Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-12-23

true to her old love, "was one Miss Cary
sang about the Saviour, He was de-
spised.'''
ut was all very beautiful. know, my
darlings," answers the mother; "but you
must forget it now, as soon as you can. fol
it is late"
The next morning, Ruby is wakened by
the stirring Of her mother. "Oh, Man,
ma she says, softly, putting her arms
about her mothers neck, II had beauti-
full dream last night, and must tell it to
you before you get up. dreamed that
Miss Thursby was standing on high rock
on the seashore, singing that song, Il
know that my Redeemer liveth', and when
she came to that part, In the latter day
he shall stand upon the EARTH / thought
that dear Papa rose right up out of the
sea, and walked on the water to the shore;
and that Mr.. Todd took him by the hand
and led him up to us; and just as he flew
toward us, and caught you in his arms,
woke up.''
The desolate mother kisses the daughter
with tears, but cannot answer. Beside
that dream the dark and stern reality is
hard to look upon. Yet, somehow, the
child's heart clings to the comfort Of the
dream.
Presently her eyes are caught by an un-
wonted display of colors on a chair beside
the bed. "Oh, what are these?'' she cries,
leaping to her feet
"They are yours, my daughter"
Clock here, Ben! Where did they come
from, Mammal M-m-y! Oh, look! look!
| And here are yours, Benz"
By this time the drowsy boy is awake,
and he pounces with shout upon the
treasures heaped on his own chair, and
gathers them into his bed. A book and q
nice silk handkerchief for each of the chill
dren; ad elegant morocco work box stocked
with all sorts Of useful things for Ruby,
and a complete little tool-chest for Ben;
the Christmas ''St Nicholas" for both,
with a receipt for years subscription,
and a nice box OF sweetmeats to divide
between them,-these are the beautiful
and mysterious gifts.
"Who brought them, Mammal" they
cry, with one voice.
"Your friend, Mr.. Todd. He had two
packages concealed under his coat, when
he came for you last night; and when he
rose to go found them on the floor beside
his chair, one marked, For the Girl and
the other, 'For the Boy!'''
"What makes him do such things?" asks
Ben, solemnly.
"'Good- l Think answers his
mother. HE seems to be one of those
men of goodwill Of whom the angels
san -
"Anyhow, I'd like to hug him" says the
impetuous Ben. 'sDid he say he would
come ana see us again?"
perhaps he will, in the course of the
day. He said that he should not return to
Maine until the evening train.''
Suddenly Ruby drops her treasures and
filings he, arms again about her mothers
neck. ''You blessed Mammal" she cries,
tenderly, ''you've got nothing at all. Why
didn It some of the good-willers think of
you?"
Perhaps they we'll, before night,'' an
swers the mother, speaking cheerfully, and
smiling family. but whether they do or
not, it makes the day great deal happier
to me that my children have found 50
good a friend.''
1t is merry morning with Ruby and
Ben. Tie inspection of their boxes, and
the examination of their books, make the
time pass quickly,
"S0mebody' g moving into the next room, -
says Ben, coming in from an errand. 81
saw man carrying in table and some
chairs. Queer time to move, I should
think"
''They are going to keep Christmas, at
any rate" said Ruby; "for saw them, a
little while ago, bringing up pile of
green's"
''P'r'aps they've hired the reindeer-team
to move their goods" says Ben.
''Then." answers his mother. ''they
ought to have come down the chimney in
ste ID of up the stairs
So they have their little jokes about their
new neighbors; but the children have
moved once themselves, and they are too
polite to make use of the opportunity af-
forded by movlng-day to take an inventory
of a neighbours goods.
They are to have late dinner. The
turkey, hankered after by Ben, is not for
them to-day; but nice chicken is roast
in in the oven, and few oranges and
nuts will give them an unwonted dessert.
While they wait for dinner, the children
beseech their mother to read to them the
Christmas story in ''St. Nicholas cit
means so much more when you read,'
says Ben, Ethan it does when read.''
! So they gather by the window; the moth
or in the armchair, on one arm of which
Ben roosts. with his cheek against his
mothers sitting opposite. 1t is
pretty group, and the face of many pas
ssr-by lights up with pleasure as his eye
chances to fall upon it.
| 1t is now little past one O'Clock, and
| Mr.. Halliburton Todd, sauntering forth
| from his comfortable quarters at Parker's,
makes his way along fremont street, in
the direction of Court. He is going no.
where in particular, but he thinks that
little walk will sharpen his appetite for
dinner. When he approaches Scolay's
So uare, his eye lights on man standing
uncertainty upon corner, and looking
wistfully up and down the streets. The
face has familiar look, and as he draws
little nearer, Mr.. Todd makes sudden
rush for the puzzled wayfarer.
''Hello, Brad!' he shouts, grasping the
man by the shoulders.
"Hello!" the other answers coolly, draw
ing back little; then, rushing forward:
"Bless my eyes! Is this Hal Toddp'