Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1889-06-07
FRIDA'S GIFT.

Erery woman desires, above all things
% Do loved. and Frida vas no exception
70 the rulc. but when Il came TO being
put upon q pedestal and Worshiped from
. distance the pleasure dill not outlast
The novelty.
h was cold up there all alone, and she
wanted "a be warmed. Respectful hom-
age might do for queens. but she WA
only d loving hearted LITTLE German girl,
who had lust PASSED her sixteenth birth
day, and been invested with tire cm-
broidercd bronze clippers, which sisniiied
Eiat childhood had passed. and she
might tako her place in the world as a
young lady, and be called "yOu, in
stead OF the familiar thou" of years
past. and who had had no thought be-
yohd papa, and tho children,
iIl the young candidate Rheinhart came
~to'be'bitor to her brothers and keep her
from forgetting what she knew.
Much time was passed In the school
room. end Franz Rheiphart soon discov.
cred that the docile. golden haired pupil
would DO the sweetest bride on earth for
some one fortunate enough 70 win her.
That 1t should DO himself never en-.
tered his uoind. As soon would he have
asked pne Of the royal family to keep his
house and mend his socke-which shows.
OF how much advantage u deep reading
and knowledge TO q man IN understand
ing a woman.
Il had not taken v~ry long for Rhein-
hart 70 become Frida's ideal of oil that
vas great and good. Hia learning she
Venerated, his abstraction covered, to
hor. the most profound thinking. while
his careless and neglected dress only ex-
cited o longing 70 take upon herself the
humble task Of ministering to the crea-
hue comforts Of this young divine. who,
TO an unprecedented on locker, was at
most an awkward, shy, self conscious
dreamer. only distinguished from hun
dreds OF others by q tiTI. an all abiding
belief In what he professed.
This hero worship. however. did not
S blind mid tabs e 3 s ser TOD told ny s,l Eh sI7,
ulat loving her In this reverent way he
had raised n barrier between them that
she alone could remove. and when could
1t bc better lone than now, at the feast
of the blessed Christ childY
She could not as yet tell how, but II
should be done; no loved her already.
would ool Toll her 50, and u the mean.
time she Tcyeled " inaoc7pt dreams OF
tbs future.
He would soon have q parish. O!
course, and she would work hard; Oh.
yes. and do oil he told her with the CHI
drena classes; hut If she could only Tool,
8 littlo older; such q curly head and uaby
face would i'll become q coffee table sur
rounded by-Heaven preserve usl Frau
DOctor THE, and Frau Professor that.
On, no. She will knit and mend his
socks. brew cherry cordial for his cough,
keep lis books busted, and never. never
lose the loose leaves Of his rnon any
thing but take her place as Frau Pastorin
and receive oil these awe inspiring Indies,
Startled by this idea into looking up
she met his eyes liked on hers, felt SURF
To had read her thoughts, and hid hcl
blushing face behind q huge pile Of un
nended socks.
Poor Franz never dreamed the blusl
Waa for him; he saw himself through hi
own blue glasses and sighed, patiently
going on with little Max, who could not
under repeated explanations, DO mado Il
understand that tho square OF a number
was not the same as twice.
Was the child dullor than usual, o.
waa Il that he could hardly sec the slat'
through the mist of a visiOn?-a vision
OF u little room smaller than this, OH yes
but warm, with curtains and tirclighti 1
has sielve0 on three sides with books
and books arc on Q stand at bis RICH
hand.
In the middle Of the room there Il
Abic with a green cloth, and a napkin
folded diamond fashion under the lamp
Tbere "a o work basket too, and Il be
lonRs t0 a dear little wife whose feet or
on the fender. o little golden haired wife
WhQss name Is Frtda. But no must havI
spoken Ge uAuls ulUuui aUt utsc tvvE~A ~
.Did you speak 70 nc, Herr PROBES
SOrT'
Pardon. Fraulein. / but though
aloud; VIC wan 70 leave the book an,
states tonight, the little onea and ], 70
stories Of the Christ Child"
Elf you viii listen ] viii tell thcr
better.N
So, while the good mother in the mex
room dressed the children's tree, Ga
candidate told quaint old legends Of HOY
rho oxen Ia tho stable warmed the Hol
babe with their breath; Of how the wis
man who wOrahlped him were. after hi
death, baptized 10 the faith. And Of HOY
the Christ Child fills tho shoes Of goo
children, and knows when only a rod
deserved, till tie little eyes opened wild
with the same wonder they felt ever
year. nDd thoy IA % hunt for their Sur
nay slices, sure Of forgiveness for Oh
httle naughtinesaes that had alroad
brought their punishment from the dca
hAuao mother.
Frida aud Franz. left alone, aai
stu; no saw again tho little cnrt-..a
room, with Frida 10 the armchair, IN
worabpeJ her with hiAeyes. Oh, HEAVIER
u he sta there ton minutes longer h
must teu her; then aho will open her bi
blue eyes Rt HIN, and run 10 her mother
then tomorrow the fnther viii most ~
doubtsdly tell him tho liltla boys are I
haYe apcfaeT r1toT.