Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-04-10

"Then the mother cried out from her
/ bed that il must be seen 10, and sent
/ and had the father walked; and he and
| the nurse went out and found in the
snow beneath the window an old, old
woman, bent and gray and shriyeled
/ so that the wonder was how she ever
got there. She was almost frozen, and
they carried her into the house, and
into the mothers room, because there
was the noblest fire. They laid her
near il and chafed her limbs and
comforted her with wine. And the
mother, from her pillows, looked on
and told them what tO,do. Soon the old
woman opened her eyes, and the first
thing they beheld was the fire. How
beautiful she muttered, aud held out
her wlthered hand; so beautiful! so
beautiful and she went on for many
moments murmuring about the beauty
OF the flames. Presently she espied the
infant, and leaning over the cradle she
scanned him long and earnestly"
Dan paused, his eyes shimmering with
mirth.
600 on! go on said the boy i'm
patiently.
Il know the old witch gave the child
red hair" mnrmured Ella; "but go on. "
Mary said nothing but leaned nearer
The poor little thing lay there so
pink and still and helpless, with its
round bald head on the pillow and Its
small hands folded like rose leaves, -
continued Dan, land he looked so inno-
cent and lovely, that the old woman's
heart was stirred and she longed TO do
something for him. Pressing her hand
therefore over his head and gazing ten
derlv on the fire, she said slowly: TO
the child OF the house that has sheltered
me and warmed me ! give the most
beautiful thing IN all the world. He
shall be crowned with locks that glow
and curl like the flames that leap from
the hearto Of the Goals. Their color shall
rival the rudy hue OF the wine which
is warming my frame, and their texture
shall be as soft and as fine as the SILK In
the hands Of the spinner.
"Then the mother cried out against
lt. for IL seemed 10 her cruel wrong TO
put on little child. Not so-it is a
blessing, the old woman said; for 10
those who love him the locks shall glow
with warmth and beauty until obey
think that nothing In all the broad
earth can compare with them, while to
those who hate him they will seem hid
cons and suggest many unpleasant i'm
ages. and all who hate him will speed
ily depart from him. And that will be
good for the boy, because he will al
ways have around him only those who
love him. Then the old woman van
ished up the chimney, Ran, In big
Duff of smoke, and everything she said
came to pass, for the old woman was a
fairy"
There was a pause when the tale was
done.
Then Ella said: after this shall
defend red hair from all aspersions.
shall maintain with all my strength
that il is the color preferable to all
others, and shall call 1t Titanesque and
| lovely.
Ran climbed mp on the arm OF the
chair and again rested his soft round
| cheek upon il. II love it," he an
nounced; cit warns me clear through
TO my heart, il does, and I think IL is
more beautiful than any hair in the
/ world"
There was nothing in the little story
TO account for it, but that night, when
Mary was in her chamber, she took from
between the leaves Of her Bible faded
photograph Of fair, noble looking man
/ with eyes ike Rams, and glanced al u
long and earnestly. Suddenly she bent
her face down on 1t with whisper that
was almost wall, '0h, my dear, my
| dear, forgive me-