Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1881-12-22

nice box of sweetmeats to divide be
tween them,-these are the beautiful
and mysterious gifts.
"Who brought them, MammaP" they
cry. with one voice.
"Your friend, Mr.. Todd. He haG
two packages concealed under his coat
when he came for you last night; anG
when lie rose to go 1 found them Oh
the floor beside his chair, one was
marked, For the GIRL and the other
For the boyr"
"What makes him do such things p
asked Ben, solemnly.
Goodwill 1 think" answers his
mother. "He seems to be one of those
men of goodwill of whom the angel
sang"
Anyhow, L d like to hug him, -
Says the impetuous Ben. "Did he say
he would come and see us again!"
Perhaps he will, in the course OF
the day. He said he should not return
to Maine until the evening train"
Suddenly Ruby drops her treasures
and lings her arms again about her
mothers neck. "You blessed Mammal
she cries, tenderly, "you've got nothing
at all. Why didn't some of the good
willers think of you?"
perhaps they will, 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 so good a friend"
1t is merry morning with Ruby
and Ben. The inspection of their *
90, and the examination of their DO K !,
make the time pass quickly.
somebody's moving into the mex,
room," says Ben, coming in from ali
errand. 81 saw a man carrying a table
and some chairs. Queer time tomove,
l should think"
'They are going to keep Christmas,
at any rate" said Ruby; "for saw
them, little while ago, bringing up a
great pile of green's"
'P'Paps they've hired the reindeer
team to move their goods" says Ben.
"Then," answers his mother, "they
ought to have come down the chimney
instead 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 oppor-
tunity afforded by moving-day to take
an inventory of a neighbor's goods.
They are to have a late dinner. The
turkey, hankered after by Ben, is not
for them to-day; but nice chicken is
roasting in the oven, and a few oranges
ana 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. ''It means so much more
when you read," says Ben, ethan it
does when / read"
$50 they gather by the window; the
mother in the armchair, on one arm
Gf which Ben Ioosts, ~ieh his cheek
against his mother's-Ruby sitting op-
posite. 1t is pretty group, and the
face of many passer-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
Parkers, making his way along Tre-
mont street, in the direction of Court.
He is going nowhere in particular, but
he thinks that a little walk will sharpen
his appetite for dinner. When he ap-
proaches ScOllay's Square, his eyes
lights on man standing uncertainty
upon corner, and looking wistfully up
and down the streets. The face has a
familiar look, and as he draws little
nearer. Mr.. Todd makes a sudden rush
for the puzzled wayfarer.
"Hello, Bradw he shouts, grasping
the man by the shoulders.
"Hellow the other answers, cooly,
drawing back little; then, rushing
forward: "Bless my eyesl Is this Hal
Todd?"
Nobody else, old fellow! But how
on earth did l know you? Come to
look you over, you're not yourself at all.
Fifteen years, isn't it, since we met P''
Cali of that" says the stranger.
"Let's see: you've been in the sea.
faring line, haven't you?' says Mr.
Todd.
"Yes, 1 have. bad luck to mer' an.
swers his friend, with sigh.
"Oh, WELL" says the hearty lumber.
man, the folks on shore haven't all been
fortunate. Where's your home, now ?"
Just what I'm trying to find out.
"What do you mean?"
"My dear fellow" says the stranger
in a quavering voice, "my ship was
wrecked year and a half ago on the
west coast of Africa; 1 reached the
shore, only to fall sick of fever
through which nay cabin-boy nursed
me; for long time was too weak tc
move; finally, by slow stages we made
our way to Benguela; there we waited
months for a vessel, and, to make a
long story short, reached Boston this
morning 1 went to the house that
was mine two years ago, and found il
occupied by another family-sold un.
der mortgage, they said. They could
not tell me where l should find my
wife and children. / went to the
neighbors who knew them; some OF
them had moved away, others were
out Of town on their Christmas vaca
tion. OF course, shall find them af
ter a little; but just where to look al
this moment 1 don't know"
Mr.. Todd had listened to this story
with a changing expression of coun
tenance. When his friend first men
TONED the shipwreck, a sudden light
of intelligence sprang into his eye, and
his lips opened, but he quickly shu
them again. he is greatly interested II
what he hears, but he is not greatly
panied by it. His friend wonder
whether Hal Todd has lost some Of
the old manly tenderness Of the acad
emy days.
"Well Brad Johnson" he cries
drawing long breath, after the shor'
recital is finished, 'this Is a strang,
story. But, as you say, this family O
yours can be found and shall be. Com,