Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1885-12-24
fore this, surely It's Il mystery, and


no mistake i
At that moment her eye fell upon
card lying on the top of pile OF paste
board souvenirs, ard took it up. 1t
represented lady and child feeding
flock of robins, and below was printed,
AT Christmas, open wide my heart !
That's purity y said Miss llanford.
1t makes me think Of the Christmas
sheaf we used 10 hang out for the birds.
They were no kith nor kin, ana II TO
birds, why not to bats? Yes, I'll do
it = aud the happy thought fairly irrad-
lated the rugged face, even as the gleam
of sunlight that just then shone
through rift in the clouds made the
tinsel ornaments in the window spakle
and glitter like "a hundred Christmas
candles. The new idea was more fully
developed that evening over Miss Han
ford's solitary cup of tea and plate OF
hot buttered toast in the wee parlor
back of the shop, while Tom Tucker
sat by, like his namesake, singing for
his supper and keeping up a duet with
the kettle that hummed and spluttered
on the stove, and to the good woman
their song seemed to be,
Christmas comes but once year,
But when 1t comes it brings good cheer.
And when the rush of Christmas Eve
business was over, the shutters barred,
and the quiet of night had descended
upon the little snowbound village, the
evergreen was removed from the win
dow to the back parlor and made more
gorgeous than eyer with red, white, and
blue tapers, cornucupias, and yerita-
bic st. Nicholas, with reindeer and
pack.
Il feel most as if were maxim it for
one of my own,' said Miss Hanford, as
she surveyed the result of her labors
and tried on her nightcap there was
happy glow at her heart as she said her
prayers aud went to bed, that lasted in
to the Christmas dawn and all through
out the service in the old, gray, vine
covered cbulch, although few had wish
ed her the seasons greetings and no
gift graced her lonely morning board.
The overland express from the Pa
cific Coast, comes steaming and thund-
ering along over wide, snowy expanse
of fiat country, and draws up with a
snort at a deSolate little wooden station,
standing almost alone in the middle of
a great prairie. Eager passengers
crowd to doors and windows, glad of
anything to break the mon otony OF
their long journey, and the sight that
meets their eyes is novel enough to
keep them there. A group OF miners
in rough attire, with broDzed faces and
ankempt boards. are clustered about
little giil of some eight or nine years,
clad in costume strange to the petted
darling of fashion, but warm aud con-.
Portable for that bitter winter weather.
A gown of coarse scarlet flannel. such
as meas shirts are formed of, and
udely-fashioned fur coat and cap,
made by loving but unskillful fingers.
Nothing. however, can mar the win
some beauty of the little maid, whose
brown eyes a,e dewy with tears, as she
clings round the neck of one Of the
men, and holds up her lips, to be kissed
by all the 9th ers.
you will lock after my gal, and take
her safe,' says the tall mau who holds
her, with break in his voice, to the
conductor, as he presses generous fee
into his hand.
And give her the very best of every
thing puts in another, while he draws
sleeve across his eyes /; 'nothin'. l
reckon, is too good for our Nugget
The luck of the camp will 60 with
her, I'm afraid groans another; aud
then the engine blows the signal for
departure, and amid sobs and hand
shakes the child is lifted to the plat
form and waves farewell, while the
group of men shout, Give the little 'un
q send. off -Hurrah for the Nugget of
Gold Ore Camp y and loud cheers a.
waken the echoes as the conductor en-
ters the pullman car, leading the wee
girl by the band.
The passengers are deeply interested
and crowd round, to inquire the history
of the new conner. She is not exactly
passenger says the gentlemanly Off
cial, 'as she is sent by express !; but l
can't put her in the express car.
There i5 her label ) and he pointed to
card tackled on the sleeve of the little
fur coat, and addressed to
I
miss Hannah Hanford,
Hollywell,