The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1885-12-25

f-'N'''t
moment We We're out in the air
Once looked round. The lights were
already distinguished at the Den, and
its doors were closed to the orphans.
The children were housed by me as COM
fortably as / could manage, and with a
heart full Of sorrow | sought my rest.
In the morning it was late wien rose.
and my first thought was for the children.
Hastily dressing myself, went to their
chamber and knocfed. There was no an
swcr
pushed the door open. The chamber
rms empty and tie cAiIdren uere gonet
Inquiries We're made in vain They had
escaped and left 10 trace went to old
man Miggle and told him.
He shook my hand. and went to his ROOM
:
The months passed on. The spring came
and the buds burst into bloom, but we
could hear nothing Of the children. Old
Miggle's hair became rapidly white. and
his face was worn and his figure thin and
weak
He would see nobody but me. and there
was but one topic between us--tbe orphans.
Of course Miggle was abused more than
ever for his heartless cruelty to the children
but if ever man was punished for his
wrath, Old Miggle was he He was vast
ing away
The summer fled away hastily and the
chills Of autumn fell upon the earth.
Whenever the sky presaged storm
used to visit Old Migg.e and sit by him.
AT the bowling of the wind he would lift
his thin finger and cry, flush. didn't you
hear them calling p Then he would
spread his poor thin hands over his wrink-
led face and the tears would trickle
through.
The autumn had intensified into winter.
There were no leaves on tine trees, and the
fields We're cold and bare Dali mists over
Swallowed the ''Den, and the hoarse blasts
Of December shook the ehimneys. As
Christmas tide drew near the fixed despair
in Old Miggle face grew more apparent
and terrible
For PHYS sake sat night after night
with him. as he covered over his bedroom
fire, glancng now and again at the win
dows, and watching the flakes of feathery
snow as they noiselessly settled on the
brown window-sills | really dreaded
Christmas Day and the day after more
than care to tell.
'.Did you hear the carols last night ," /
asked him once, for the sake of saying
something.
He shook his head with such 4 sad ex-
preston.
''The children would not sing carols be-
meath my windows = | felt the truth of
this and changed the subject.
Christmas Day came and went, and the
Goth of December dawned. There had
been something so unnaturally calm about
Old Miggle's demeanor of late that my
fears for him had increased. and | was de-
terinined to be with him all day.
On my arrival he shook my hand You
are very good to me = he said, feebly, and
then, after pause-''Come -
SO speaking, he unlocked cabinet in
his room, and pulling drawer took from
it a large key.
He descended slowly to the hall and APP
preached the dining-room. shuddered as
lie put the key into the lock The door
opened, and we entered. The room was
Just as it had been left twelve months be-
fore. The whole scene which had then
occurred rose up wildly before NE.
clutehed chair not to betray emotion.
Old Miggle took the fir-tree, now with
cred and dead, from the table, kissed it
twice, and with sorrowful cry of
George. George which pierced my
heart, fell weeping on the gound.
When he was recovered conveyed him
up stairs again.
The day passed and twilight came early.
Then followed a dark, snowy night, ex-
actly the weather we had endured last
Christmas, and reminding us, so far, of the
catastrophe which had produced such terri
BILE results.
The clock was striking 10. Old Miggle
nervously grasped my arm.
Now he whispered.
I knew to what he alluded. 1t was the
hour al which he had driven the children
forth. The clock ceased; ! looked at old
Miggle; his eyes were fixed and glaring.
At this moment the voices of two chill
dren commenced carol outside the win
dow:
God rest you, merry gentleman,
Let nothing you dismay.''
With a fearful cry, Old Miggle leapt to
his feet lie rushed to the window. In
alarm | followed him. He threw up the
easement:
''Georgy. Georgyr' he shouted
We are here, grandfather" replied the
loved voice. I've come to beg your par
don at last!''
How old man Miggle got to the hall door
| never knew Al saw was the old fell
low on his knees in the hall, with his arms
round the pretty children and Sobhing as il
his heart would break
How soon we had them upstairs, and had
them dried and warmed. How Old Miggle.
becoming young again, had sent servant
to bid the ringers ring midnight peal, and