The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1883-12-28
Inconsistencies is a blessing oftentimes,

! was the Merry Bell, and ali on board
dead frozenl He was to come nome on
it. Oh, what shall | do?" The blessed
tears came now, and caused the shrewd
doctor to nod his head wisely and whis-
per to Mrs. Bell: ''She'll be all right
now" and quietly make his exit, When
in his buggy he confded to it or his
| ofthis; young Culbertson, too, 1,suppose;
he is pnrt owner of the schooner. Good
fellow; sorry if he is gone; miserable
way of dying, TOO; and that pretty girl!
Well, we'll! Get up, there, Dolly; what
are you about?" Then the good doctor
logged on to another patient and forgot
all about il.
That morning, soon after breakfast,
little Jack Bell, a ubiquitous youngster
| that would some day make his fortune
rs a reporter for q Chicago daily, ran in
briskly, skates in hand, nose and cheeks
red with cold, aid absolutely bullying
with news:
"Say, sis, schooner out there stuck in
the ice; men sticking to the masts. Folks
say it's the Merry Bell, and, by George,
was n of 'em. Hope he amt though,
for he promised me a new sled il I
would say nothing about the day l
caught him kissing you"
"Jack!" sternly interposed bis moth
er's voice.
Where is it, Jack; quick, tell me?"
said Rose, in a voice of trembling anxi-
etv.
"Out 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 loaned ana grleven and
would not be comforted, for handsome
band, and she had given all her hearth in
his keeping. When he bade her good
by a few weeks before he had called
back at the last, ON be home for Christ
mas!" He was part owner of "The
Merry Bell" and had intended coming
back on this her last trip for the season,
The cold continued to increase. The
sky wore a dull, leaden~ look-nature
itself seemed dead. Rose lay looking
out, and thought of other hearts sad
dtned as hers was; other homes where
the light had gone out and made them
drcary and dark.
Mrs. Bell remained during tine night
with her daughter, petting, soothing and
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
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 she had
never done before, what her mother had
suffered. "Poor mamma, how sad aud
lonely you have been," she E2urmured
as she dropped into q tired sleep.
The next day was Thursday, the day
before Christmas. Rose opened her
eyes to find the maid setting her break
fast or q table at her bedside.
Look, look, Miss Rose; see on the
windowl 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
expressed opinion, Rose jumped up to
see the wonder Of frost-work. "Sure
enough it's a veritable train, locomotive
and all. How strange!"
81 don't know what kind that is, Miss
Rose, but it's cars, it is."
"Get my wrapper, Ann, and brieg my
breakfast to the ire. 1W get up" said
Rose, cheered, she scarcely knew why.
"NNill your ma have the tree, Miss
Rose? It's the childers is on their heads
about It,"
II forgot it." answered Rose, her face
cloudipg. ASK mamma to come up as
soon as she IS through her breakfast"
at has been over this hour. I'll &C
tell her; and shall bring up some more
cofee?"
"No; just tell mamma"
And here she is herself" answered
Ann, us she opened the door and Mrs
Bell came in.
Cup, Reset"
Eyes; and oh, m look at the
window. Ann says it is good luck"
81 hope it is, ] am sure; it is certainly
q strange freak of Jack Frost"
81 have a telegram frem Mr.. gilbert,
5 son, Rose. He got off at Milwaukee and
is well and safe"
Then q hearty cry came to wash awey
the last remnants of pent-upsorrow, and
Rose was 500 bright and happy anG
happy and busy, talking of the evening
and the promised tree. So surrounded
by love and happiness that she forgo'
the homes which death had darkened
hearth. where Christmas was The sad
dest day OF all the year; forgot every
thing hut happiness.
Christmas Eve q gay party of childre.
: and older people almost as bright as the
, children were gathered in Mrs. Bell
! front parlor. Presently the gas wal
r lowered and the sliding doors drawn
back, displaying u scene Of fairy-lik,
: beauty At the farther end of the roou
, was the tree lit with tapers and laden
r with things of beauty. and in the back
ground of green and flowers were scat
tered the things too large for the tree
= 49, -, &Inr Y,.l,y, ,lnf kIor, Tho nj. II
dren screamed when old Santa will
t snowy beard and hair crept from GU
8 the green plants about the chimney
Y muttering in a low voice, "From Ger
: many l come; as 1 walk l jingle, jingle
2 and the boys call me old Kris Krlngle.
Pretty notices or messages of love we5
with all the gifts that old Kris scattered
3 A brooch with it's diamonds shinin,
like Rose Bells, eyes, were one of th
: many gifts the gods showered on thu
: tiny maid.
b Later on, when the tree was strippe'
t of it's gifts, the young scion of the house
r little Tom Bell, whispered in sepulchra
tones to his mother:
II say ma, Santa Claus isin there ar,
he's got his arm around sister Rose, an,
he kissed her. Will he take her up tb
: chimney with him?"
: "I reckon not" laughed Mrs. Bel
a "come into the other room and sho,
r me your toys"
And Santa whispered. "I,came bac
: for Christmas, Rose, darling. We're ys
frightened"
o Did Not Know Him.
Anthony Trollope bad a right to e
pect that IL person who had SO general
y renltatian for intelIinenca 60 Rrinha.