The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-12-25

but heard it, They wrapped Him in swad-
ding clothes and they laid Him in a manger.'
they made cradle OF it,"
Clear and bright and splendid was the win.
ter sky above him, and the white uplands gilt
tered with half dreamy glory and the morn
ing star shone, lamp-like and wonderful Just
bove the horizon. 1t was to the eastward
al d, as he looked, it stood exactly above q
white-roofed cottage away down the road.
sNo, SIR" exclaimed Grandfather Starin,
''No, sir, Nobody did say it. What is the
matter with my memory? Is it anything I
read last evening? Nobody said it, but I
heard it. 'And the star came and rested over
where the young child lay; but then that star
Is only the morning star"
That last word was followed by another Of
his hoarse crOaks, of something that refused
to be spoken clearly. All the frost of the
winter morning seemed to be gathering in his
face. There was none in his feet, for he
walked on and on, as if he were following
that particular star He went out at the front
gate and down the road, and his lips puffed
out small, frosty clouds, to tell how hard he
was breathing.
The morning star grew brighter, and
brighter and brighter at first, and then he al
most could not see it. When he stood still in
front OF Mrs. Perouse's gate it was a full min
ute before he could see anything. sit isn't
So" he said. Il amt in my right mind.
| What on Garth can have come over every
thing"
There he stood and looked, and there really
was something very curious to be looked at.
There was heap of evergreens on the door
| step. barrel OF flour stood yard or 80 in
side the gate. ham lay on the barrel, and
a big turkey, ready dressed, seemed to be try
ing to hug the ham. Between the barrel and
the doorsteps lay a new sled, as If it were
waiting for somebody to open the door and let
it come in, with some smaller packages that
were stacked upon it. The fore end of its
runners were pricked away up, like a pair Of
eager dogs ears.
1t was all too much for the old man to be-
lieve in and he turned for another look ut the
star. Just then he heard something that
sounded very much as if boy was trying to
| growl. 1t was not exactly so. 1t was only the
disappointed voice of Jim Denike. There he
was crouching behind fence post, and keep
| ing down shiver.
IN tS here! What are you here for at this time
wish you Merry Christmas, squire I got out
bed and here lust to bear What Bay
and Is o. cs sPoiled now but guess he'll say Christ
You can go right along,n
Jim's teeth chartered as he hurried away, but
there the; was a small. white figure at the bedroom
+. "Mother Mother Christmas has come He
frosted t s9o b one d hSy 9oE through the the
III BfSty and herself in FL swift
Mother, was it Sandy clawss"'
n Grand f. stqria must have heard what Jim
san en PG e. sa 6 had a nef him
hat a ad in R So tps or had
sara What was wTiten me on ONE thing thing
gd 'fss s % E s%s n1Bss Rns oG F ss
BODY Nc name S. At all. What's got hold Of all
said SSs hold Had "a brc%gSt
hat eo es ana Hurs nr and m1rrhe
wish Maria was here; I've never seen Hester's
Mrs; Peropse had hurried downstairs and Bat
when door swing e ssas
at ef At e gt and the
eT srnI Grandfsthsr starin
SsEES soPs oroai RS
Ba.tty shouted;
the barrel and bsrfed like mans Mrs refonse
gave o9s look at drandfathsr starin and at ali the
both Of her hands as far as she could reach,
but sG did &c sfd for her to
"Christmasl" Just as the old man got near
fss nfs Hs G9Sd sqf hs s
his face was drowned in white beard, and then he
its in my bedroom said Mrs PereHse. s' as if
sne kns Sn What he after and in half minute
OF great bundle that he brought out in his arms
~, Hell 7, be warm enough. grabbed up every
The TO house. So is
he srns X S@saS and By foley right along
faRf ham se a ttsr he f5hts just COM
lie turned and strobe away with his big bundle
of 5Ee and b the t IL squa still sounded
hm a' oSrst%ns as
bns hs RED wh RRf m shH
The light was in the old mans face vet when he
IS R p9 e1 as H. w
~ 'MaTia!. Cradle! It's Hestera baby: Christmas
mas Gs G Maa Don't h You anq iS are od
MsIT G5Isiass %Srh wishyOa
q Grandfather sf9rin's face looked as # the
the cradle Was n occued wSs o
the table all the presents except tn eatables were
there with his new nittens on gazing at them as
Il they were re- dream. Jim penks away over at
mother what he had seen, and his mother, was re;
marking that it made the morning feet kind Of
taps ssag inst as Inv went
E Rgss 'n sOag hy
White osara and Pnns cane bs to him
, MotSsS: salS Bs.sy. viii Christmas go away
aEa mar aoT sboSfed the old man to his wife al
S fss SS IS h Ss, b,
manin I'M the village. Best peopiel Finest lot q
~ wish them all q Merry Christmas" began
Mrs. Perouse, earnestly, but Batty was grayely
saying to his grandfather:
Did you tell jim Denike You was coming! How
:, He's a friend Of yours, Batty! So! declare.
There he was waiting Best boy in the village.
What can get for Jim: Maria. Batty can't use
him. drive around with lem, after breakfast,
Buy some more: I'm bound to have all the Christ
oh, john joint" said Grandmother starin,
Please do. They won't any of em have Christ
mas equal to ours"
Mrs, Perouse caught up Batty and Rugged him.
and 1t seemed as If there not anything left for
anybody to say. Even Puns lay down and gnawed
the wooden soldier in a sort of happy, contented
silence, but they all ready for brea kfast as
soon as the buckwheat cakes began to come in.
Wherever Grandfather Starins errands took him.
all that forenoon, people that knew him had to
look at him twice. and there was something loud.