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

whiswered under his breath, ''Hereti-
7 quel" and moved away TO the table for
his own share of cakes and porridge.
Strangely enough Netty's bent head
and dropping tears rose up before him;
IL was Christmas UC-mOrrow then, and
she had wanted to celebrate tiff he
would have let herl
Presently the children were dispatched
70 their beds in the loft. and Jeanne be-
gan to tie small stockings of graded
sizes TO the FIR b0ughs here and there
TIL tive dangled Imply along the wall;
then Jacques fetched down the basket
he had brought aud with happy faces
and sparkling eyes the simple couple
began 10 iil the stockings with their
gifts. What poor little treasures they
were STICK of candy to each, a red.
pin-bau in one, rough wooden top in
another, pair of gay mittens, long
blue comforter. a rattle box made from
an old s.eighbell with u knit cover. all
these home made BY Jeanne's tired fin
gers as she sat by the fire at night after
the children's bedtime. There was a
knife Tor Paul. the oldest; a ribbon,
cheap but scarlet. for each of the twin
giris; pair Of good stout shoes for
four year-old Jean and q wooden doll
Tor the baoy-these Jacques had fetched
-@e--- N--~ ana AAGAA q NEu apple aEQL
IN every wooden leg. and the father and
mother rubbed their hands and congra
tulated each other in rapid F9ench.
'Liah watched IL all; he had q question
10 ask, but not yet; he, however, asked
another of Jacques.
say why don't We allus talk French.
u tbs that you're atalkin' now: seems
% come sight easier TO ye than Yam
kee.n
1t is that; the French is nv born
tongue, friend; but for the children IL is,
sometime We shall move down, when
the forest burns away, when l do stop
the coal JOB; II Is then the children
mus spoke lngleesh for 70 school; YOU
sect"
'Liah nodded; he was a man keen
enough TO perceive issues and draw con-
cluslOus IN his business, he was not dull
now; but started with a certain panied
wonCer az these poor ignorant people
With their tender parental feeling-he
did not understand it. Pretty soon
Jeanne sat down BY the fire and sur
yeyed her work; Jacques went out 10
feed his goat and tie 1t for the night.
'Liah seized the opportunity.
say. Mis- Dupont, what do We make
all this fuss for about Chris 'mas?"
Jeanne started.
does not Sir also keep holiday at the
house2'
1T no marin! I want fetched up to
no sech COINS on what's it for, any
way?"
.'Ah do you not know. poor friend
Why. IL Is that the good God did come
tonight, oh, many, very many long
years ago. He was 70 the poor born, a
leetel poor one il Is in hay OF the man
ger where beasts eat that they laid Him
oh. the good, good God TO die on that
cross BE came for men; He gaye-yes
Himself de did give. and it is to day
DE was leetel child, so We give TO the
childs. You see2"
But you hev 10 work real hard 10
get them things, and JACK has to foot
It long stretch to fetch EN-; ef twas to
give 10 missionaries now, why 'twould
look reasonable"
II know not those. have NV child
ren; ah / should to them give hearts
blood so not TO forget their little Jesus
the good Gods child. Him in the man
ger so poor as we, so troubled, and die
on the cross, that Son OF God, so as
Paul Is my son; ali, it is not much, but
il IS desr!"
And Jesnne's honest face glowed with
such tender devotion, such earnest love,
that 'Liah fell back on his pillow aged.
de slept little that night; the message
OF Bethlehem had found him literally a
sheep lost in the wilderness; YES, the |
Shepherd had left the rest and gone out
upon the mountains seeking him.
There IN the dull glow of the dying |
IRE he called his heartless faiherhOod, /
his loyeless home, his sins OF omission /
that Knocked the outward col a unright-
ness OF his life; before him in this nook |
OF the forest were piety and affection.
the like OF which never blossomed out /,
OF his money and lands; here were child
rem who loved their parents; here a /
father and mother ready TO give up all /
things and do all things for the happi- /
ness OF their children; what had he ever |
done for hisf Abner had gone out from 1
him as soon as he possibly could. and |
made his own home; Netty had STAYED, |
and he had made her Wretched. Poor 4
Netty her first innocent request cruelty |
denied and scornedl II was not q |
merry Christmas Eve for 'Liah; not |
even the joyful shouts Of the five child /
rem next morning as they rified their /
stockings, caused m re than q transient |
smile on his rugged face; but he had set |
that face in a new direction az last, even /
toward Bethlehem, and the new song /
was creeping note by note family vet |
surely into his heart; even as the herald /
angels sang il above that lowly manger |
grading their King
Glory to God in the highest; and on
earth peace, good viii toward men,"
Yes. Elijah HOskins was an old scholar,
but ne learned his lesson at last; not in |
days or weeks or months; ma not in all l
his life did he learn il fully, or without |
struggle, but when at length he rose I'D 4
from that cot bed and left the shanty 10 4
go home, he wondered at himself that il /
was so easy, even so pleasant for him /
TO oyer-pay Jacques Dupont for his care /
and shelter; and still more he wondered /
to find how his lips quivered when ne 1
tried TO say goodby to Jeanne and the /
children. Netty was unfeignedly glad |
TO see him, and Ssry, placid IS usual, 1
did not refuse q slow smile as be came
10 his own door. Il Is true she cOnfided /
70 Netty months after.
Il thought pa was struck with death |
certin, when he came home; he was real 1
faboy and meechin' for q spell: and 20 |
m mind he ha'nt never been himself |