Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-12-20

where is Blazer. He lifts his head
again-only very little this time. He
calls again, "Blazerp How very weak
his voice sounds, even to himself, and
his head feels so queer! Oh, and it is
so lonesome here alone. Why don't
Blazer come? 4 great sob rises in Tony's
throat, but he shuts his eyes; he will not
cry.
Such a strange idea comes to him here.
He wonders-do they keep Christmas in
heaven.
Twelve o'clock. Again the Whisper
a faint whisper now-"Blazer~ Again
the stiffness.
Then there comes great light, as if
a hundred bOnfres-no, not that kind of
a light "a great golden splendor- daz-
zling radiance.
There is a tree-a great Christmas
tree. There are stars shining upon it.
There is river, too, flowing between it
and the boy. There is a boat, and a
face smiling upon him. He is not
afraid.
BLAZER" "a very faint murmur-"I'm
a-going across. I'm all right"
Silence again. The clock strikes
one, and two, and three, four, FIVE, six,
but Tony does not lift his head again
and whisper "Blazer." He lies quiet
and still, with the ragged coverlid
drawn up over his face, and the thin
hands crossed under it.
Christmas morning! Happiness, Joy,
"peace on earth. F"
Blazer stands and confronts the man
who last night called him a thief. "
There is a quiet dignity about the boy
dignity that the man has not.
''Colors seen by candlelight dornot
look the same by day." After a great
deal of perplexity the man decides that
Blazer is not the thief
''You are discharged, says the officer,
but the boy does not stir.
A man comes in and says, 'Merry
Christmas" to the gentleman. They
shake hands and begin to chat.
''You may go" says the officer, tap
ping him on the shoulder. ''You had Il
nights lodging, anyhow"
Blazer goes out slowly, his eyes bent
down, his eyes blind. He is thinking Of
Tony.
Go home? No, not yet. He cannot
say "Merry Christmas" to Tony. He
wanders aimlessly up the street. There
is a church near, and upon the steps he
seats himself.
The choir are singing within-the
grand old Christmas hymn. Now the
singing stops, the sermon has begun.
1t is a beautiful sermon, all about
charity and brotherly love. Many a
nearer is s.enraptured, but Blazer, does
~ ~ &c or
across the street. If he only had an
orange-just one He thinks of the
empty stocking and Tony-poor Tony!
The mans back is turned. If - Blazer
rises. He sits down suddenly; a hot
wave of shame comes rushing over him.
He was going to offer Tony an orange
a stolen orange-Tony!
Blazer, Arab, bootbIack, gamin, has
the old fashioned idea of honor and
honesty.
ooh, Tony, I'd bring it if I oould!"
It is a little despairing cry-a cry
that comes to the ears of a man hur-
rying by. There is something touch
ing In the cry. The man stops-comes
back.
"Well, my man?"
Blazer looks up. He springs to his
feet; it is the man who accused him of
stealing his money. In the light of the
morning the man looks different, too. It
may be that he is a second scourge. He
stops the boy.
Come" he says, "tell me all about
if.
And Blazer tells. There is a suspic-
ious moisture in the mans eyes after
the telling. He takes Blazers hand and
leads the way.
Half an hour later two forms enter
the dirty court-Blazer with his eyes
shining and a man with basket.
Such marvellous basket! such won
derful things that it contains
"Bless me- pants the gentleman, as
he climbs the rickety stars, ''we must
get you out Of this!''
Blazer opens the door and goes in.
Silence, deathlike, answers. He goes
over to the bed on tiptoe.
"TonyP' No answer. A great ter
ror comes over Blazer. "Tony, old fell
ler!'
No answer yet. A pause now. After
a moment Blazer bends down, and, with
a hesitating hand, removes the coverlid
from the face. Silence, strange,
sacred. In moment Blazer lifts his
head
"There amt any use" he says, a dry,
hard sort of a sob choking his voice;
she's had his Christmas Already"
All, yes, indeed! Tony had just
''crossed over" He is call right %
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