The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-01-01

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"p.Ssww cried Ezra, striking bis foc
very bar,l upon the floor and look ing ~ say
| arcy a, his beloved wife Dorothy ~ Il WA
possible for him 10 do. "Nevcr talk sue
nou.cnse again. | wouldn't stand IT,; nc
indeed. ! wouldn't"
.peritats I was wrong In speaking m
mind, Ezra. but, somehow. l couldn't he'll
Il: and, Ezra, don't YOU think the baby look
= ii,tle-ju., = litile--ss she did when 81
was small"
"Non.ensc again." cried the sexton, hit
linz lhp floor sllch u second rap with his foo
that Il fairly frightened the little creature |,
his wife's lap half out Of oil It's little senses
" n YOU talk any more such Internal stun III
,ling that bundle plumb into the street.
mind YOU, pIumA into the street."
"Why, Ezra" cried hts wife, "y0u know
you woufdn't, would be, babyw And sh'
kissed II half dozen times. and fondled Il
aud madc sight over Il, aud then held Il III
Tor Ezra 60 kiss. which the old fellow did.
"WcIl. Dorothy. you must make up YOU
mind"
my mind, Ezrs:' she cried. "Nake "
mind about what"
"Abona keeping H." be answered. point.
Ing NJ the baby. with . very grave face.
though he didn't feel grsve-not : bit, good
"i.ord bless u.s." cried Dorothy. at VA,
all made up Just the minute you came in, fOI
the Lord knew we'll enough wherc this little
thing ought 20 come--of course lie did,
"Oh, my t.ord.' cried Ezra. "Oh. my
soul. what woman! Ny soul, what wife
and what q ba.bec! Yes, to Ezra Potts,
sexton, and Dorothy. his wiie-s Daughters
praise the Lord, q daughter" And Ezra
laughed and shook himself, and laughed
and shook the cottage walls, and set Mr..
Potts 10 laughing: which, In spite Of sll they
could do, set the tears a.rolling down their
cheeks.
They must have been the happiest. jollicst
folks In COnhyville that nlght--Or anywhere
else, In fact. lsu, by and by Mrs. Potts put
the baby away 10 bed aud made Ezra 20 and
sleep In the company chamber, lest he would
forget himself and crush the little creature.
Aud, Mrs. t'otts's word for Il. he came 10
visit the ted no less than four times in the
night to make himsclf sure the child had not
been sarrep,i'tot,sly spirited away while his
good wife slept.
When the morning came-yoo.lness, what
q morning that i 10 b. remembered III was
such time ~ 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 hts haste and the absence
NJ his ncckerchiei. hut he must see that
child. Sakes alive! they'd excuse anything
Of him that morning, and he must needs
.tay and have sOmc breakfast and offer
thanks aficrward, Tor Ezra said that On that
occasion thanks must he offered nv q, more
thorough tn the business than him elf: he
wanted Il done up brown, b. said--thc curl.
ous fellow.
Then caMe The children trooping back
again, bringing little presents and things:
and soon aiierward came all sorts II older
people bringing larger presents and other
lhings; and they all made 80 much II the
babe and declared II VIA the most wonder.
'ul little creature anybody ever did see In
hat part 81 the world. ov anywhere else.
And the good minister over In the corner
'Aid II all reminded him Of that beautiful
scene IN the stable Of bethlehem. when the
wise men came and gave their gifts 10 our
newborn Christ. lie wanted 10 know, too.
Z ait Of them could teach by example the
treat lesson Of forgiveness. lie taught: II alt
'otld forgive their repentant debtor. A. tie
orgtves IT, our debts. And Ezra, laying his
land on the good minister's, said. with
streaming eyes, "l'rsi.e che Lord, yes!"
But such presents! Rsitleboxes. whistles,
II sorts NJ dolls, wooden horse. and candy
logs. aud red soldier with blue gun, and
real gem 81 cradle from old lsaac's. the
abinet. maker, and squire Phelps gave II q
hundred collars In s,crl!n. silver. Every
'ody was 50 happy. too. Teach resident OF
'onnyvillc had had Just such baby given
hem they wouldai have been one bit hap.
Ter, No, indeed.
After oil had looked ut the baby. ant taken
10 their arms and kissed and talked TO Il
D their hearts eonien'--the baby. bv the
Gay, being In the best 0f htm0r and seeming
. enjoy II ALT was taken up io old 81. |
Ohm. church 10 De- chri.iened. That
hat before. The village giri, had brought !
u the flowers Oh. town afforded, and fairly |
lied the chznccl full: the cyergrctns were |
, profuse II seemed as II one had somehow |
rayed into fairy's grove: and the bells |
himct their nicrriest, aud the organ peaIed |
> ioudcst, aud the choir sang their sweetest,
MT IL was surely q joyful Christmas morn. |
" for all the happy village folk.
What do you think they named that little |
Irl! Christmas. Funny, wasn't hs
rough ever aiterward she was known rs
ris>y.
When the service was fairly over with the
nod parish minister took Ezra of one side
MI asked III him-he wanted 10 make sure
ii--if hi heart was really full Of unfcigned
'rgiyrness for all who had done evil against
i'm, aud u he had peace and goodwill In
Is heart for everybody. which brought the
ars ~ Exra's eyes and made his voice
cmble ~ he cried, Eyes, yes, Lord helping
c"
"Can you forgive even your waySard
i'iy" the minister asked. the tears spring.
Y 10 his eyes aud hts voice trembling. too.
Ezra broke rich, down at this aud sobbed
though the Nootl.gates III his heart were
oxen. NJ though be- was sobbing for Joy
stead Of anguish. II be would forgive the
award, rcpcntant girl and stretch ont his
nus and bid Der come home again. how
uch more Christ.like would be The great.
'ss Of hi. heart, how much happier would
!, bis Christmas. day!
Everything" Ezra murmured, Ia brok.
voice; " can forgive everything
" Amen!" cried the minister. "Whxt .
cry Christmas this Il going ~ be" And
! had to wipe his eyes very hard again TO
cp the tears from rolling down his cheeks.
And then the minister led Father Potts,
NJ good Mother Potts with little Crissy, Ia.
the vestry where--yes, their daughter
10y 10 IN there, and they must be LEFT alone
title while.
l'oor repentsnt. maynard child! she has ,
me TO bc taken back into the fold again.
,e rugged mountain paths Of life arc very
rak aud dreary, and home Is warm and
light and loving, and she wandered back !
ain to be sheltered, and loved, and for.
Yen.
In little while they all came out II the
try, and. getting into Squire Phelps's ,
eat, comfortable sleigh that was waiting
! them ut the door, they went straight up
his large, weii.furntshed house and had
: greatest Notification that was ever heard [
IN that town. Aud such Christmas din. !
r! Well, you may be sure it was q big :.
e, for when the company was all mustered :
n. Phelps must needs send over 20 neigh. ]
: Browns and borrow Just dozen plates q
make up the sixty that were needed to
the table with.
EphSsim Bates! Oh, yea, ~ was there, :
ar, honest fellow! lie bad forgiven Kitty
4 ago, and was hiding his time with pa. q