The Wilmingtonian., 1885-12-19
and : gray feather, presented it 10

ana gray fcat1ler, presented it TO,
gaze, and our good farmer, glad to beC (t
OF this hurculean task (worse to him than a
whole days hay malsing), clutched the bon
net box and without murmnr paid The
fashionable price the woman named, only too
glad too get off thus easily.
Next came the toy store. There he found
less difficulty, and soon picked out an i'm
mense doll, almost as large as the human
dolly. and to this was added the box Of
goodies SO dear to the heart Of all little
ones.
Now then be was all ready and in another
halthour was rattlDg oyer the stones Of
the city toward the country.
The horses, as if knowing whittier they
were bound, laid themselves to their work
right willingly, every now aud then play
fully turning toward one another and nod
ding, as if exchanging their ideas on the
many queer sights they had seen in the won
derful great city. John turned UP the col
lar of his overcoat and tucked in the blanket
closely around him, for he faced the wind,
and the sunset sky looked angry and lower
ing. In fact, in less than half an hour snow
flakes began to fall, at first slowly and soft
ly, then faster and faster, until the air grew
thick and misty with the quickly falling
flakes
The stout horses bent their heads to the
gusts of wind that whirled the snow in their
faces, and John urged them on in CHEEKY
tones Once he stopped and lighted his Ian
tern, which he carried for such emergencies,
and the rays fell far into the road ahead,
just enough to make darkness visible.
As the horses paused at the top of steep
hill to regain breath after their long pull.
John thought he heard feeble cry on the
side of tho road. He listened inteutly and
heard it repeated. He hurriedly snatehed
up the lantern and quickly proceeded in the
direction from whence the sound came, and
there, by the rays of the light which he
carried, and all cuddled up under a blanket
shawl was baby about nine months old.
"My certes ~ exclaimed John. "I'ye
found my (Chriftmas box. Poor, wee lamb
kin ! What hard-hearted wretch left You
here to die, poor little innocent r.
The baby stopped crying and looked at
him with her finger in her mouth and her
kr.at blues eyes fixed, half in wonder, half
in fear, in his pitying face. John held ont
his arms coaxingy, and smile came over
the baby face and 5000, co.," broke in
lisping tones from the rosebud mouth HI
tenderly lifted the little creature, and open.
his coat folded her ia close to his great
warm heart
No sound save that of the b tier wind dis.
turbed the stiffness, no track of any living
being..was to be found, and John, with his
burden in his arms, clambered back into hi,
wagon, and, closely nestling the little one,
chirruped to his stout horses, that knew the
road too we'll to need much watching.
Presently looking down, he saw his baby
fast asleep. Her long lashes lying on her
soft cheek and quietly and gently he drew
out his warm buffalo robe and cast about in
his mind for place in which to lay his
sleeping charge. The large empty box,
which hal borne his p9ul5ry to market
caught his eye, and placing in it his warm,
comfortable, roba he made a soft bed TO
his Christmas present. 50 lie nestled he
down amoug the skins and covered he
with his oyereoat
lie did not mind the cold, althongh hi.
face glowed scarlet and be had to swing hi.
arms and clap his hands to keep the bloo
IN circulation but he whistledlmerrily to tn