The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-12-23

~I~iI.H
With batei brezth Nellie hstenei
back 70 her mother. ~ho. in the siol~nre
Of her grief, had 10, heard aught thar
passed
Mamma she shi-p-rei. -Ssn;.
Oizns vas there, know. Tor ne snsser-d /
me. Uncle viii cvule"
Ms Martin kissed her little girl with
sad. incredalous smile.
Let Us hope be siH, NY love. And 4
now you must 20 TO bed without further
delay and laying her work aside, she
arose 70 Sc her little ones in their hum
ble couch.
While the children bad been engaged !
at their play rlAn had approached the
cottage from without, and pansingin front
OF il. Surveyed il glOomily.
And this s the place % wbich she
has been drlven,v he murmured = he I
must be dead, then Has poverty soft
eaed her hezrt, wonder. or would she
still drive me from ner With harsh snd l
bitter xoris > / aave enoush 10 lift them /
al 10 happiness and plenty may IShOE-
er Il upon them, or mus be . szIsdersr /
once more? II only had some Sign
some means Of knoSing whether my re- /
turn would be seleomed-xhether on |
tais anniversary night Of three years sgo |
there i feeling oftenderness, OF long
M in her heart for me One word ofinti-
nation that the p4s- Eouid be forgotten 1
and forgiven, would reconcile u sgain
and make 6 both 50 happy
As be stood there, irresolute, his eve
fell upon the low roof, and scdden and I
novel idea entered his mind.
The children viii doubtless be peti- I
tioning santa Claus for Christmas gifts:
and how should Ike 70 play the part Of
the good szint in their behalf. and far ex-
ce-d ali they could ask With nv ear TO !
the chimney could hear all they szy |
a ifone word Of tender rrnenbrzuce
reaches ne, l VII 20 TO her seknOsl |
e. sny error, and rring. on this Christ
n : eve, happiness joy, and peace to her !
heart There viii De 20 one passing this
lonely place, and there IS no danger Of /
m being SEEN
Possessed With this idea, and treDb- /
ling xith exeitsmsnt, he dres himself /
slasIy and e4refr!ly Up On the xooden |
pzlings, and from thence gained the roof. !
he had scarcely secured himself al bis /
novel post, when Eddie's clear, sturdy !
voice reached HI ear. followed by the
genfler accents Of his little nieoe, Then
folloEed short silence and oi-apPoint- 1
e. AMI sd. he vas about to vsezte his /
post when. once more Ihe soft, silvery /
tones came floating up
Dear santa Claus. Eon't you please 1
bring Cncie Eide back 70 mamma She /
wants 10 forgive him-she cries for hin
esery day. On, d AZ Szn'a Clzus. s-y /
yoa viii =
The mans eyes grew heavy with joy
fol tears, and almost inroiunt4rily, be
made the answer which had 50 surprised /
his iiitle niece and then sliding noise-
leszly down, sped with rapid steps toward
tie city.
An hour had passed. and Mrs Martin I
still sat Eith her heal bowed. upon her
hands and her mind travelling sorrosful- |
" over the past Three years before she
had been happy in the love Of husband
and brother nov she had been bereft I
Of both.
A dispute, trivial in is con n-nesn ut
had arisen betEeen the Two men o1ta
were proui, high-ienpervi and hasty |
aud although q word from her, ffly spo-
ken, xo1ld have saffioed to pour oil on
the troubled waters. and restore al 20 /
peace and hzrmoay again, i Vas with
he'd and taking sides with her husband /
she added her reprozehes and recrinins- 1
tions 70 his zad the var E2ged fercer 1
aaG dercer, until N q moment Of ungov-
ernable passion she bade him leave her 4
house, and never dzrken her doors
agair.
Bitterly had she since repeated the /
words when II Ess too late 10 = call them /
aad miles separated Der from the broth |
er she had loved 50 dearly. And when, /
al the end Of two years her husband /
died, leaving his business Affairs 20 CON- |
plicated and embarrassed, that in a few /
months aftervard she had been driven /
to this mezgre home, aud despite her Ut /
mos. efforts destitntiOn stared them in /
the face, the bitter sting Of poverty add
ed 70 her grief and rsmorse, until It seem /
{ that life was too great q Jufden 70 Oe /
borne and her heart yezrnei 70 aching 1
for the return Of thst wandering brother, |
aud the soothing balm Of peace and rec
onciiiation-
~0h. that ny sweet Nellie's childish /
fancies might be realized - she muruur-
ed, sadly that there ~&s some coed !
spirit TO bear ny loSe and repentance 10
nv dear brother, ard restore him once
more 10 my arms That would De bless
ed Christmas gift, indeed
Even while she spoke a low knock /
,unded on the door. Rising from her
seat. she drew the Dol, with trembling |
haste, and threw the door open, to Be /
confronted BY man, mufTied up 50 as to /
be uHrecogniz4ble. and his arms fuli Of |
bundles.
Viii you allow Santa Clans to fuI6ll /
tn. desires OF the dear little ones sho |
have asked in such loving fzith 70 night
he said, With a grave sSeeiness then.
stepping into the room, he laid his bun
dies down on the table, and pushing /
hi cap from MS brow, be eonfrOnsed |
b r
I have come back 70 you. Nellie be |
said, holding out his arms. for from the |
lips Of r1y little niece have heard that /
am forgiven
A loE cry Of joy broke from the lips Of
the widowed mother as she fell into the
arms outs,re.ched TO receive her; then,
as she partly raised herself End looked !
with questioning silence into his E.es, be
drew her 10 chair, 2nd sat down beside |
h--
Two days ago, Nellie | came back TO
my nsiive city, impeiled By a Bonginz
which could not resist- - look uD1n u