The National tribune., 1883-12-20
NATIONAL WAsHNeToND c. THURSDAY 90
It was Bessie's voice that broke the strain

1t was Bessie's voice that broke the strain
upon her, calling in great excitement
:" O! Edith, they are coming; / know they
are coming! There goes Mr.. Cuthbertson
and. Who did you say would send them all
back again five would only wait long enough y
God bless the childrenl If there is such a
thing as broken heart, it is when there are no
little ones to snatch away the burden upon it.
know they are coming, Edith Bessie
kept on saying as her sister went rapidly to
the window, only to see a hurrying form rush
around the corner " Mr. Cuthbertson and
Charlie and my dollie; they will all be here"
But there was little comfort for Edith in the
child's fancy, and after momest's delay,
gazing into the wintry night, which the gas
lamps in front of the window made as light,
almost, as day, she put on her wraps, and tell
ing the little girl to be very quiet until she
came back, went out with her treasure to the
nearest picture store. There was little trouble
in disposing of it at a fraction of its worth,
and Edith, purchasing Christmas cake and q
paper of bon-bons returned to deposit them,
with the doll she had taken from the fancy
store. in its stead. in the old trunk
Her heart was lighter and more happy than it
had been for many days. perhaps because she
felt that she had cut loose from all the past,
and that, forgetting that she had known hap
pier let, she would now set out with q Drawer
determination to battle with her fate. And her
own little Bessie would have happy Christ
mas after ALL
But, pausng at the threshold of her little
door, her heart utterly failed her, and, sinking
into the only rocker in the room, she wept
long and bitterly. Bessie had fallen asleep on
the sofa, and after long struggling with her
own thoughts, Edith arose calmly and carried
her in her arms to bed
"God give me strength to live for my sweet
Bessie" she said softly, and then began walk
ing up and down the narrow chamber to quiet
her unrest.
There was tinkIe of the little front-door
bell, aud Edith stopped short at the unusual
sound. Then, sure that the old lady in whose
house she lived had retired for the night, she
stepped hesitatingly into the hail. A moment
of questioning and brief replies, and Edith stood
| once more face to face with Mr.. Cuthbertson
and Charlie.
"Oh Edith, my darling, how could you hide
| speaking, and Mr.. Cuthbertson, holding
Edith to his heart, drew from his pocket her
lost treasure, saying:
The violets for hope of reunion, Edith
had you no hope?"
Ibid the one you spoke of think we had
waited long enough, Edith 2" was little Bessie's
| first question, after the bewilderment Of being
| shaken from her sleep by Charlie was over.
| The little ones dream was more than realized
| A rapid ten hours ride on the first train west
| bore them to home more happy aud more
beautiful than hersimple Imagination had ever
/ conceived of.
On Edith's dressing-ease was placed the
| bleeding hearts and the violets: and when the
| man of God came in to pronounce the benedic-
| ton that made her the happy wife of Mr.. Cuth-
bertson, she wore fragrant cluster at her lovely
! throat
Oh! VIII, this is more happiness than car
/ bearv said Edith Ieanino her head on Mr.
Cuthbertson's shoulder, when the merry
Christmas morning dawned, and Charlie
| chased Bessie and her doll from parlor to par
| lor, while tears that would not be kept back
/ stood in her happy eyes. And clasping hel
mere closely to his heart, they uttered stimuli
taneousiy:
God bless our Christmas home"