Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-12-24

he young man and had left undoue cane
tsuddenly to him.
II fear sO," was the response. He
caught heavy cold the week after YOU
left and has been in bed ever since.
doubt if he recovers."
Hopper's slow, business-like tones
smote heavily upon EllisOn's heart. His
voice trsmbled as he spoke. "Send his
brother to me, Hopper" and in moment
the boy stood before him.
"YOur brother is very i'll, hear" be-
gan Ellison, land I cannot tell you how
gIieved am to hear it. He was always
faithful to his duties and had meant to
advance his salary very considerably at
Christmas
The sympathetic tones were too much
for the boy and his voice was broken by
sob as he replied, "lIe is the best brother
in the world and has done everything for
me. He went without an Ovcrcoat this
winter in order to do something for me,
though l didn't then know it, and he was
always denying himself for me-
"Take me to him, my boy" said Eli
son, much moved, and in u few moments
they were ut French's lodgings. 1t need
ed but 4 moment to assure Ellison that
Frcnch's recovery was hopeless and the
knowledge was very bitter to Andrew El-
lisOn, as his own responsibility pressed
heavily upon him. All that could be done
now was done and every comfort that
could be suggested was supplied by Ellison,
who remained by his bedside night and
day till the end. 1t was not far off and whilo
the Christmas chimes sounded forth ut
midnight the young life ceased rs tho
Christmas morn came in.
An hour or two later rs Andrew Ellison
W cnAl lVy hs,
door of an engine room, out of which
red light shOne. A number Of men were
going in, and hardly knowing why he did
so. Ellison followed them. The engineer
was explaining something to those about
him.
1T was just this way" he was saying.
" The little chap used to sleep here nights,
which he hadn't no other place to go to,
and SD cheerful he always. was liked his
'TO-mOrrOw's Christmas he
says when he comes in to night, and in
the morning am going to gentleman in
the next street that was very good to me
Il little while ago, and wish him merry
Christmas, says he. Are you,' says,
reckon he'll DO pleased, aud then he
curls up in the corner and goes to sleep.
But just as them chimes begun he starts
up in his sleep sayin' as how Christmas
was come and before could stop him, for
| sec he was asleep and didn't know
where he was gOin', he trips over some
thing and falls right against the hywhecI.
1t was all over with him then, fellows,
and before l could stop the engine he was
lead. tell you feel mighty bad over
this thing )" and the rough fellow broke
down just here and lett his sentence un-
finished.
Andrew Ellison had listened intertly, and
when the speaker ended he asked where
he boy had been carried, and the eE-
.ineer pointed to an adjoining shed which
Ellison entered. A single glance at the
title body which lay there showed it to
DO the homeless lamplightcr to whom he
lad meant to be kind some day.
"lle was q plucky little chap said the
engineer over Ellison's shoulder, "and
levcr complained of nothing"
Yes, yes, l know" said Ellison, and
hen giving the man his address, lie told
lin to call at his house and he would un-
lcrtake all necessary arrangements for tho
uncral and see that all expenses were
'aisl.
Onco more Andrew Ellison set out upcr
lis way homo. 1t was a long walk and
here was plenty Of time for acctisiII.
houghts to crowd upon his mind. But
Trough their midst suddenly came the
of the text Of the rector's
crmOn five weeks before. The words had
cen almost UNDECIDED at the time. but
Ow they burned themselves upon his
lind.
" While rs haze tame, let as do g0od.'