South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1892-12-23

80 +ch vic oaL'A Lleus than ever
- 70 etood there. Tbe chilotsri's
eyes grew wider ana wider as they
formed very impatient sort Of a
circle; but Grandfather 8 own eves
shut for 9 moment, as they had a
nsolt OF doing sometimes. and his
White head was all of a tremble.
But In q momeat he looked around
again, aud said:
Children, which OF you can tell
Thst Child it was that came into
the world on the fret Christmas
morning!
They were not quito ready to
answer aqusstion that c me 70 sud-
dsniy,snd before any OF them could
speak, a clear, sweet little voice
came right out Of the middle Of the
tree
i know. And the shepherds
found Him In manger, and His
mother was with Him. He sont
down after my mother last Sum
mer.'
'Bijsh 2 exclaimed grandfather !;
but grandmother was already push
ing aside the boughs, and now they
could all sec him. Only HIS curly
head and his little shoulders were
visible above the grain bag, and
Uncle Hiram shouted:
Father Vrooman, he's in Your
stocking Who could have put him
there p
1 think know said grsndfath-
ar, IN 0 very low, husky kind of
voice but all the Simpsons and
Hopkinses and Hardys broke loose
at that moment, aud it took them
until breakfsst-t to compare
the things they found III their stock
ings, and all the other wonderful
fruits Of that spendid Christmas
tree.
Bjah was lifted ont Of the bag,
and he got his stocking on, after it
was empty. For some reason, he
ccnld not guess why, al the grown
up people kissed him, and grand
father made him sit next to him at
breakfast.
That was a great breakfast, and
ittook ever SO long TO eat it, but it
was hardly over before grandmother
followed grandfather into the hall,
and they heard her say:
'Nog, husband, what are you
wrapping up 30 for, just to go to
the barn ?
Barn? Why, my dear, I'm 60
ing to town. 1 told Pat to have
The team ready
TO town? Why, husband
Mother, there'll be stores open
to-day. l can buy cords of toys and
caady things When l get to the
orphan asylum, TO tell 'em what's
become of Bijsh, and why he won't
ever come there again, I'm going to
have enough to 60 around the rest
Of 'em-I am, il it takes the price
Of cow
Give EN- something for mo-
Uncle Hiram heard it, and he
shouted And for me- and Uncle
John followed, and all the rest, till
tho children caught it up, and there
was contribution made from eve-
~ stocking that had hung on that
Christmas tree. They all gave just
as fast as they understood what it
was for, and the last one to fully
understand was Bijeh.
You amt going to take me?'
His lips quivered little.
No, Dijah not unless you want
20 90. Wouldn't you rather stay
hero p
Course ] would
That was not all, for both his
hands were out, holding up the
store Of things which had come to
him that morning, and he added
Take EN-
Something was the matter with
Grandfather VroOman's beard n
gain, but he told Bijah he could
get plenty of other things in town.
Keep 'em Bijah. Good-by, all
Of you. I'll bo back in time for
dinner. Children, you and Bush
must be kind 20 Bijah. lie came
to US on Christmas morning, and
be has come TO say
Bush apd the children did their
part, rad SO did all he rest, and
so did Bijab, and so it was q per-
fec Christmas Earper's Young
People.