Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-01-01

Ralph was racked with rheumatism. Glen
dinning persuaded him to remove from the
comfortless mill clearinghouse to a cot.
tage in sheltered nook Of the hills, where
with kind family, he could receive the
warmth and care that his condition re.
quired. 1t was May, and pleasant weather
before he resumed his duties at the
mill. One morning he was fastening
Biackbird on green strip of sward just
outside the dusty area about the mill, where
the shadows of the young leaves could play
hide-and-seek with the spring winds over
her glossy sides. Suddenly there was a
loud, hoarse cutlery from many voices; and
the noisy machinery came to stand. He
knew there had been an accident; and with
what haste he could he crossed the space
and entered the mill. A group of men were
standing in awe-struck silence, around
something. They drew apart as he came,
and he saw what WAS a few moments be-
fore, his frienG-Archer Glendinningl He
sat down and took the head in his arms in
time to see eyelids close over the bright
blue eyes; and smile-as of some sudden,
sweet suprise-die away on the bearded
lips.
Very tenderly he told the story, emitting
all the dreadful details. He said nothing
of the illness that Frustrated him for weeks
after the shock. lie told her how Miss Mil
AASCill htPt lLt ellN Sitcl, gar
landed with flowers, which were often wet
with her tears
At this point his listener, who had borne
up with rigid composure, closed her eyes
in dead faint, looking in the wan even
ing light as if death had taken her, too.
In his bachelor helplessness, Ralph prob
ably did the best that could be done. He
kept quiet, tanning her with his broad
straw hat, feeling thankful that heaven
had sent her short respite from her grief
In few moments the pale features qniv-
cred. She put out her hand. 1t fell upon
Ralph's shoulder. She grasped it, and
thus steadying herself by it, rose to her
feet, looking down upon him with eyes
dllated and filled with strange light.
Il have been away in my faint, Ralphie,"
she said. g" / have seen them They are
happy together now They are in a
blessed place of light, and they love me and
wait for me 1 see no more the cold,
dark grave, as the end of their beauty and
goodness. / can bear ii now; / am COM
forted p Before her old friend could re-
ply, there came rumbling and creaking
of the big gate; harsh voice exhorting
tired oxen, and then-like a peal of joy
bells-came the sound of Mysies happy
laughter. The child's heart in the old man
rose up to meet it. THANK Sod Elinor. ?"
he said, " that there are young FOLKS yet in
the world, and will be when we are dead
and gone
There will be no old fol-. there" she
answered, TRANQUILITY. I'VE shall all be
young in the kingdom.
The Christmas story is ended. Not in
vain have the shadows of earlier. sterner
times been evoked from the darkness OF the
gathered years (pale shadows that once
were like u.s. if, through this sad, over
true tale, those who read it may better
realize the blessings of their present
o, happy lovers who sit together on this
Christmas Eve and hear the mild south
wind blowing without, bringing its benson
OF frulttulness for the coming wear, give
thought sigh, perhaps-to those happy
lovers of that long-past Christmas Eve.
The ice-bound climate-the home with the
iron rule, never shall you know. Your lot
is in happier days. Be worthy of your
blessed heritagei o, rural denizens of
valley, plain or hill-slope beside the Pacific
sea, Be not N haste to arouse TO labor the
meek, dumb partakers of your daily tolls.
Open not the stable doors too soon, lest
as with great. mild, luminous eyes they
watch the morning star-ye might dis
turb them on their knees
So runs. the legend, framed in times more
reverent than ours. There is a parting
now at the hall door, and sad one One
stamps sturdily down the dark sidewalk
with CHEEKY little whistle the other
listens till step and whistle die away in the
distance. The hall clock points up its
hands toward midnight. The silence is
holy. The God-Brother comes tonight in
His tenderest form-a little child. The
children turn on their pillows and smile
The hour is at hand o, happy jewellers
in this land beloved of the Lord, A
Merry Christmas to one and all