The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-12-27
CHRISTMAS SURPRISE.
CONCLUDED FROM THIRD PAGE

/
urcs close to their hearts. The boy,
had as much as they could do 10 catct
the tops and balls aud marbles that ht
rained upon them, and Tommy fairly
forgot himself and clappod his hand;
in an ecstacy of delight, when SAINTS
drew little painted Sled from behinc
the tree and placed it before them.
They hardly knew what to do with all
their things, and when Mrs. Lovett col
leeted her scattered senses and led the
way back to their seat, the little girls
radiant over their dolls, Tommy drag
ging his sled, looking so wondrousIy
happy, tears glistoned in more than one
pair of merry laughing eyes, il was all
in such contrast to their hard, bare
lives.
Jamie Adamsw was next called.
Whoever Santa Claus might be. he
was evidently bent OH looking out for
the less favored ones first
Amid burst of applause, for his pa
tienco and sweetness had won all hearts
in Weston, Jamie went up on his crutch-
IS. And he was heaped with presents
A warm crimson comforter, a fur cap,
books and papers and last but not least,
a great handsome easy chair which
would fold up was displayed By Santa
Claus before his eyes. Jamies face was
almost TRANSPORTED as he went back to
his seat beside his mother, one end Of
the long comforter dangling after him
along the carpeted aisle,
Aud so it went on. Name after name
was called and the tree was getting dis
manted pretty fast The more prosper
GUS ones had fewer presents but nearly
every one was remembered.
Miss Della Stone"
Della sat with Mrs. Woodward and
Josie. Her heart fluttered little fas
she arose and made her way to the tree.
Santa Claus placed in her hands hand
some work-box inlaid with ivory, NUT
tering something about former days
that she did not catch distinctly.
''Oh let me see! Oh, isn't it lovelyr
were JoSio's EXPLANATIONS, as Della came
back to her seat What lovely gold
thimble, and bodkin aud needle-case,
and its all lined with rose-colored satin.
Who do you think Santa Claus is, Del
LAP"
II cannot guess, Della said, her pref.
ty face all aglow.
Miss Josie Woodward" sounded
out through the happy tumult
''Oh, he's calling me- I'm all in a
hutter," Josie said,a she edged her way
out past her mother,
She extended her hands to receive a
heavy volume bound in rich icrimsou
morocco and gold, which she had been
cycling longing ly, all tho orsniGg, as its
git edges shone out from the derl;
BRANCHES.
Its some one who knows am fond
of reading, anyway" she said, as she
hurried back to her place beside Della.
"Oh,' as she opened its crcamy-tinted
pages, 'its win Cartons Farm Bal
lads See what lovely iIlustrations! !
just love Santa Claus, whoever he is"
pressing the s9tiny page against her
soft, glowing cheek.
The tree was about empty, One more
name was called: Mrs, John Wood
ward"
"Now it's mothers turn" said Josie,
Mrs. Woodward, hardly less excited
inwardly than ber 'daug hter went up and
received uponh her arm y rich cashmere
shawl
The laughing, and taking, and uni
versal merriment was mt its height when
Squire Frost stepped to the front Of the
platform again and announced that
Santa Claus would appear in his own
proper person before them.
This announcements heightened the
sensation for u moment. Then there
was hush in the clamor. Ono might
hayelalmost heard pin drop rs u rath-
er handsome young man Of about II
stepped out, confronted the audience
and made low bow,
ii am happy to meet you all once
again my friends, nho began.
A blank pause. No one seemed to
recognize the man who addressed them
so familiarly.
You have forgotten the poor, awk-
ward, laundering boy, who never had
any gumptlon."
There was stir in one OF the side
pews, and before half of the dumb
struck audience knew what was taking
place, Mrs, Woodward had mounted the
steps Of the platform, and with a joyful
cry was clasping her arms about the
neck Of the stranger, crying
Tom! Tom. my son, my sonl Re-
stored to me at last "
Before the electrified audience could
recover breath, Josie had dropped her
treasured book and flown after her moth
err He claspcd them both in his arms
in an ecstacy of gladneSs,
tom Woodward! Why it's Tom
Woodward" went around the church.
"Who would have thought that good.
looking man was Tom Woodward, y said
Mrs. Baker wondcrngly,
"He looks just like bis father did at
his age" said Dame Goodhue, Il no.
ticed the likeness the minute he step.
ped out
Yes, it's Tom Woodward, can't you
see bow he favors his mothers side, the
Perkinses," Mrs. Stohbins said to the
deacon in loud whisper He, cropping
back through the dim past, remembered |
how ho had often snubbed and scolded |
the boy, and half understood the allu-
.