
Lord" solemnly answered the sexton.
"'Tis, heigh?" said Corney. "Wa'al,
kinder reckon as how 1 wouldn't want the
Lord to bring many SIGH critters to me-"
"Ah, " said Ezra, shaking his fingers, and
taking his bundle tenderly in his arms,
''don't be scared, Corney, He knows into
what fold to send His little lost lambs. Oh,
my soul, yes! He knows where to send 'em
to Ezra Potts and wife, no, ho!" And
locking the great door he hurried off into
the village.
"Here comes Father Potts." cried band
Of youngsters on a street corner, as Ezra
came in sight. Have you got anything for
us?" they shouted.
Ho, no" he cried, merrily, "not thing
it's baby for my wife,"
IA baby for your wife |" they all shouted
with boisterous glee. ga baby for your
wife. Hurrah for Father Potts's babyw
But none of them could believe that Father
Potts really had baby in the queer-looking
bundle he was carrying.
49,, Cant we please see your baby askeda
| little girl, shyly.
"Why, bless your heart-bless my heart
bless everybody's heart come right along
and have look-all of you come and have a
look. My soul! come and have look, all
of YOU" And they all scampered along and
hurrahed for Father Potts and his baby, and
for Mother Potts and her baby; and every
fresh recruit that joined the merry rabble
hurrahed as loud and became as wild as any
Of them. Tradesmen left their shops and
customers to see what under the sun the
matter was, and customers rushed to the
| doors that they, too, might see the goings
on; and all the quiet village knew good
Father Potts had found baby on the granite
steps OF old st. Johns, and all the quiet viii
lage went wild with Father Potts.
| By the time he had reached the door of his
cozy cottage the infant had awakened and
began crying, which made the children
shout the louder, for beyond doubt
Father Potts had real live baby; and Mrs.
Potts, hearing such an uncommon racket,
fastened to the door to discover its cause.
4 vi
wife and happiness! I've such a present for
you-O-oh such present I" and as the score
of children came trooping in, Mrs. Potts
| thought her husband and half the village
had lost their heads, and she was so aston
ished at such strange proceedings that for
a minute she could not have uttered word
to save herself.
"What have you got, EzraW she cried,
when she could find her tongue.
| "a baby, baby, live baby" shouted
| the little rabbe.
"What baby-whose baby?" she asked,
| looking first at one and then at another of
the group, and scarce believing her own
ears.
"OursW shouted Ezra. "To Ezra Pots,
sexton, and Dorothy, his beloved wife,
daughter And he laughed, and the chill
dren laughed, and Mrs. Potts laughed in
spite Of herself, and undoing the bundle she
took out the incest, sweetest little baby any,
| body ever did see, which made the children
laugh and clap their hands and think that
Father Potts had found the most wonderful
child in the world.
| ooh, dearW said Mrs. Potts, "what a.
why, what a dear little creaturel Whose can
| it be, Ezras" t
| "Ours !" answered Ezra, solemnly.
"Yoursp' cried the children, who had
| gathered close around it, as children always
gather around when there is anything to be
| seen.
Show, Ezra9 Tell me something-any-
Il Il T.. III