Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-12-23
Poor Moses Happy Thought.
AcArlstmas Tale.

/
liable. The latter was only eight
months old, but she ruled the family
and we all loved her sweet tyranny.
No queen upon her throne could have
been more loved or admired. We con-
sidered her the most beautiful baby in
the world, with her dimpled cheeks as
delicate in hue as the fairest rose
petal, with eyes as blue as theloyeliest
summer skies, and little short rings
of gold, covering her round head.
No one manifested more love for the
baby than poor Nose. Mother trust
ed him with the care of her with per-
feet confidence. For poor Nose, who
went about with perpetual smile on
his thin, homely face, was invariably
gentle, and cared for the ''little queen"
as tenderly as if she was some rare
bric-a-brae that rough shake would
utterly demoiish
Those were troublous times, then,
away back over a hundred ye'.rs ago,
and though we had as much fun then
in our way as boys do nowadays We
had moreexcitement of acertain kind;
an anxious, blood-curdling kind, that
often made our hearts beat like trip
hammers while our hands grasped
our muskets.
The day before Christmas was a
busy one in our log-cabin. The big
fireplace glowed, and the hugh iron
kettles sputtered away as they cook
ed savory messes for the morrow's
dinner. Eph and l picked chickens
and ducks, while mother baked huge
loaves o: white and brown bread,
doughnuts and pumpkin pies. Nose,
meanwhile, watching dear little Mehi-
table. The little witch would persist
in creeping toward the andirons on an
exploring expedition, to get a nearer
view of the sizzling tea-kettle or of our
pals OF hot water in which we dipped
our ducks, or in attempting other
venturesome journeys. Poor Nose,
how patient he was, how untiring!
In the middle of the afternoon,
mother said, Now, boys, take the
basket of provisions to old Eben Har-
ter's. You must hurry, too, so that
you can get back before night"
We did hurry, but such basket,
packed full to the brim, with bread,
cakes, roast chicken, spare-rib, and
who knows whatels Didn't our arms
ache when, at last, after wading
through snow-drifts and climbing over
ice-barriers, we reached the little hut
of Eben Harter and delivered up our
burden! Eben Harter was an old
man, so helpless that it was with diff
| ficulty that hecould hobbls around his
one small cabin room. The other MEM
bers OF the family were his feeble, aged
wife and young granddaughter
Your folks are so kind, and You
boys so good to come to us through
the stinging cold that 'twould be
selfish to ask more, but
"What is it, Mrs. Harter?" asked
Eph, quickly. "If there's anything
We can do for you, We'll do il"
BLESS your dear heart!" was the
fervent response, II feel dreadful fear
some tonight, somehow; s'pose on
account of the doin's of them savages
at the corner. 'Twould be somethin'
to be forever grateful for if we could
have one OF you stout lads here an
night"
"We'll get mothers consent, them"
I Eph said, and in another minute we
were on our way homeward. Mother
willingly gave permission, so we trudg-
ed back to the Harter's, carrying APP
| pies and corn which We roasted and
popped while the old man told stories
I of our childhood. In the morning we
hurried homeward, wondering if there
were any gifts for us; but when we
/ reached the place where there had
been little unused hut halfway be.
tween the Harters' and our house, all
thoughts of gifts was lost in fear, for
only the ashes remained OF the hut.
30, Eph, the Indians must have
been here. Sposing they've been to
our house"
Eph's face blanched. but he said re-
asuringly, "If they've been there faith
er's managed them"
We raced on toward home, upon
reaching which, father said, in voice
heavy with emotion, "Mehitable's
gone"
my baby's killed." sobbed mother.
Nose lifted his terrified eyes to our
faces, his hands working convulsively.
"Tell US, quick, what doyou meant"
begged Eph, dropping on his knees be-
c1d s. IT, bro Il,
er told us the narrowing tale, how she
and father had been called away in
the night to go to Uncle Hiram's,
whom they thought dying There
was no other way but to leave Mehit-
able in Noses care, and so they did,
N:th many iniunctions to 'let no
harm come to the precious baby" At
four o'clock, Uncle Hiram being con-
sidered out of danger, our folks had
returned. When they saw the ruins
of the old cabin they were greatly dis
tressed, and upon reaching home they
found that an attempt had been made
to fire that. Moses greeting to them
was, "they never touched the bread
tray-never even looked at it, oh,
goody! goody!"
where is the baby?" mother asked;
but there was no answer, only the
same silly iargon, "they never touched
the bread-tray--never even looked at
it; oh, goody! goodyl"
"Where is the baby, Mose?" mother
asked again.
''Never touched the bread-tray-oh,
goody! goodyl'
II thought until this morning that
the boy had some feeling, if he had no
sense" said ], rather holly. '0h, if
the Indians had only taken him in
stead of Mehitablep'
Over Moses terrified face there crept
look of unutterable grief, and Eph
looked at father with a world OF re-
proof in his dear, brave eyes, as he
rushed over to his weak-minded broth
er and put his arms about him.
"Poor little Mosel dear fellow Tell
us all about Mehitable. Where is the
darling that we all love-that you love
so much? Where is she, dear little
Mose?" Eph asked, tenderly. 'Tell
me, please do" he begged, still with
his arms around Nose.
81 will, will" shouted Nose, rising
to his feet. "They never touched the
bread tray-never even looked at it;
oh, goody! goodyl Eph, get the bread
tray. Mehitable is in it."
A minute later the bread tray was
at mothers feet. In it little head
nestled on its pillow. and alittle hand
! rubbed a sleepy face, and then two
blue eyes opened and a rosy mouth
smiled up into our longing loving, re-
lieved faces. Mother caught her
up in a transport of joy, kissed
her rapturously and then passed
her to father. She then took Nose in
her arms, kissed him over and over,