Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1881-02-19

ma's arms at home. "
"They would let US ride in their wag-
on if they saw u.s. Robin replied in a
soothing, evasive way.
On and on, and further OF, and no
trace Of human habitation, and at last
the stopping place came in the last pile
OF lumber, for the road wound off from
the stream into the woods and was hid
den with snow.
By the side of the lumber they sat
down together. Wren yet trusting,
Robin yet brave, though hope within
| him lay frozen dead. This was his
little sister, around whom had centered
the most golden aspirations Of his
twelve years. ~
His little sister, without mother, fa-
ther or sister to whom he had meant
to be al; ; his little sister, innocent,
loving and self-sacrificing, even in ba-
byhood, lost in the snowstorm to die.
Yet" thought he, ''freezing is tn
easiest death to die, l have always
heard, and l will tell her"
my dear little sister, we have come
long, cold walk, but let me tell you,
this is the way to Heaven We will go
there tonight"
Are us, Robin."
Eyes, Wrenie."
II thought folkses got sick and died
when dey went dere.'
"But we are just going to sleep in
each others arms, and hen we wake
up we will be with mother and father,
in Heaven
"And will grandma come tooe'
Eyes, when she nnds out we are
gone"
"Well, let's go to sleep, Robin.'
The poor boy gathered his little sis
ter to his breast, kissed her again and
again; with their little arms around
each other, with cheek pressing cheek,
they sat silent and waiting for death,
that King of Tcrrors, before whom
many stout hearts of experience and
age have quailed in fear.
One by one Of the night-stars had
slipped out from behind the waning
snow-clouds, and shone above them in
glittering wrinkles. The Christmas
eve moon slowly rose and wove her
most amber glints, while the snow
crystals pondered over them, till Che
wrap of ethereal gossamer, starred with
million jewels, was meet for the
forms in Paradise.
But bark! The rumbling and creak-
ing approach Of sounds, then human
voices, and finally a wagon with its
unwiedly yet sure ox-team, drove up
aud stopped before those lost babes in
the wood, on the verge of Heaven s
opening portals.
It was the stave-men, returning from
the station with their Christmas pres
ents. When they stood bending over
: the still, pitiful objects before them,
there welled up from latent depths that
exquisite dumb melody of divine ten
: derness toward innocent weakness
heard in the heart of mankind alone
Without words they were lifted in.
to the wagon, and while one man
touched up the team, the other held
the two under his great coat, close te
his breast, with only the sparks OF life
VI ithin to distinguish flesh from clay.
Only a short distance and the rough
| hoir
1 porary home, was reached; huge pile:
; of ash logs, in an ample Fireplace
burned warmly, that flung lurid glar,
= over an apartment conductive to COM
fort, and marked with that distinguish
4 ing order and cleanliness proverbial te
Y those of the "Fatherland.'
! Several of the men had remained ir
the village, enc at home, servin. a.
\ baker. who was in the act Of lifting ;
G pan Of smoking white rolls from tn.
e oven a. the snow storm partly entered
To re.usci,ate the almost frozer
children was the united effort of all
the boy first, as be was the nearer gone
, The body was first disrobed, bathec
in cold water and rubbed vigorously
!, with dry mustard then rolled in
warm blanket before the fire. ant
. warm milk and <brandy in 4 few spoon
fuls poured doHn his threat His form
and face were thin, the dark locks con
trasting strangely with the complex
. ion, which was one OF marble white
ness. Many pitying looks were cas-
on the lad without the knowledge o
the severe tests through which his deli
. cate frame had passed; but when the,
withdrew the hood from the little girl
face, sott curved and dimpled with
more artistic touches than one Of Ra
phaels holiest cherih., the parted LIS
pointed with the golden soul OF smil.
as the token Of self. forgotten team