Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1883-01-06
A NEW YEARS GIFT.

house, making the bright fire that
was burning in the large, old fash
toned kitchen seem doubly grateful,
around which were gathered Farmer
Williams, his wife and four chill
dren.
The weather.bronzed face of the
farmer bad a care-worn, discomfort
ed look. He is one of those who
SNAKE haste to be rich, "and though
he is surrounded by many blessings
and every reasonable want supplied,
as the close of the old year finds no
surplus in his purse, his heart in
stead of being lifted up with graft
tude is filled with repinings.
His gentle, meek-browed wife is
sitting beside him. Her countenance
wears look of chastened sorrow,
and tears glisten in her eyes as they
wander to corner of the room
where stands vacant cradle, from
which smiled, week ago, the rosy
checked, bright~eyed boy upon whose
little grave to night the snow is
drifted heavily.
The long silence was broken by
heavy knock at the door.
Farmer Williams opened it, re-
vealing a respectable, middle-aged
colored man, who held carefully in
his hand "a covered basket.
''Does Mrs. Williams live here ?"
he inquired.
"She does.0
1.-The lady who buried a child yes
terday 2"
Yes
We'll, here's New Years pres
ent for her." she said, thrusting the
basket into the farmers hands, he
turned and walked quickly down the
road, where could be dimly seen the
outlines of covered sleigh, from
which came the faint sound Of
Stifed sobs.
Bewildered and astonished, Far
mer Williams. carried the basket
into the kitchen and set it upon the
table.
AS he did so he was startled by a
plaintive cry; and upon opening it,
there lay a lovely boy, apparently
about three months old.
Farmer Williams sprang to the
door, but the sleigh and it's occupants
were nowhere to be seen.
In the meantime Mrs. Williams
and her children gathered around
the basket with ordinations of sur
prise and pleasure. AS the babe
saw the sweet face that bent over it,
it smiled, and, taking it up in her
arms, she pressed it fondly to her
bosom. Just then her husband came
back from his fruitless search.
l declare, it's an imposition !" he
exclaimed stamping the snow off his
boots. But | won't submit to it.
III take it over to the town farm
the very first thing in the morning."
II can't bear the idea of it going
there, John" said his wife. "Just
see what a sweet babe it is -
Il don't see but what it looks like
other babies" returned John gruf-
dy, doing his best to steel his heart
against the little stranger, in which
he only partly succeeded, for rough
as was the farmers way, he had a
kindly nature, if one could reach it.
Anyway, the authorities will have
20 take care of it; we can't. We've
got more mouths to fill now than we
can find bread for.n
Mrs. Williams lip quivered AS her
thoughts reverted to the little grave
in the churchyard. All to her
there was one too few
Dear john" she said pleadingly,
1t seems as though God had sent
this babe to take the place of our
own little Willie whom He has taken
to himself. Let me keep it. 1t will
not fail to bring blessing, you may
be sure"
Farmer Williams countenance re.
laxed as he looked into those tear
full eyes.
"Well, Mary" he said in a soft.
ened voice, "I'll think about it. If
we do, you and the children may
have to do without good many
things, for these are hard times
and likely to be harder. So you had