The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-12-25

gathered from its saddle, and the bags,
that something shad happened on the
track Fortunately he had helper
boarding with him, and the two set out
With their dog TO help or rescue. as the
case might be.
Il was with much difficulty that hey
managed 10 get 'Liah to Dupont's
shanty, though the distance was not
great. Once there DupOnts wife made
up clean bed on the door and laid the
weary man on 1t, cut OF parts OF his
clothes, and laid warm cloths on the
broken Leg. which was beginning TO swell
and De painful. then they fed him with
tea an = crackers. their best and carefully
boarded lUXuries. aud the two men sat
down 10 supper. leaving the Wayiarer 10
med tate and plan on the next step.
That. doubt, was 70 get doctor; he
would not trust his leg TO the rude sur
gerry OF g charcoal burner. Dupont be
ing promised q reward for his services,
left early the next day for a Canadian
village where he said lived 4 surgeon OF
repUte IN the wild country, where he
had enough Of such practice 10 keep his
skill from rustiug. The slow DAYS went
by YEARLY. Mrs. Dupont was kind,
neat and vOluble; she did her utmost
for her guest, and now and then her
broken speech brought a grim smile 10
Liah's face; but the food she had for
him was not to his liking, and the fever
and rheumatism that set in 10 enhance
the pangs OF his broken leg, made him
lOathe the dark bread, the slap-jacks
drowned in moiasses, the constant pot
Of beans, the potato soup. and herb tea
that were the daily fare of the coal
burners. When the doctor came at
last, he had 70 stay three days TO reduce
the swelling OF the leg so that the bone
could be set, and the only promise he
could hold out to the patient was that
IA SIX weeks he might be able to be set
on q pony and led down TO the village
on tie lake below, thence sledded 10 the
nearest town where there was a railway
station. and 20 home.
E,iah groaned; tins was a prospect Cf
Oondagei Six weeks 10 lie here AMI
rhink;-he did not ujJy thinking, he
had tried that in the forest
The doctor read his face.
1T Is a long time, l know" he said
kindly. But you are no more young,
nay friend; il is the young bones 10 knit
themselves quickly; you must wait;
yes, II is necessary"
"O-hI" groaned Elijah; he knew il
was truth, tut what prospect lay be
fore him. He had asked the surgeon 70
write 10 his wife; she could not come up
there, nor could Nstty; women could
not endure the peril and fatigue of such
a journey, nor was there a place for
them. Jacques and the doctor together
had cOntriYed a sort OF cot for him.
which was at least better than the floor.
and Jeanne did all q tender heart ard
womanly instinct could do with her
poor means and appliances but ne
heard his sentence with disgust md re-
volt. six weeks Of helplessness at home
would have been wretched, here il vas
uncomfortable! Yet he had to endure it.
The five rosy children who danced and
clamOred about the Shauty were q great
nuisance too, though they were banished
out OF doors whenever the weather al
lowed. and set 10 such helpful tasks as
they could fulfil when storms prevented
them from playing outside. But after a
time, Tor want OF any other interest
Llah grew 10 watch them rom his cot
a diversion to the cruel and weary
thoughts which harassed him. How
they loved their mOth-rl naughty, mis-
chieTOus, provoking as they were, she
had divine patience with them that
almost eIasperated this spectator. Her
mild, sweet dark eyes never flashed
with anger, her hand never lit in wrath
on round cheek or curly head; she was
grlevet and hurt sometimes at their
waywardness, but never impatient or
angry. And they loved their father as
well; though they feared him more, for
Jacques had the despOtic element in
him, and ruled with stern justice his
small kingdom; bat the children always
ran 70 meet him, hung round him,
visited for him with eager expectation.
Lish was forced 10 reflect that neither
o. his own children had ever greeted
him so; but rather shrunk from his
presence and kept out OF his way.
Then there came one night he long
remembered. Jacques bad been down
TO the village below Tor supplies. which
was two days journey; the children
had brought in from the shed long
wreaths OF ground pine and bOughs of
IRE with which they adorned the rude
shsnty till it was like a bower. Jeanne
strung threads with scarlet cranberries
and festOOned them here and there
among the evergreens, and in one cor
ner Of the room behind a screen Of old |
quilts gave every one of her brood such |
a thorough scrubbing that when they |
IN their Sunday clothes they |
shone and glowed like new dolls. A |
cert in joyful decorum pervsded their |
astonishing TO behold; but |
when Jacques entered, loaded with |
bundles, the decorum vanished; they |
threw themselves on MIN like a pack of |
busy wolves as he laughingly called |
them.
"Will you cease them" called the |
mother in laughing tones.
Leave the father for one time; he is |
tire, terrible children. he have hunger, |
I say"
Get down, rascalsi" Numbered JAG
ques. Then exchanging q few yoluble |
French sentences with his wife he bur !
rie6 up into the loft with the basket he !
carried, and Jeanne put his other bun
dies into the old red chest.
Come now - he called TO the child /
rem, who were skylarking about the FIRE, /
not 81 all sbashed by their dispersion
Come now il is 10 sing the hymn of
Noel; here Is the fstLer again"
The little crowd ranged themselves in
line, folded their hands, and looking up
Ike sdoring cherubs began TO sing IN
sweet childish voices that hymn Of the
ages in is stately Latin syllables,
Adeste hdeles, lett triumphantes.