The Brookhaven leader., 1885-12-24

Christmas dawnei white and wintry
Snow covered the earth and clunC to the
bare trees like garments of white fur. The
air was full of whirling crystalets and the
earth was full of music. 1t was the kind Of
Christmas which nature intends shall be
merry; when every sound clinks through
the air; when the horses feet are heard
grinding the gritty snow half a mile away;
when bells ring out crisp and clelr; when
laughter is heard far out upon the hills when
joy is spontaneous and sorrow forgotten;
when the north wind brings courage and the
day brings peace ON earth and good will to
men
Davy was brighter than usual that morn
ing The hope which had not before been
strong enough to tighten his heavy heart
beamed over his wan face like sunshine His
eyes were very bright and very eager.
"Pm going home" were his first words,
spoken with something like gladness in his
voice. At sight of John Keller he jumped
from his chair with his old-time alacrity and
handed him the last black bean of the seven
which had stood between him and paradise.
He gathered together his small possessions
"a few glass buttons, lame top, the fox
that had not barked since It became an IN
mate of the poorhousc, a whitfield wooden
of the sympathizing but impoverished friends
who surrounded him, aud placed them in a
row ON the window sill Sitting down be-
side them, with Lizzie Aun III his arms, he
announced that he was r, ady.
How could they tell him that he was not to
go; that all his patient waiting had been use
les, that he had been ciIeatel with Ii y; that
the home he ioaged for had skus its doors
agains him!' ..t .....
At Inst they told him. At first he could
not un ieistand aai answered everything
with the decisive assertion, ''I'm going
home" as though that were the sum of all
wisdom, solved all problems, straight+I,ed
all misunderstanding and settled all dill
culties. But when the truth was made plain
to him and he understood, he raised his arms
to his head in sudden agony and, with cry
that had in it all the despair OF his cheated
soul, slipped from his chair to the floor.
When his eges opened after he had been
lifted upon his bed they seemed 10 have lost
all recollection of his disappointment, and
were strangely bright and glad. A smiling
soul looked ont from them in peace before it
started ON its noiseless journey. Those eyes
saw something others could not see, for
Davys sick face became radiant, transfgured,
expressive, beautiful His lips moved and
he whispered joyfully, I'm going home.h
In another moment he had gone-not to that
home he had pined for and which had shut
him out; but TO that better one, which is
away from all selfshness and above all
cruelty. -
Like many wiser mortals bis spirit had
gone into its new life, loving and trusting
those who had done bim to death.
As the Carson family was sitting down TO
dinner with the friends for whose sake Davy
had been excluded, John Keller ratified up 10
the gate in tine ahishouse wagon. He delivr
cred this message with uncovered head at the
door: -+s
I "Yom brother Davy Is dead When we
told him this morning that be couldn't come
home to-day, as he had expected to, his heart
broke. He was weakened and worn with
homesickness and the disappointment killed
him"
He spoke with calm simplicity and without
reproach in his voice. He hssw that ths