Middletown transcript., 1892-12-22

only heard the echo of the coachnian'
horn as the horses tore down the turn
{ pike to New York.
Baby Marshall was in her grandmoth
er's lap and smiling brightly in her face
katrine piled the table with hot grid
die cakes, fragrant tea, sweet butter ant
golden honey.
Farther and farther the stage carried
the wanderer from the old home.
Christmas bells ringing over the land
Christmas sunshine glinting the far
reaching carpet of snow, and picturesque
tree boughs hung with icy diamonds
In the churches music and song swelling
ont on the clear. frosty air.
| Unto us a son is born,
Unto us king is given.
Christ, the Lordl
Old Mrs. Marshall always walked to
| churcl: Christmas morning, and as she
listened to the sweet tide of song her
head bent lowly down and prayer
welled up from the poor old mothers
soul: Lord, | have waited SO long.
Let me see my boys face again before
die!'
In that moment the church clock
chimed 12 meridian.
In that moment, as she recalled after
| ward, peace spread its white wings
above her, and an angel voice seemed to
whisper, "All is WE'LL" When she re-
turned the family had assembled for the
Christmas dinner.
There was Rube, who had good
farm in the highlands-Rube, the steady
going "a broad shouldered, sturdy
Saxon, With his pretty, dark eyed wife.
dressed IN a new black silk with real
lace col lr and cuffs; Marianne, the belle
Of the f. amily. and the youngest. a lass Of
eighteen, blond, sebonair and roguish,
with her good looking fiance lowering
beside her, the son of well to do farmer
in the vicinity, whose daughter Marianne
had just been visiting for few days
There, too, was Alfred, the doctor, a
portly, well meaning man, and a little
of a dandy in his dress, as became a
physician and bachelor popular among
the invalid ladies of Westchester.
The deacon trudged in from his own
meeting house, where minister and dea-
con had been holding private session
of two hours over the backsliding of
some poor soul predoomed according to
their belief to damnation. There was a
general handshaking of father and kiss
ing of mother. The deacon did not be-
lieve in kissing or indulging in the
profane luxury of smile on the Sab
bath day, but Christmas, even accord
ing to his creed, Wis made for rejoicing
Among all the family that day
queen had been enthroncd-the waif
who had arrived the night before. A
big box had come for her by Sam Dolan,
the carrier, and its contents showed that
the wild Texan rover had not spared
expense on his little daughter. Gay in
blue silk and lace and ribbons, the little
thing tossed her curls and beamed de-
lightedly. first on one, then ON another,
conscious of being the object Of every
body's admiration.
At last she cuddled up in her grand
mothers arms and fell softly asleep.
Poor grandma! She felt repaid for those
years of waiting and WEAKNESS as she
Graded the little ones head on her
breast and brushed her pale face against
the fluffy, silken hair. Just as every
body grew keenly hungry Katrine ran~
forth welcome peal from the dinnt
bell.
After the deacon's grace what chorJ
of praises went up! Was there ever SUI
adelicious, fGt, brown turkey as mother:
Whoever made such clear jelly? And
the tiny pig-roasted whole-with the
apple in its mouth! And the mince pies,
and whole pitchers Of russet cider, ice
cold!
The perfumes of Araby the blest arose
from the banquet.
But every fast must have IFS end.
The day llwcrel az evening came on;
gusty clouds chased each other across
the slIy. AMI fube. full to repletion.
pushed back lis chair an.l said lie must
be .'ge:tin up his team pretty soon. as
he'd promised his wife they'd stay at
her mothers, seven miles farther up, for
the night" Just at this moment Ka-
trine. who had gone to the well for
pitcher Of fresh water, looked in at the
door and beckoned mysteriously to old
Mrs. Marshall, which caused her to
make excuse, and leaving the room to
seek the spot to which the girl pointed.
In the cleaning, beside the old moss
fsf, hI1a ho hT7r1 in fha ~
stood tall. stalwart man, who, as his
mother advanced, trembling and uncer-
tain, held out his arms.
Mother! oh, motherr' he said with Q
hoarse sob in his voice.
With such cry as only a mother
could understand, the poor, fragile crea-
ture threw herself upon the broad, sturdy
bosom of the man before her-her lost
child of SO many years. What prayers,
what silent tears, what longings of heart
had drained his mothers life of strength
for his sake!
Mother, told you | had lived an
honest life."
willie, do you think | did not feel
that to be so?'
"Well, | mean to say that am
ashamed to face no one: but when
went away that day | expected never to
return until my baby was a young
woman. | wandered down to the city
and felt lonelier amid all those strange
faces than | would on leagues of prairie
with not a living thing in sight. L
heard the bells of old Trinity Ginning
and pealing, and just because was so
lonesome | turned into the church. |
had not been in such place for years.
The music lifted me right out of my
self. mother, and as | thought Of the
old home bowed my head and said a
prayer. the first for many year, that
might return there and find welcome.
l will always remember that just then
the clock toi!ed ont l2. 1t marked the
honr when made up my mind to go !
home again"
She led Kim along as when he was a +
little child mp the olden path into the
well remembered room. |