The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-12-29

cansEles.
ur. gsaisev heard bis MISTER shutting
afxus his rooan FOR . while, hezrd hiEn
throg his Shoes into conner. and then,
hearing no mere, concluded that Mr.
Archibald Sawyer had retired % bed And
bis conclusion was right; The ogd nsaa bad
gone to bed. ard 10 the Lard ~ dreams.
50. wathous taking the trouble 80 remove
his clothes. Mr. Smiley crawied n be-
tween the weii-worn blankets. and vas
aoon IN that part OF the universe where the
brother Of ABB found his wife 50 nzany
years ago.
And there seemed TO be 30 good reason
whv either q these worthy men should
not sleep They didn't have 70 worry
aboak the selection Of Christmas gifts !:
they bad not been appointed on any church
COMMITTEES. and entrusted with the duty
Of arranging the Christmas decorations.
As for Mr.. Sawyer. he was so old, and
hard. aud mean. that he hadn't remem-
. bered for eveg 50 many years that he him
self had ever been boy, and been happy
az Christmas time.
StiII Mr. Sawyer did not 60 right 10 sleep.
He lay on his rickety little cot running
over in bis mind bis mortgages past due.
and wondering whom else be could bring
up with q Ground turn when he fell
asleep. Boy and man, childhood and old
age are all on level in that strange land
OF dreams 10 which old Sawyer was speed
iiy carried.
II was Christmas morning and old saw
yer was on bis way 10 his Office down
town. The snow groaned as If In pain uti-
der the Sect Of fastening pedestrians; the
air was clear and frosty aud rang with the
Merry Christmasesn Of happy hearts.
A rude boy, who was making iee-balIs 70
throw AZ passing sleighs, sang out:
"HeIlo, old Sawyerl Did yer know twas
Christmas7 Did yer git hole IN yer
stockin7''
noid Archibald sawyer never was boy;
Never had Christmas. never owned 3 toy;
Never had mother, never had kid
when Nature made old sawyer, she bust Tue,
sine dia."
sang q wicked boy from safe distance on
the opposite side OF the street.
Down in the center OF town, and just as
the old man was about TO cross the street
to his Office on the other corner, he was
met by poorly dressed woman leading by
the hand a little thin-faeed boy. He stepped
out into the deep snow. the sooner to pass
the forlorn looking couple, but the hollow
eyed woman placed herself directly before
him, ard barred his further progress.
"Won't you please help as, slr2 We two
are alone In the world, and We are cold and
very hungry.
Then 20 10 the infrmary as other pau
pers do, gruffly replied the old man with
out locking towards the woman. Il pay
taxes to keep that thing up, and that's all |
can afford 10 DO"
II am very sorry, sir" returned the
woman. you know the Master says"
"There, now. stop that internal cant.''
roughly commanded the irate old man, as
for the first time he looked the woman full
in the face.
The sight froza the words upon his lips
and nearly stilled the beating of his heart.
For he saw before him, poor and pale from
suffering, and just as he remembered see-
ing her, years ago, the mother who bore
him; and the little. peaked-faced fellow she
held by the hand looked strangely like him.
self when ragged. fatherless boy.
The tenderness of the old mans better
nature, buried for so many years beneath a
heavy crust of sordid seltishness and heart
less meanness that it had been utterly for
gotten. came appermost once more. and be
cried out
sMother Oh, motherl'
lie knew that paseers-by were watching
him curiousiy as he stood there before that
woman and her child, but he did not care,
He stood in that presence that will soften
and elevate any human heart. and warm ii
to a genial glow. though the winters of the
world have chilled ii through and through
Ibis motheri He threw out his arms 20
clasp the only woman who had ever lain
upon his breast-but she faded away and
was gonel
Realizing In amoment that he was stand.
ing alone in the deep snow that walled in
the beaten path, he recovered himself. and
passed on and into his office. where he
threw himself into chair and gave him.
self up 10 thoughts OF his mother, whom
he had not seen for bali century. and oil
bis own childhood. which be seemed long
ago utterly to have forgotten. Suddenly
the door opened, and the mother and child
sgain stood before him. Once more he en-.
/ deavored 10 embrace her. but resumed his
| seat as she waved him back. sank into q
chair facing his own, and drew the child
/ into her lap.
Archie" she Said-~it was the same
| name his mother used 20 call him years
| ago, the name he had not heard since the
| day she went away from him Archie
| don't You remember, when your father
| died and left us penniless, how good friends
| came 20 our aid Don't you remember
how good Mr.. Kingsley took you, then 8
/ little fellow, and took care Of you, and eeu.
Gated You. and finally gave you start IN
I life. thus laying tue foundation eff tue am.
/ Pie fortune you now posSessf Mr.. Kings
/ leo haS tnDf. bean taa4 me sas, arI ~ =
/ great debt you owed him has never beea
1 paid You, nay dear son, who SO pride
yourself on the fact that you are q promp.
/ paymssser, who deSaaRd prompt payment
/ from others, have yet utterly failed % pay
/ the lrst debt YOU ever contracted in lie,
I and ay far the greatest, for 10 BIN you owe
/ al that Yen are and ali that yea possess
! You cannot repay Dir. Kingsley. Archie
/ he did not expect yoa to--hut you can siS.
/ charge that debt by giving Of your
/ ample means 10 relieve hamaa sui.
/ fering, BY aiding those who. less
/ fortunate than yourself are unable
| To aid themselves. Reanega Der. nv
son. ST the Indebtedness ia this world i
ret recorded on day-books and journals
! and isdEeT&. Statements og account ara
| uef sent eat for all the debts incurred a,
va journey thFough life. bat. belteve me
I the acC0unR Is accurately kept Sorasw here
! and the recording angel never fereeis d
j credit rood deed done, Are there many
/ entries upon thai side OF the paxe. Archie
/ speslaye that son oeaid nos begin 10 resines
/ the debt yea csc sc any hegter time
than oa TIE day on whseh shs
J wssTia celebrates the birth Of ia SAVIOR
and kiag. For yoar sake, my dear hoy. |