Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-12-25

0Aailunld u6 whispered, We got I
present for Mollie too-its doll |
that wlaks and squalls just like
baoy."
Where did you get it2 y Whispered
the grandmother
When was thanking Col. Gran
ger for my skates, there were some
other men there, and they asked him
who was. He told them my papa
was brave soldier and was killed in
the war; Then they talked 70 me and
asked me who lived with and if /
had any brothers and sisters. | told
them about Mollie and you; and then
they bought the incest doll in the
store for Mollie. Oh they we're such
good men; and don't you think,
Grandma, two of them didn't have
only one arm apiece.
Tie doll with its faxen curls, its
great eyes and its wink, and the lids
that closed VIXEN it was laid down and
rolled open when it was lifted up was
taken out Of the market basket, and
placed close by Mollie's stocking. Then
the manly little fellow crept back into
bed so full of JOY and so eager for the
day to dawn that it is a wonder how
he fell asleep.
$50 like his father whispered the
grandmother, as she tucked up the
/ little sleepers and looked on the rudy
/ face of the little fellow, who was smil-
| ing ia his sleep. $50 like his father
Then her thoughts went backward.
There rose before her the vision of her
own bestowed boy. She saw him in
memory as eight years before, he had
/ kissed her and his own little babes,
/ Willie and Mollie, and had gone off
\ to the war. She remen, sered how
brave, and generous he had been in
his boyhood; how he was one of those
enthusiastic, ardent natures which
ever constitute natl ms defenders,
and are the first to be sacrificed to the
demon Of war
Then she recalled the words of q
letter received from one Of his COM
rades, written just after the battle OF
Charlottesville. She remembered
every word of the letter for it was
written on her heart.
"wniiani was our sergeant We were resisting a
charge of the enemy Our coler bearer was shot
and the flag fell down. lsaw William seize 1t and
raise it aloft There was smile on his face a
minute more, I noticed that he had fallen on his
/ face and the blood was pouring from hls slue.
We were soon swept of the field, and there can be
no doubt that he is dead.
And SO her joy of Christmas night
was the mournful pride--how many,
many mothers SHARE it-thst she had
given a son TO the cause Of bis coun-
try, and that he had died as became a
man holding proudly and dehantly in
the face of a storm of lead and fire, thai
banner which is the emblem of the
patriots love.
He had goAe into the war with 9
heart-ache. His young wife had died.
She was the tie that kept him from
enlisting when the war broke out
and his heart burned to be at the front
When she died his mother had 10 take
the little children; and he desolatf
and sad, and feeling that the field was
the place for such as he, went of Il
the war. After the news of his death,
her husband had died. Tnc little
I property left had gradually melted
away. after years Of patient waiting,
pension claim had been proved uT
and allowed, and it eked out a meagrt
pittance towards tue childrens' sup
port. and she hoped and prayed that
She might be able to serve them few
wears longer till the strong, self-rell
ant, little Billy should be old enough
TO care for himself and sister; as she
, felt that he would If life and health
were spared.
The next morning dawaed. Not
all It's singing cold could keel
little Billy abed. With the peep o
day he had awakened, given the Goa
stove a shake, and laid Mollie's dol
by the side of the pillow; and taker
, his skates to bed with him; and wa
trying his best, with great difficulty,
to keep still and let grandma sleep
little longer.
All last when it was broad day; anC
breakfast had been served, and little
, Mollie with her doll in her arms was
the perfect picture of quiet, radian
happiness, Billie had pulled his cal
! rim down below the lowest tips of m
/. ears, and was going out to shovel OF
, the snow and make a bare place on
the ice in the pond to try bis new
} skates.
Just then a carriage drove up TO thu
/ door. Billy scraped off some OF tn
! frost from the pane and peepcd out.
Two men coming he said
] Zones Col. Granger He's coming
in.
Presently there was knock on th'
] door. The gentleman was admitted
; He greeted little Billy in his frank
cordial way and asked him if the lad,
r was his grand mother, for, though h
had aided her in obtaining the pen
sion for the children, he had nevel
seen the widow before.
Il called TO tell you that ! an
/ afraid there is some trouble about tn
! pension for these children. | fear il
! will be stopped, said he.
!. A troubled look came over the poor
/ woman's face.
Can the government be so cruel,
I said she as indignation flashed IN mel
' eyes, ''to take the bread from thes
I fatherless babesl 1t would be
/ shame"