The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1889-12-21
A CHRISTMAS GIFT.

The close Of a dreary Christmas eve was
approaching In a great city. The streets
were thronged with the hurrying feet Of
thousands of busy shoppers, who were
anxiously rushing hither and thither in
search Of the remaining articles that should
complete their list of presents for the NOR
row. In one Of the broad, CHEEKY windows
OF a mansion stood a lad Of some fifteen
summers, and as he peered forth a look Of
rastless anxiety o'erspread his handsome
features. Horace Sayre was a youth whom
the world thought fortunate, yet beneath
that quiet exterior always lurked an ire
pressible yearning-a hopeless longing, and
as he watched the moving throng he
scanned each face with an inquiring glance,
half unconsciously, perhaps, as the habit
had become almost almost a second nature
to him.
Seven years before a happy family Of
~four-father, mother, brother and infant
sister-were returning from a sojourn in the
old world. The great steamer on which
they had taken passage was in mid-ocean
when suddenly, one night, tho passengers
were reused from their berths by the awful
cry, Tho ship is sinking;" and rushing
from their staterooms they found every
thing in confusion on deck, the crew run
ming wildly about, scarce needing the
command Of the officers to lower
the boats. Everyone knew that a dreadful
catastrophe had happened, and none stopped
to learn that their staunch ship had met an
other in the darkness and that in the coils
ion their ocean home had been almost torn
asunder, and the water was fast filing hold
and cabin.
In the confusion several of the boats were
overturned before getting clear Of the sink
ing ship, and their precious loads of human
freight were sent struggling in the black and
chilling waters In one of the boats that
met this dire misfortune were the members
of the family referred to-. Bernard Sayre
and his household had been counted among
the fortunate ones that found places on the
first boat lowered, but when, through the
frightened plunge Of one Of the women, the
frail craft overturned. they were separated
in the darkness. The son, Horace, had
been picked up by the Captains boat a few
been heard of since that fatal night. Their
fate was a mystery didden beneath the roll
ing ocean.
The estate Of Mr.. Sayre was a large one.
and as he had made a disposition of it by
will to his partner in trust for. his wife and
family, after a reasonable time had elapsed,
the admic!saiaSor stepped in and settled it
Up, placing the proceeds in substantial
property for tho benefit Of young Horace,
who was taken into the family Of Mr..
Gregory, his fathers partner, to be raised,
and Mr.. Gregory had found it convenient to
occupy the old home Of the Sayres.
And SO on this December afternoon Hor-
ace stood looking out of the window where
his mother in years gon by had watched
the same passing scene. 1t was a ~favorite
place for the boy, for he had a fancy that
here, from this place, he should some day
see his lost parents and sister. He could not
believe that all three of his loved ones were
lost on that awful night, while he, a child
of eight, should escape an ocean grave.
And he knew, that if his father and mother
should return, that to this spot they would
first bend their footsteps.
AS he stood there, he became interested in
one of the passing scenes before him. A
rough, unkempt man, with h%urdy-gurdy
strapped to his back, had stopped in front
Of his window preparatory to grinding out
Accompanying him was a little girl-almost
a baby, in fact-whose delicate, childish
face was touched with a beauty as rare as it
was striking. She assisted in her feeble
way the man to take down his organ and
set the stop to play a tune, and put her
hand on the crank and motioned for him to
begin the dreary music. Then she daintily
held out a little cup to catch the pennies Of
the passers-by, darling a stray glance now
and then at the windows above to see if
some reward were not waiting from that
direction.
Horace was also attracted to the man,
who was Of a type entirely different from
the ordinary run of s~trolling players. In
stead CT being a son of Switzerland or
Italy, he had the clear complexion of an
American. His high, broad forehead,
strong physique and erect carriage made
one ~involuntarily wonder why he should
have chosen this most mental Of lvelihoods,
INC Horace was shocked at seeing so sturdy,
strong a man in such a situation, till at
length the beggar raised his face toward the
boy. Then the feeling Of disgust and won
der gave place to one of pity, for he saw,
from the expression of the mans eyes and
face, that the intellect was gone, or at least
dormant. A strong face in form and fea-
ture, nevertheless it's expression was vacant
the controlling force absent; there was
strength, but no motive power.
AS the eyes Of the suppliant roamed aim
lessly over the bright windows they caught
sight Of the boys form, pressed closely
against one of them. The wandering orbs
rested a moment with a troubled gaze, and
then the man gave a start. His hand stop
ped the m~onotonous turning, and the face
assumed a far-of, questioning look. His
child guardian noticed the interruption and
quickly catching his hand, she pushed it
round and round with the crank. The beg
gar withdrew his gaze from the window and
went on with his music, but he seemed dis
turbed and i'll at ease. Finally the playing
stopped and Horace threw out of the sash
a piece Of money into the girls cup. She
was evidently much surprised at the size Of
the Offering, and turning around made a
little courtesy to Horace, murmuring an
audible Thank you, - as she started away.
Her companion had gone on ahead Of her
and was now in the middle of tha street.