Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-12-20
CHAPTER II.

Myrtle! Myrtie" called Mrs. Farley
tt the foot of the stairs that led up to the
Jlay 4, ON, "come and be dressed, Myrtle
5ou know to night will he Christmas eve,
md papa is coming this morning, may be-
Come, Myrtier'
| There WAS no answer to her call, no
batter of the childish feet coming down,
me ii time, in the sweet helpless child
'lshion mothers know; so Mrs. Farley
vent to the head of the kitchen stairs, and
allied. Bridget, tell Mvrlie to come W
1nw," oding the door open for the little
igurc ,hc doubted not to see.
Sure, an Miss Myrtle amt beon here
his hour n more. She had her cloak and
little bonnet on awhile ago, an she said
she WAS goin' TO walk TO Milwaukee TO
meet her papa but thought twas only
funnin' she was, an she, sure she did
walk out 10y the garden way. Mebbe she's
lout there now"
There vas fearful hollow echo in the
mothers voice now, Myrtle! darling
lMvrtic!'
Sill there was no answer from the gar
ien-lrom anywhere.
Tne C1rislmas wreatl laid tangled in
| heap, Is, as Mrs. Farley had thrown
'hem down, while brief arrangement
was made that Bridget should watch and
wait ut home BIyburn was not yet city
With facilities for the return of waits
There were the possible horrors of the
river, on one side of the town; the lonely
wood that crept down to the line of farms
along the Gu skirts Of its busy bustling
streets, on the other. There were visions
of the weary little feet too far from home
to travel back; of the miserable, hungry
little face somewhere, looking in the
strange faces ike homeless dog; and
over all the horor of Philips return to
such tale as mlst needs be told.
Up and down by the great mill, peering
into the dark waters below the wheel.
though the crowded streets. where happy
father, and mothers jostled each other
with arm, uveri.den with Christmas gifts,
as they ndrried' home, went the white,
anguish | face G! tNc distracted mother,
coming !Hm. ware NOW and then to hear
The soIrpS;ul ansWer:-''ohe amt come
homer and then 10 search in II new
direction, pantuS ard terrified, yet tire
less.
1t was four O'Clock when, coming home
ward she found Bridget in great state of
agitation. Mr.. Farley had come home.
"IIe looked Kind O. dazed like, a minute.
ma'am, and then he sail, Poor Mary
poor Maryr over and over. He put his
hand to lis head, and then lie said Tell
Mrs Farley to stay at home when she
comes again. | will go out now," and
he walked cn towards the forest road.
A. last darkness settled down ever the
streets, and the forest and the river. and
no lutte figure "ir blue frock, white,
lanbswo0l jacket, and cony cap" de.
scrbed by trembling questioning lips so
often came to bless the searching eyes.
Philip had come home disheartGned for
ii while, aud Mary sat on the floor, in
the midst OF her tangled Christmas
wrcalhs, tho image of despair, while the
sobs of strong man quivered through the
twilight shadowssand now and then n
moaning prayer went up, 80 God, be
melciiul.'
There was not cew TO guide them.
There were volunteers enough to find
her, 1t would seem, and yet she was not
here. And so the shadows fell about the
early hours of Christmas eve and round
the stricken ones.
Sias Farley had been to New York TO
arrange SOlllt DuSlneSS, dHN - VII HIS
way home, taking his seat IL. the ferry
boat Just us the sun WAS g0ing down.
He had no paper parcels tCr anybody,
had hep All, yes, there was small
parcel OF deeds neatly tied up, which he
carried home to overlook.
"Nolhing else to do Christmas day,
might us well look over Jackson's title
again Hate CHRISTMAS day. There's that
man over there carrying home dreadful
spotted hobby horse for somebody to break
his Ices over! Glad don't live there.
There nv old washerwoman with big
baskelluI OF truck, dare say for her
Young ones. Is this one, wonder?'
Sllas looked in the glowing dusk at
little shive,ing figure in the corner beside
him 1t was IL very little girl in a shabby
hood, and only thin faded calico sacque
to cover her shoulders. There were locks
If tine, soft, yellow hair that blew across
his co 1t sleeve whenever the door was
oprucd, giving him queer sensation, not
more than half unpleasant; and once or
twice he saw "A very fearful pair OF blue
ewes looking up in his face. The child
was very weary, ii would seem, for once
nr twice she would have fallen, if Silas
had not caught her. He glanced about to
see that it was quite dusk. and then laid
the yellow bcau against his arm. He
Thought she was asleep, until he felt Il
nlcal hot tcuI roll over his ungloved hand.
II was many years since Silas Farley
had felt Il tear. 1t brought back tender
memories of the mother he had loved,
hose tears had touched his hand at
parting lcng ago, when he had gone to
seek his foltune--memorlcs OF the loving,
GENTLE heart that rocked itself to rest long
Years ago-of tne lonely life of an elderly
bachelor, with lis narrow interests-of the
handsome boy he loved so well, and yet
had vowed to owe no more. And this
was Christmas cge No childish faces at
the window pane to welcome him: no
romely woman, with her smile of welcome
at the door; no loving young folks to
MAZE his dnil old hcuse IL merry place!
/ His hes sank on his breast, like one
vino drea led. until he boat touched the
dock wIln a rccoiI aud threw the little
child on tie door, o. would have done 80,
if he had not caught her.
"llcre, Mrs. Wringman, here's your
little girI."
, MY little girl She aint mine. I've
| got enutf;" and full of Christmas cares
: she hurried on.
BLESS mel" said Silas; this is dread
full" for the child clung to the skirt of
his overcoat with both hands
Where are yol goin', child?" he safd
"Oh, I don t know, sir | want papa
Philip; he lives IN Milwaukee. Am |
almost here? I'm so tired and so cold,
and don't know where my papa Philip
IS q deu! . dear!' Then she cried
, in Il s4blued way that went to Silas
| heat. tough US 1t was, or seemed TO be.
And II big, bad girl she took my sacque
: away aud my hat and-I want my mani
, ma, my dear lllle mamma"
'Rcss me, chiId-there dent cry
bless me- you're cold, aint you? hungry,
, too? Whl, YOU must have mother, l
spo,c. WHAT'S her name, and where
does she livc?'
shes named Mary, and we live-we
live" and then tho bewildered little
ere ,lure came to realize the fact that she
was lust--"wc live somewhere; and there's
papa Philip AMI mamma and me. and
Ethat's all. On, take me home, won't you?
Al; 4 IL