The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1885-12-24

Say, SlS, schooner OUT Cnefe SUCK
in the ice; men sticking to the masts.
Folks say it's the Merry Bell and, by
George, Sis, I shouldn't wonder if Mr..
Culbertson was one of EN-. Hope he
amt, though, for he promised me a
new sled if l would say nothing about
the day caught him kissing you
"Jack!' sternly interposed his moth
er's voice
"Where is it, Jack; quick, tell me?'
said Rose in a voice of trembling anx-
iety:
"Out there; from behind Dick Matt
lands house you can see her.''
Then she had skipped away to see
the schooner, and hear from others
what ground there was for her fears.
All day she moaned and grieved and
would not be comforted, for handsome
Fred Culbertson was her promised hus-
band, and she had given all her heart
into his keeping. When he babe her
goodbye few weeks before he had
called back at the last, "1'll be home
for Christmas!" He was part owner of
1.-The Merry Bell" and had intended
coming back on this her last trip for
the season.
The cold continued to increase. The
sky wore dull, leaden look-nature it.
self seemed dead. Rose lay looking out,
and thought of other hearts saddened
as hers was; other homes where the light
had gone out and made them dreary
and dark.
Mrs. Bell remained during the night
with her daughter, petting, soothing,
and comforting, and as the sleepless
hours wore away mother and daug hter
grew nearer together than they had
ever been before. Mrs. Bell talked of
the early days of her married life; then
of the 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 as she
had never done before what her mother
had suffered. "Poor mamma, how sad
and lonely you have been,' she MUIR
INJURED as she dropped into tired sleep.
The next day was Thursday, the day
before Christmas. Rose opened her
eyes to find the maid setting her break
fast on table at her bedside.
"Look, look, Miss Rose. see on the
window. 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. MIR. Culbertson Il COON yet, or
wei know it!''
Frightened by the girls words and
forgetting to be offended at the freely
expressed opinion, Rose jumped up to
see the wonder of frost work. s'Sure
enough, it's a veritable train, locomo-
tive and all. How strange!'
II don't know what kind that is,
Miss Rose, but it s cars, it is.''
''Get my wrapper, Ann, and bring
my breakfast to the fire, I'll get up"
said Rose, cheered she scarcely knew
why.
''Will your ma have the tree, Miss
Rose. It's the childers is on their heads
about it"
II forgot it." answered Rose, her
face clouding. "Ask mamma to come
up as soon as she is through her break
FAST
Its been over this hour! Ill 20
tell her, and shall bring up some
coffee?''
mo, just tell mammal
"And here she is herself answered
Ann, as she opened the door, and Mrs.
Bell came in.
''Up Rose?''
Eyes, and oh, mamma, look at the
window, Ann says it is good luck.''
II hope it is. / am sure, it is certain
~ a strange freak of Jack Frost. 1
have a telegram from Mr.. Culbertson,
Rose. He got off at Milwaukee, and is
we'll and safe.'
Then a hearty cry came to wash
away the last remnants of pent-up sor-
row. and Rose was soon brig int and hap
py and busy talking of the evening and
the promised tree. So surrounded by
love and happiness that she forgot the
homes which death had darkened, or
where grim want stared at the empty
hearth, where Christmas was the sad
dest day of all the year; forgot every
thing but happiness.
Christmas Eve q great party of chill.
dren and older people almost as bright
as the children were gathered in Mrs.
Bells front parlor. Presently the gas
was lowered and the sliding-doors
drawn back, displaying a scene Of fairy.
like beauty. At the farther end of the
room was tree lit with tapers and
laden with things of beauty and in the
background of green's and flowers
were scattered the things too large fol-
the tree. among them Jacks sled.
How the children screamed when old
Santa with snowy beard and hair crept
from out the green plants about the
chimney, muttering in low voice,
"From Germany / come; as I walk !
jingle. jingle, and the boys call me old
Kris Kringle." Pretty notices or mes.
sagcs of love were with all the gifts
that old Kris scattered among the hap
py group.
A brooch, with it's diamonds shining
like Rose Bells eyes, was one of the
many gifts the gods show cred on the
tiny maid.
Later on, when the tree WIS stripped
of its gifts, tho youngest scion of the
house, little Tom Bell, whispered in
sepu]chral tones to his mother:
II say, mar Santa Claus is in there
and he's got his arms around sister
Rose, and he kissed her. Will he take
her up the chimney with himp''
II reckon not" laughed Mrs. Bell;
''come into the other room and show
me your toys
And Santa whispered: Il came back
for Christmas, Rose, darling. Were
you frightened?'--Ch;cago Times.
From almost every section of the
State comes reports Of general I'm
provement of the health Of our people
due no doubt to the influence Of Or.
Balls Cough Syrup,