The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-12-23

but that little Nell standing looking
at big Santa Claus in a toy-shop
window. 1t almost broke my heart
to see her, Master Franks little
daughter, there all alone in that
poor way. but the mite, she was
never down-hearted. When she
saw me coming, Joe, says she, turn
ing her wise little face toward where
was-Joe, that's a fine looking old
fellow in the window there. But hes
very proud to-night,and he wont look
at me. We're strangers, you see, and
l can't stop to be introduced, because
| must run homs - asst as can with
the medicine for mamma !; and be-
tore | could say a word that brave
little thing was off. | went inside,
and / got what / could to give them
children in the morning. but the
thought of Master Franks son hav-
ling nothing but tin horse worth
ten cents for his Christmas, and that
too, coming from me, made me hide
the things away soon as | got home.
l couldn't give 'em myself, but my
wife she carried EN- up next day.
THAT was a hard winter for Mrs.
Frank. She couldn't get her
strength, but she never lost her cour-
age, and always believed things
would hold out till she was able to
work, and then all would go smooth.
And so it would a done, for she isn't
one o them fine ladies as sits down,
when trouble comes, without know
ing which way to turn.
But one night in the spring. when
l was walking along my beat, gave
a Jump, for there was the big house
all lighted up, and | SOW Miss Al
ice herself at one O. the windows.
You can be sure | didn't lose any
time in hunting up David, and he
told me as how Mr.. Chauncey was
all broke up, and ne believed be was
just pining away about Master
Frank for the first thing he did
after he got into the house was to
go up to that boys room and un-
lock the door, which hadn't been
ope1ed summer nor winter all them
wears, and 90 in and shut himself
up. 1t wasn't no use his repentIng
now, | told David, and the boy dead
and gone but that's the way folks
does mostly, sir; when there's no
mortal good in 1t, they come round
right. Master Frank was gone, but
them as belonged to him was here,
and the thing to be done was to
take care of 'em. And Miss Alice
went about it without stopping.
She's a big hearted little woman, if
ever there was one. Miss Frank
loved her right away. She didn't
want to take thing from her at first;
but there's no standing out against
Miss Alice. She always has her
way somehow, and she took 'em to
some nice rooms she'd fixed up, and
there wasn't enough she could do,
especially for them children. She
went and told her father all about
'em. too, and how Master Frank was
dead, nobody knew when nor where
The old man Just hid his face, David
said, and didn't say word. After
while, Alice, says he, their home
is here. But not yet. | couldn't bear
it yet. Nor Mrs. Frank she couldn't
bring herself to go their neither, till
/ lust little while before Christmas,
without saving word be just sent
Mrs. Frank a letter, and begged
her for her husbands sake, and for
the sake of his old father, who
never'd known a happy day since he
thrust his boy away from him, to
come and take possession of what
was her own, as it would have been
her husbands and he alive. What
with the letter and Miss Alice urg-
ing her, for the children's sake she
consented. And tonight they went
sir. They've been trimming big
tree at the house for them little ones.
And old Mr.. Chauncey he has been
as eager as a boy, and Miss Alice
couldn't make it nice enough to suit
him. Last night when | was pas
sing he came to the door, Joe, says
he, taking hold of my hand, God
bless you, Joep 1t isn't for me to
tell what more he said, but as for
giving up watching my houses as
I've taken care of this many years,
| couldn't do it-not till | am forced
to, sir. But if I'd been dressed in
purple and fine linen | couldn't felt
prouder nor happier than | did
when he spoke TO me that way.
when Mrs. Frank and the chill
dren were coming, it seemed as il
the old man couldn't bear it after
all and up he went to Master
Franks old room, and there he staid.
Bat when they got there what did
Miss Alice do but take the little
chap-he was dressed in a little
black velvet suit, with a plaid scarf
over his shoulder, just such as Mas
ter Frank used TO wear, and lead
him up tc where his grandfather
was. She Just pushed open the door
and put him inside, and came away
as fast as she could. They waited
and waited and Miss Alice she wan
ted to light the tree; and the young
est didn't come. So she told David
to 90 and get him. When David
went he saw little Master Frank sit
ting on his grandfather's knee, right
there in his fathers old room, and
the old man was crying like baby
and that boy he was pattlng his
cheek with his little hands. When
David said Miss Alice was lighting
the tree, the little fellow jumped to
90 but his grandfather ne seized
! hold of him, and said, quite calm
like, that he'd go too. So do'En
they went, the old man and the
boy, hand in hand. David couldn't
stand it no longer, sir, and out he
came to talk to me. And now
they're all there together, God bless
'em, and there's rest IN the big house
tonight such as there hasn't been
+ this many a year, because the right
thing has been done at last"
We are again opposite Mr.. Chauu-
cey's mansion. The bright lights
were extinguishej, and the calm
, IT. n--l-I -. ,s1anf front