Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1885-12-23
TERMS: Two Dollars Per Annum, in Advance.
cept one little deformed boy who can
not sleep, and for him won such
pretty picture that he is laughing in
cf. q NJ -

PACstS PACC4lC :tu0s Ho 40 AdukMuk l4.~
stead Of crying
a..And ], said another, ..have been
to visit the crocuses. who are asleep in
the cold ground. They reused little
and smiled when I told them what the
season was;and promised if they would
be patient and slumber yet while long
er, that l would return and awaken them
in the spring.
'.And l, )" cried an elf, who seemed to
brim over with frolic and mischief as 4
f1ower-cup with dew, 81 have been
tickling the noses and pulling the wigs
OF the rich men who sent no turkeys to
the poor. What, gnats so late in the
season!' cried one, and gave his ear
great slap, while another said, .Phew!
it is indeed stinging cold! ..Ho!' cried
the elf, '.stinging cold!'' II
And /, said q fifth, ..have been
distributing the dreams. To the sad,
sweet ones; to the sick, peaceful ones
bright and frolicsome ones to all the
children. And to good boys and girls
have the dream Of Christmas. -
''And have visited all the poor,''
whispered another, land trimmed their
dull fires and put sugar in their cups,
and above their doors leaf of the
plant called Hope Have done we'll,
o my Father?''
"All have done WE'LL" said Father
Christmas. ''And now the clock
strikes ten. We must be upon our
journey. Harness the reindeer, my
elves, and make all ready; but first this
dear child must be safely set upon her
homeward way"
The fays hustled about her brightly.
Fifty-four of them brought each
raisin from the scattered parcel, others
hunted for the basket, while fatigue
party of eight carefully rolled the big
red apple into it. Myriads more pur-
sued and found the umbrella, which
had stuck fast in furze-bush. Father
Christmas gave his blessing; and aided
and helped, she knew not how, by q
million tiny fingers, she found herself
again on the top of the bank whence,
she had fallen, her basket on her arm
and the big umbrella in herhand.
The wind had died awav. and the
moon shone clear. Lightly she tripped
down the path and ratified at the latch
of the cottage. Poor Dame Ursula had
passed wretched evening listening to
the rain, fearing all sorts of evils for
Ellie, and weeping over the helpless
ness which kept her from going to her
aid. She had just fallen into q troubled
sleep when in danced Ellie, with cheeks
like roses, and eyes bright with happy
excitement. She threw herself into
her grandmother's arms,
20, graudmother!'' she cried, II
have such things to tell thee! Such
wonderful story!'
And granny listened to the tale with
utter bewilderment. OF only one
thing she felt sure, she had her darling
safe at home again. That was enough
to complete her wishes.
1t was too late for the Christmas
tree, but they had it next dav. The
first thing in the morning Ellie looked
at the pane. Yes, there was the fir
bough, the fairy favor, drawn in lines
of silvery frost. Aud at noon came
the pastors wife. She bore in her
arms doll. Her little daughter had
sent it, she said. There was a picture
book, too. Lille laughed with glee.
She had seen them both before. Later
In the day their neighbor, the farmers
wife, who did $ uch for them, made
her appearance.
Il have brought you a goose, Dame
she said. Il hope it is = good one.
And these stockings are my own knit
ting. Don't be discouraged about
your fall. It's long lane that has no
turning, you know, and soon you will
be up again.
Ellie kissed the kind hand that
brought these good things.
her heart she knew that they were not
her gift only. but the gift of Christmas.
And that evening, when the spruce.
bough twinklcd with its tapers, ard tho
raisins and nuts hung beneath them,
whep the fire blazed its cheeriest, and
grandmother in her new stockings was
raised little in bed, that she might
see the savory goose Kissing and bub-
bling in the pan, Ellie crept away into
the corner of the kitchen and patted
the big umbrella with loving hand.
IF you hadn't run away with me"
she said, IL should never have seen it
ALL -