The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1883-12-20

little Jack Bell, = ubiquitous vou,noster.
that would some day make his fortune
as . reporter for . Chicago daiIv. ran in
briskly. skatee In hand, nose and cheeks
req with cold, aid absolutely bullying
"Say, sis, schooner out there stuck in
the ice; men sticking to the masts. Folks
say it's the Merry Bell, and. bv Georoe
Bis, shouldn't wonder if Mr.. Culberteon
was one OF 'em. Hope he amt though.
Tor he promised me a new sled II
would say nothing about the day I
caught him kissing YOU"
Jack" sternly interposed bis moth.
er's voice.
Where is it. Jack; quick. tell me?"
said Rose. In q voice of trembling anxi-
ETY..
"0ut there; from behind Dick Matt.
lands house you can see her."
Then she had slipped away to see the
schooner and hear from others what
ground there was for her fears.
All day she moaned ana grleveo and
would not be comforted, for handsome
Fred Culbertson was her promised bus
band, and she had given all her heart in
his keeping. When he babe her good
oy few weeks before he had called
back at the last, "l'll be home for Christ
mas!' he was part owner of 1.-THE
merry Bell" and had intended coming
back on this her last trip for the season.
The cold continued to increase. rhe
sky wore a dull, leaden look-nature
itself seemed dead. Rose lay looking
out, and thought of other hearts sad
dened as hers was; other homes where
the light had goae out and made them
dreary and dark.
Mrs. Bell remained during the night
with her daughter, petting, soothing ana
comforting, and as the sleepless hours
wore away mother and daughter grew
nearer together than they had ever been
before. Mrs. Bell talked of the early
| days OF her married life; then of the
day when her husband had left her
bright and we'll in the morning. and at
evening had been brought to her still!
and dead. Rose realized, rs che had
never done before, what her mother had
suffered. "Poor mamma, how sad and
lonely you have been," she Eurmured
The next day was Thursday, the day
before Christmas. Rose opened her
| eyes to find the maid setting her break
fast on a table at her bedside.
look, look, Miss Rose; see on this
window! Sure it's the cars intirely! Sure
it's the witches, it is, and Miss Rose.
dear, sure it's good luck it'll bring. Mr..
Culbertson'll come yet, or we'll know it!'
Frightening at the girls words, and
forgetting to be oftendel at the freely
expressed opinion, Rose jumped up to
see the wonder of frost work. 'Sure
enough it's veritable train, locomotive
and all. How strange!"
II don't know what kind that is, Miss
Rose, but it's cars, it is."
Get my wrapper, Ann, and bring nv
breakfast to the fire. III get up" said
Rose, cheered, she scarcely knew why.
Twill your ma have the tree, Miss
Rose? It's the childers is on their heads
about It,"
II forgot it," answered Rose, her face
| c!oudipg: ASK mamma to come up as
soon as she is through her breakfast"
1T has been over this hour. I'll 60
cofee?"
"No; just tell mamma"
And here she is herself" answered
Ann, as she opened the door and Mrs.
Bell came in.
Cup, Rose?"
Yes; and Oh. mamma look at the
window. Ann says it is good luck"
hope it is, am sure; it is certainly
strange freak of Jack Frost"
IL have telegram from Mr.. GILBERT
is we'll and SAFE"
Then hearty cry came to wash away
the last remnants of pent-up sorrow and
Rose was soon bright and happy and
happy and busy, talking of the evening
and the promised tree. So surrounded
by love and happiness that she forgot
the homes which death had darkened,
or where grim want stared at the empty
hearth, where Christmas was he sad
dest day OF all the year; forgot every
thing but happiness.
Christmas Eve gay party of children
and older people almost as bright as the
children were gathered in Mrs. Bells
front Parlor;; Presently the gas was
Lowered and the sliding doors drawn
back, displaying scene of fairy-like
beauty. At the farther end of the room
was the tree lit with tapers and laden
with things of beauty. and in the back
ground of green and flowers were scat
tered the things too large for the tree,
among them Jacks sled. How the chill.
dren screamed when old Santa with
snowy beard and hair crept from out
the green plants about the chimney,
mutter.ng in a low voice. "From Ger
many l come; as walk jingle, jingle.
and the boys call me old Kris kr.ngle."
Pretty notices or messages of love were
with all the gifts that old Kris scattered
among the happy group.
A brooch with its diamonds shining
like Rose Bells, eyes, were one of the
many gifts the gods showered on the
tiny maid.
Later on, when the tree was stripped
Of its gifts, the young scion of the house,
little Tom Bell, whispered in sepulchral
tones to his mother:
II say ma, Santa Claus is in there and
he's got his arm around sister Rose, and
he kissed her. Will be take her up the
chimney with him."
II reckon not" laughed Mrs. Bell;
"come into the other room and show
me your toys"
And Santa whispered. II came back
for Christmas, Rose, darling. We're you
frightened?'