The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-12-25
gl1e Story.
PURGED in THE FIRE.
BY ANGELO ]. LEWIS.


speaker was only little maid of six |
years old, but dozen voices echoed the
request.
On the present occasion Uncle Herbert
was seated in a high backed oaken chair,
with Aunt Alice on footstool beside him,
and the rest of the party grouped around
in a semi circle before the blazing fire.
The candles were not yet lighted, but
the dancing flame shed rudy light
throughout the room, throwing into bold
relief the carved work Of the oaken fur
niture, and Frightening with genial
glow the red berries and dark green
leaves of the Christmas evergreens. 1t
was just the moment for Preside story;
and as Uncle Herbert was known to be
learned in legends and German fairy
tales, which he was wont to narrate with
much quiet humor, our little cousins re-
quest met with general approval.
"Well, my dears," said Uncle Herbert,
81 will tell you a story, a true story. I
don't think it is quite what you mean by
Christmas story; but the events about
which am going to tell you happened at
Christmas time, on this very night, in
deed, twenty seven years ago."
We all settled down to listen, and after
minutes pause he went on:
sit was Christmas eve, or rather
Christmas Day, for twelve o'clock had
struck, and the few people left in the
streets were getting gradually fewer and
fewer, till it seemed as though the police
men and the waits would shortly have
the city to themselves. 1t was bitter
cold night, and snow was beginning to
fall. Most of the houses were dark and
silent, though here and there lighted
windows and stray sounds of music and
of happy voices showed where house.
hold was seeing Christmas in, and giving
merry welcome to the happy season.
Out of brilliantly lighted house in one
of the West end streets there came q
young man, who looked as though he
felt but little share of the general re-
joicing. He was barely twenty years of
age; but though SO young, his cheeks
were flushed and his gait unsteady with
wine, and his face was contracted with
look OF hopeless despair. And little Won
der! The house which he had just left
was noted gaming house. He had been
tempted by bad companions, and had
gained and lost-lost far more heavily
than he could afford. One sin brings on
another. In the vain hope OF recovering
his losses-with the insane persuasion,
common to all gamblers, that he must
win in the end if he could but play lit
tie longer-he had taken without leave a
large sum of his employers money, had
staked it, and lost And then, all at
once, horrible remorse, mad despair,
seized upon him. Now that it was too
late he saw the full magnitude of his
crime; he knew too we'll that the money
which, when he expected to be able to re-.
store it secretly, he had thought of as
borrowed, the law would call by very
different name. He knew now that, dis
guise it as he might, the taking of that
money was theft. Already he felt in
imagination the officers hand upon his
collar, the handouts on his wrists. He
could see the witnesses come forward to
bear testimony to his crime; he could
hear the voice of the judge pronouncing
sentence on the thief. He dared not
meet the consequences of his sin; and in
his mad despair, fearing to face offended
man, he had resolved on suicide. He
was now hurrying home to drink his last
the sleep whose waking is eternity. With
his hands clenched, and his hat crushed
down upon his forehead, he was rushing
madly on, when he heard a sound of
shouting, and the tramp of galloping
horses. He looked up and saw that the
sky above him was red with lurid glare;
and then runner passed him with the
terrible cry of "Fire!" A house was on
fire in one of the streets through which
he had to pass; and with strange feeling
of reprieve, he turned aside - turned
aside from the road to his death-to see
the sight. He elbowed his way through
the crowd, which gave way right and left
at the pressure of his muscular arms
The dwellers in the burning house had
been somehog got out, and now stood
half-naked and shivering in the street.
All, it was thought, we're safe; but just
as he reached the group there was fear
full shrek, for it was found that there
was one, the youngest, missing. The
poor mother sobbed and screamed, and
was held back only by force from enter
ing the burning house, and perishing
with her little one.
"The red flame was already shining
through the first floor windows, and
through the open door could be heard
the roaring of the fire, which was fast
gaining hold upon the staircase. A
thought flashed across the young mans
mind. His minutes were numbered, his
life was worthless; its last act should
be worthy one, and if he persisted in the
attempt, he would be guilty of one sin
the less. With quick, eager questions,
he ascertained where the child was. The
firemen guessed his intention and held
him back.
"'Don't go, sir, for Gods sakel It's
wasting two lives instead of one. We're
not towards, sir, but this is certain death.