The National tribune., 1892-12-22
may Day approaches We oan tell Of stiIl greater
things accomplished" sezars Rs
..Then three times three
For the c. c." = .,.sa..G.lraT .

| this moon"
"Do you 'spose father III get home before It COM
| mences?" asked Lanet. anxiousy
He won't be apt to start out while u looks like
| this" replied her mother, eomplacently.
The Agency where the Indians and squaw- men
went once q month to get their provisions from the
Government was Is miles away. When Lanets
father started out the previous morning, she had
reminded him that Christmas only two days
away and then, with that yearning for the ways OF
civilization that has ever been the portion Of the
child born with white blood eoursing with and In
| fuencng the weaker savage, she had asked him
what Christmas was for, and what they did where
he lived whom boy.
thought Of tho time when he had been innocent
and happy too, before the wiekedness OF his ways
| had made him exile from his race. But he grew
tender again rs he gazed at LRnet She was inc
thing i'm toncll with his heart in his savage me-
Never mind, Net" he had said. - haventtime
| to tell you now only, we gave presents, ana III
| bring yon one when come hack
So the days passed, and now when it was time for
him to return. Lanet thought more aud more OF
the day when all the world is giving and receiving
While she and her mother sat down 10 their simple
meal, out the wild prairies, her thoughts were
far away with the Wonderful Child. wondering
what il all meant.
Without the fog drew dsnser; there was dead
calm. then suddenly a swish terrible roaring
from the north, "A binding cloud Of snow, and II
seemed rs If all the elements had let loose and
were tearing and rendng each other in their Jury.
Boreas and the Storm King wrestled until the
world grew dark, while electricity flashed Blyiy
and silently through it all.
All night the storm ragged but when morning
| came II ceased. such a change! huge oIlUs anu
fields of cold white where the horned buffalo
grass aud the short mesquite had nodded TO tife
whispering breeze The WAS shining cold and
high in the east If prone to keep aloof from such
q cherries scene
With a sad heart Lanet took the milking pail and
made her way through the snow TO the barn.
What had been her fathers fate. were he out In
The awful storm. she dared not consider.
Turning a corner she heard faint neigh, and
there, with great balls of ice their faces stood
the patient, haif-frozcn horses her father had
driven. great faintness came over her when she
saw that he was not with them.
Father, o. father I" she cried wildly. Climbing
up great drift to get better view. her eyes feii
upon something below.
Her father! with the wind blowing tho loose scarf
around his rigid face and ice frozen in his matted
hair.
dearest father you can't be Dead she sobbed.
ciasping her arms about him and kissing the ICY
Distracted by her great grief she needed not that
the wind had blown the loose shawl from her
shoulders felt not the chill Of the fierce wind. He
was all she had, ali she had ever known. and now
he was dead, and she laid her warm cheek against
his cold one aud prayed TO 60 wherever she might
Casped in his hand the present he had
| promised her, beautiful Bible.
She opened it where the leaves were parted by
tho stiff fingers They shall not hunger nor
thirst for He that hath mercy on them shall lead
them even by the springs Of water shall He guide
them"
She sobbed Ms she finished the words of promise
and clasped the book again in her hand.
- For He that hath mercy upon then shall lead
them Then lead me TO hum, - and her dark hair
mingled with her sire's lighter locks. to DO tossed
| together for many day.
Far across the praries the bells might peal joy
| ousy of life and good cheer. Of peace on earth
and merry Chiismss-tide, but il snatiered not to
Lane,. With her Christmas present clasped 10 her
hand. He that hath mercy upon ns all had ied
her to her father and TO enjoy forever the presence
of that Ono great Gift to all mankind.-Tennie
Wier, Armour, y. ID. s.rs
| FIRsT-PRIZE SHORT STORY.
1t was Christmas 1776. Our country did not
npaQp md crit left- q
of a terrible. bloody. ruthless war. Discourage
ment aud disaffeoton reigned everywhere. Gen.
Washington alone stood undaunted. Ii was at
such times. when others gave np i'll despair that
his real greatness seen. He resolved to cross
the Delaware on Christmas Day and attack the
enemy al Trenton before daylight the next morn
ing. The troops began to cross the river at sunset
1t was a dark. cold iempsstuous night and the
passage was dangerous and difficult. Four o'clock
In the morning they began TO march,
The storm had increased by this time. Snow
and hail blew in tho faces of the soldiers. They
were insufficientiy clothed. their shoes old and
worn their feet sore and bleeding The men soon
discovered that the fuses of the bst muskes were
wet, aud could not be discharged. Washington
told them to =" use the bayonet aud penetrate into
the town" Trenton was taken. and the news Of
The victory inspired tho Americans with new
courage.
The capture of Trenton was the beginning of
AnIeE,cas greatness. Our country is mighty and
prosperous and we owe ii all 10 Washington and his
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Simenson. Holmes
City, Mimi.
SECOND PRIZE SHORT STORY.
1t was the day before Christmas, and as tired,
sad.lookiug woman walked past the gay shop
windows. one could plainly see by her face that
her heart was far from being in keeping with them.
As she gazed upon the happy. childish faces
passing to and fro a vision of her own family
before her.
Tomorrow would be Christmas and while
others would be feasting, her children would be-
suffering for bread toll rs she might from dawn
till dark. she could not keep the wolf from the
door. She could recall huppier Christmas Ewes.
There had been time when she had pleasant
home and q kind, loving husband. but death
stepped in day and took him. and thus she
found herself a pennies widow with four small
children 10 support, the oldest boy q cripple.
Her husband had been one Of the brave boys
who gave the best part of his life for his couniIys
defense. And she climbed the rickety stairs
this bleak December day. she could not but think
how lightly the counsry's defenders were re-
warded.
few open, and several childish voices cried 4" o,
mamma, do hurry and see what we've got! While
you were gone some lovely ladies came here and
left this basket. They said we were to tell you 1t
because pa pa wore the blue long years ago.
Just the good tiiinRs!"
L. seemed that there was no end to that basket
There were pies, cakes, and nice fat turkey;
warm mittens, shoes, etc. It seemed that there
was nothing lacking.
As soon the mother could recover from her
as,o.Iisnent she cried the tears Of thankful
ness coursed down her cheeks: God bless the
Woman's Relief Corps, for this Is some Of their
work."-Carrie M. Brown, Burg Hill. o.
1t was . pretty picture that gaddened Miles
Bouviers eyes that Winter evenings picture
that greeted him ut tie close of every day, yet one
that he never tired of-bis wife and children in the
little aicove at the end Of the big old fashioned
hall. There a red fire ieaped in the wide-nouihed
replace. casting rosy light over them. and in
watching them Miles forgot to read his paper.
Sometimes he joined la their talks; oftener he sat
aud listened with keen enjoyment that is only
born Of love.
This was the ehildren's hour-the hour most
dearly priced of all the a. This the time
when cherished plans unfolded childish
wrongs confessed. and ALI their wants poured into
mother ID
Mother sat in her low rocking CHAIR her children
| all about her; Bert with his hand on the back OF
her chair; Bob and Tom lay at her feet, lovingly
/ clasped In each others arms; Fred sat embracing
his knees afectonately; Bess, aged three, was on
her Jap while little Christopher knet beside her.
| his resting on her knee and a far on look in
his eyes. Why he was always mentioned last none
could say, for lie next to Bert. He fair,
frail child. and hardly joiued his brothers in
| their rougher sports, but chung TO bis mothers
side like q GIRL the twins said. They were fair.
too. but with rugged fairness. He was IA Christ
| ST. Christopher; and tho story he liked best TO
hear was The legend of Si Christopher and the
| ClIrist-chId He dreamy child. with I'm
chiidijke notions, one sure to grow up dreamer,
people said.
This evening they were telling What they wished
for Christinas-caps with feathers in Them, drums
and sw ords and all things that delight The hearts
| of small and war-iike boys; and iSess waited
| Santa" TO bring her a dolly VIII bue eyes an
wife turls"
4 ..o . .