Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1890-12-26

in helping to unload vessels, sir" replied
the man.
''You ought not to have spoken to him
so, James. Poor child! wish you had let
me know of his being here
Eyes, papa, you would not let him 60
away with such sad face, know said
Willie.
James, keep look out for him. Tell
him to come and help you, and pay him
well. He is a manly little fellow, and l
think would rather work than receive
money without"
''Yes, sir, James answered.
Mr. Austin, turning to his wife, said: Il
wish, my dear, either to-day or to morrow,
so it may reach them by Christmas day
you would make up basket or box of such
things as will please and comfort too,
those little ones, and send it over with the
kind wishes of ours"
"Oh, yes, yes, do mamma. How nice it
Will be-" the children exclaimed.
Just then carriage stopped before the
house, from which gentleman sprang out,
and ran quickly up the steps. Willie sang
out:
"Uncle Charley Hurrah Uncle
Charley has GOMEZ
Another moment, and a handsome,
middle aged man entered the room, catch
ing first Mrs. Austin, and then the little
ones, in loving embrace.
In the joy of Uncle Charley's coming,
the little ones across the street were quite
forgotten for that day; and the next, Mrs.
Austin was so busy with preparations to
m axe Christmas day one of rejoicing, in
honor of Uncle Charlty's return, that she
had no time to think of the poor little
ones. Once Willie exclaimed:
"0h, mamma, you have not sent oyer
the presents to those little children"
Mrs Austin was quite annoyed at the re-
minder, but said:
''Dear me! l had quite forgotten. There
ale so many really necessary calls on my
time and memery, can hardly be expect
ed to remember such things. But to-
morrow will do just as well. I'll go out
this evening and purchase some little
presents for them"
Christmas morn dawned brightly. What
merry set of little ones the Austins were!
Scarcely any breakfast was eaten. They
could not spare the time from the beauti
full and almost countless presents-presents
from papa, mamma, Uncle Charley, aunts,
cousins, and friends innumerable.
The youngest of them, Lilly, a little
three year-old fairy, stood on a chair ar
ranging her doll at the window for passers
/ to admire. Presently she sang out in a
pretty, isping voice:
"Oh, Willie, come sect Is that Christ
mas boxf"
"Oh, no. MOI 1t is little coffin"
All hastened to the window then, with
awed and solemn faces. After a few
moments Mr. Austin said:
"My dear, did you send over some things
to those little onesi"
"0h, no; 1 intended to this morning. l
thought it would be just as well. have
had so much to think Of" answered Mrs.
Austin, in tone of regret
"Too late now to comfort one of them,"
Nj. Austin said sorrowfully.
Yes, too late to comfort little May.
For three or four days previous to
Christmas she had failed much, grown Wis
IDLY weaker. When the dawn Of that
blessed day came she cried out:
mamma, I'm so glad! I'll soon be well !!
See-I can stand upW
For second she stood on her feet-her
hands clasped-an expression of unearthly
Joy on her beautiful, pale face.
The mother sprang forward, clasped her
arm around ami drew back to her bosom
only Mays little lifeless body.
Scarcely had she laid tenderly down the
loved form when Georgie's Christina as
greeting reached her ear.
"May, may. where are youf See! here
is your Christmas wreath"
He ran joyously in. The smiles fed-a
frightened look from the pale, cold face,
to his mother, so fearful and sad, and
George cried:
"What is the matter mammal Won't
May wake upf"
In vain she tried to comfort him and ex
plain how happy May was, away with the
angel children. But George could only
understand that May was gone from them;
and burying his little face in the pillow Jon
which her dear head rested, he wept him
self to sleep.
shadow had stolen over the merry
folks of the Austin house. The children
watched with anxious faces the closed win
dow where their little neighbors used to
sit, and wondered for which the little coffin
was.
Mrs. Austin pleasure was marred, for
great regret was in her heart. Constantly
came the thought:
"If had only remembered those poor
little ones!"
at is never too late to do right and
good. Send to the children left, and in
quire if we may do anything to help them
in their trouble. Do you know their
names, my deari" said Mr.. Austin.
"Grayson, 1 believe. think she is a
widow"
"Graysonp' exclaimed Uncle Charley.
"Tell me more of them"
"The little fellow told me his papa had
gone to Australia, and"
Ere Willie had finished his story Uncle
Charley was crossing the street, to the
great astonishment of his sister and
brother-i -in-law.
Two hours passed before he returned.
Then he told them that the father of these
little ones was his dearest friend; that his
return home was principally to find George
Grayson's widow and children, AMI bear to
them the little fortune he had made.
"And must pay to those he loved the
debt of gratitude 1 owed to him." said
Uncle Charley. "He nursed me through
the fever, and when all others pronounced
me dead, he still worked on, and with
Gods blessing, saved me-"
"And his loved ones so near to ME, and
so needy; Oh, if had only known it,"
said Mrs. Austin.