The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1891-12-23
safed no reply, but turning, strobe rap

idly in the direction Of the barn.
From that time on he had never
spoken his daughters name. And al
though he knew that mother and the
boys got occasional letters from her, yet
he never by sign or inquiry showed that
he ever thought of her. or had the
slightest interest in knowing whether
she was dead or alive.
But on the Christmas eve that have
introduced him to your notice, he sat by
the fire thinking; and his thoughts were
OF her. Ho had long ago admitted to
himself that he was too hasty when he
drove his only daughter away from his
home; but he still remained silent At
each family reunion, always held on
Christmas day, he had missed her. And
as the coming one was to be held at his
house, and his brothers and sisters,
with their families, would be there, he,
with some bitterness Of feeling, was
brooding over the fact that, through no
fault of his, he reasoned, the pleasures
Of the day would be marred. Every
body missed Mary; the children OF his
nephews and nieces would ask for her
and talk about her, despite the admoni-
tions they had received to the con-
trary. AS he was busy with his thoughts,
gazing the while modify into the fire,
and now and then PUNCHING up the fore
sticks in a spiteful sort OF way, Grand
ma Botsworth suddenly spoke up and
said:
"Tomorrer'll be another white Christ
mas This makes two on 'em right hand
runnin'. Three years ago was a mighty
mild winter, and we had green Christ
mas that year"
Here the old lady paused and heaved
o sigh. No one said anything and she
continues: 81 recolleck now there was
more buryin's that year in the Bald Hill
buryin' groun' than there has been since
oil put together"
"Yes," assented Mrs. Botsworth, re-
flectively, "a green Christmas alters
makes fat graveyard, they say, an 1
never knowed it to fail +"
81 reckon it'll be good sleighin' to-
morrer," observed Uncle Billy, IAN all
the-folks'll come over in the bobs. Ehl
what's that?"
The exclamation with which he con-
cluded his remark was caused by the
furious bark of old "Maje," the watch
dog, the sound Of voices in the front
yard, and what seemed to be the cry OF
child in fear.
The two boys started for the front
door, while the remainder OF the family
sat intently listening and wondering who
could be their visitors They had not
long to wait; for minute latter the
sitting room door was flung open and
Jacob strobe in, bearing in his arms q
bright and lusty 2-year-old boy. Almost
snatching the wraps from about 1t, and
holding the little fellow up, he shouted:
"Pap, look at your grandson; Filsey's
come, an this Is her boy"
1.-The devil it is" roared Uncle Billy,
springing to his feet, with a face as
black as a thundercloud. Take him
away; / don't want ter see him."
"Hold on q minute" shouted clear,
strong voice in the doorway. 1t was the
son-in-law who had spoken, and who
stepped into the room, his figure erect
and eyes blazing with anger "Ho!d on
a minute, / say" he continued; 81 want
q word, Bill Bo:sworth, | can buy and
sell you. i am rich man, but you
don't have to own me fer son-in-law
on that account. AS for me, l can get
along without you. But Mary here
wanted to come back and see her mother
and all of you once more, and l said she
should; and, more than that, ] said you
should treat her and baby right or I'd
make you; and, by thunder Ill do 1t!
Understand me, | ask no favors for my
self; but for this poor girl here, that
still loves you, but who wants to come
home only for little while, / will speak
for, and fight for, too, II necessary"
Even while he was talking, mother and
daughter were weeping in each others
embrace, and Grandma Botsworth,
rising with difficulty from her seat, laid
her hand on her sons shoulder "Will-
iam," she said, shows as good time to
give in as ye'll ever have. II Mary an
VIII can afford to forgive you, 1 don't
see how you can. help forgiven them
Come now, son, do right"
For an instant he stood struggling
with his passion. then love conquered
extending his hand to his son-in-law, he
said: "Billy, l knock under; I've made
q mistake an am sorry for it. Daughter
come here"
With a glad cry Mary put her arms
around his neck and kissed him again
and again.
There, there, child" the old fellow
murmured, in voice husky with emo
ton, "it's all forgot now, an"
But he did not finish the sentence.
And, while Mary was kissing grandma
and all were silently crying for Joy, he
..