Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-12-24
4 Christmas Message.
{ was Christmas eve.

1t was Christmas eve.
The streets were full of people all
rushing homeward with packages in
their hands; some were carrying turk
eys tied up in paper parcels. their fierce
feet sticking out like weapons of de-
tense. One man had a little rocking
horse, and another drum, while 8 wo-
man tOiled along with go-cart big
enough for her crippled boy, and TWO
little girls carried a high-chair between
them. They were going to have it at
the breakfast table in the morning fer
their beautiful baby.
One whole family, mother, father and
children, were hurrying up the avenue
with their arms loaded full. They were
all little anxious.
Grandpa will be so lonesome" the
children said.
Il expected to be at home an hour
sooner" the mother said. Il know
Christmas eve must be 4 lonely time
for father. I'm sure it used to be for
me after poor Sam was gone"
Turkey tomorrow" chimed in the
brave boy of six. who was almost lost
in small forest of celery he was car
rying.
IAN. plum puddin' an'-an' cram
berry sauce" echoed his little sister.
I've got grandpa's present, said
Rob. the big brother of nine years.
He'll be lookin' out'n the window
an sayin' what keeps them childer SO
long" said his little pet, Barbara.
He'll be so lonely" sighed his
daughter, hurrying the group as she
spoke.
Was grandpa lonely-let US see.
He was an old, old man, with thin,
shrunken checks, a back bowed by
care and trouble and with long, float
ing locks of lint-white hair that was as
fine as silk. He had drawn his arm
chair in front of the window so that he
could see the children" when they
came across under the street lamp,
which was lighted so early that it
shone like a taper in the yellow and
red atmosphere of setting sun,
and a young moon blended with the
fading daylight The old man fixed
his eyes on the struggling light, but
they wavercd from that and sought
the sky, where
In the dim and distant ether
The first star was shining through,
And another and another
Trcmbled softly in the blue.
Soon he had unseen company, and
was no longer lonely. A sweet, young
face, radient with the bloom of immor-
tally, and that light which never was
on sea or land, came close to his, and
| he could feel the very thrill of her kisses
on his dull check. Then she brought
| him their first-born, that lovely babe
his first and only son. Then two chill
dren were at his knee, and the young
| mother lay with a sweet smile on her
| lips, where the weary are at rest. But
lie only saw his boy-hiS dear, dear
| boy-noW a merry yOuth-thcn the he'll
met of soldier shading his frank, blue
eyes then a soldiers record, promo
mOtion-thc cpaulGtS of brave officer,
and so proud to wear them and have
his father walking with him, and hear
ing how he fought this battle and won
| that, and what he meant to do when
| the war was over.
| And they had unseen company
| TO make the spirit quail"
But they knew it not, and the proud
Young victor rode away to his death on
that dreadful battlefield from which he
| never returned.
| The old man saw the troops in the
sky, he saw their gay banners, he saw
his son-the Gcneral-proud, hand
some, unspoiled by the admiration of
| a world-he saw-ah, Heaven! he saw
| him dying alone on the field of battle,
| and it was Christmas eve. No hand to
| give him even 4 drink of water, to raise
| that beloved head. to wipe the death
foam from the pallid lips, only the pitt
less stars and the cold moon to note
his dying agoniCs!
But stay. ''Hc shall give his angels
charge concerning thee His peace
passeth all understanding. Who knows
that he died alone? Who can deny
that his Young mother leaned over him
and whispered words of sweetest COM
Tort that the pain and memory and
to the nursery when Sadie was reading
her lessOni o how quick she stopped,
and stuck the book under her apron!
Her little face got as red as a rose.
'Why. Sadicr' he said. what is your
face so flushed for?' Then he said to
me, Mamma. I'm afraid you We got the
room too hot"
So | opened the door, and began
quickly to talk about something else, to
make him forget about Sadie In few
minutes he went ont again. | guess that
was the only time Sadie was ever glad to
have her papa go away. She was so
afraid he saw the book, that she could
hardly keep from crying. But l told
her was almost sure he did not, and
she was happy again.
She says when Christmas comes she is
going to wrap her Reader in a nice piece
of paper, and write on it, "Sadic's pres
ent to papa" and tie it to the tree
Hell think it's Il mistake when he takes
the paper off. she says, but I'll say.
please give the book to me. papa. and
then I'll just open it and read. and read,
and read, till he's SO surprised he can't
speak HcHricttd Il. EYi0t.