The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1881-01-27

/ der his great coat, close to his breast,
with only the sparks of life within TO dis
tinguish flesh from clay.
| Only short distance and the rough
/ dwelling, which served as their tempo
rary home, was reached, huge piles of
ash logs, in an ample fire place, burned
warmly, that flung lurid glare over an
| apartment conducive to comfort, aud
marked with that distinguishing orr:er
and cleanliness proverbial to those of the
"Fatheriand"
Several OF the men had remained in the
village. one at home, serving as baksf,
who was in the act of lifting large pm
of smoking white rolls from the oven as
the snow storm party entered.
TO resuscitate the almost frozen CHILD
rem was the united effort of all; the boy
fiiat, as he was the nearer gone.
The body was first disrobed, bathed in
cold water aud rubbed vigorously with
| dry mustard, then rolled in a warm blsn-
ket before the fire, and warm milk and
brandy in a few spooDfais poured down
his throat. His form and face were thin,
the dark locks contrasting strangely with
the complexion, which was one of marble
wbiteness. Many pityirg looks were
cast on The lad without knowledge of the
severe tests through which his delicate
frame had passed; but when they with
drew the hool from the little girls face,
soft curved and dimpled with more artis
tic touches than one of Raphael's holiest
cherubs, the parted lips pointed with the
golden soul of a smile as the token of
self, forgotten; tears flowed freely down
the cheeks of all. Side by side they were
laid,- aud from time to time nourished
with milk. The little girl, more easily
restored, murmured in dreams of going
somewhere, and if they would have e
Christmas tree.
A Christmas tree!
The very words from those almost
frozen lips swept over the men as some
inspired touch thrilling forth troop of
beautiful fancies winging themselves into
action.
Yes, they should have Christmas
tree, large, beautiful. and all their own.
One stayed tc nurse, while two of the
men plunged into the woods with torch
and ak. and after time returned with a
green'eafed holly, gemmed with scarlet
berries.
Long and busily they worked (uslng
the children S unpurchased corn for or
namentation), with their stump pipes and
round, red faces, very picture of Old
Santa himself.
form of the anxious old grandmother, who
in the bright moonlight, had tracked her
darlings through the snow.
At sight of the care and kindness, the
delicately conceived surprise awaiting the
mornings disclosure for the poor lost
ones, the old lady lifted her prayer light
ened eyes aloft, that in the rude shrines
of those men she had found, unlocked by
the key of helplessness, such holy beauty
rs Was onl.y learned from God.
The morning sun streamed through the
little window, a soft rosiness defining the
tree, the leaves of glossy green, the scar
let berries and snowy pop corn, its
|
branches hung with oranges and apples,
the grandmother beside it, the German
stave- men at the half-open door, with
their red, round faces and laughing blue
eyes-the children in bed. Wren, lean.
ing upon one chubby little arm, was in a
! bewilderment Of emotion, but, clasping
the other around Robins neck, she in
terpreted the mystery in her words:
"Wake up, Robin, we's got to Heben,
aud see, as Robin sat up by her side,
with her arm still clasped around him.
"dere's our Christmas tree, with all de
nice fngs. Dere's grandma, and dem
mems in de door, smiling and looking SO
purity in de eyes, denis de angels
1 ~