The gold leaf., 1892-12-22

lady as Fay. She was free-free as the
breeze that tossed her tangled curls back
and forth And she was going home
Lome to papa and mamma, Could any
body be as happy as she3
"Howdy do, little bird?" she chirruped
"Are you very happy, and is it going to be
your Christmas tomorrow Howdy do,
you great big round sun? see you COM
ing up over the hills away off yonder.
Quit hurting my eyes when look at you.
Do you know that Christmas is coming to
morrow"
Once in great while she would pass
farmhouse. and when the sun was we'll up
above the t.rizon she came to where
man was waSing across the road with two
great steaminS buckets of milk.
Hello. little girl-where are you going"
said he.
Il am going home.' she said with
smile.
you are ont pretty early" he returned.
Don't you want some milkf" And taking
his cup he filed it for her, and then he did
1T again, laughing as he left, saying. You
must like good sweet milk"
Eay nodded and smiled and tripped
long. After awhile she came to a railroad
rack. All, that is the way to 60 home
surely, she thought. for railroads go every
where But how could she ride? The
past twelvemonth had taught her finan-
cal wisdom among the traders she had
i,een with, and she knew that riding upon
ne train cost money, and she had not even
so much as II penny But she dismissed
the thought of trouble and tripped along
the track, plucking little flowers by the
wayside and laughing aloud, overjoyed at
the sound of her own glad, free voice.
When she came to a long bridge, with
the great beams lying very far apart for her.
her heart beat a little more rapidly as she
began stepping upon them, but she kept
bravely on and clapped her little hands
gayly when she got across. Soon she came
to a little strange house, but no one was
there. and she sat upon beam to rest. It
was very queer looking little house, and
Looked like a great round tub set upon
Immense posts. After awhile she heard
the hoarse whistle of an engine; then came
ne rumble of a heavy train, and the great
iron horse, with his carriage, stood puftng
and blowing right by the side of the strange
I-Ind of house, and a big iron pipe swung
i self over to the housetop, and she could
hear water running
All. if she only had money to pay for a
ride! 1t was SO far and already she was SO
tired. And she looked at the strong engine
till she could hardly see it, for the tears
would fill her eyes in spite Of all her ef-
forts. But just then great gust OF smoke
pnd steam came out and enveloped her,
and to her it became kind faced old man,
with great, long white beard, and as it
wrapped its soft arms around her it said:
IL am the Spirit of Steam. AS soft as
an, draw this immense train of cars But
! for me they would lie here helpless and
I 1.l 7
joy, and | leap through the air, whirling
his great rumbling train after me by the
weight of my little finger Climb up the
steps and get Oh my train. l will take care
| Of you, and will carry you home to papa
and mamma, and the Christmas tree that
was to be SO very long ago shall come back
again"
And wrapped in the arms of the Spirit Of
Steam she climbed up the steps of the
great engine and lay down in a corner. 1t
was very black and dirty with coal, but
| she was SO tired, and when a great strong
man sprang into the engine and it started
| off with snort the Spirit of Steam folded
| her in his arms again and sang in her ear
| such a sweet and soothing lullaby that her
| soul foated far away into dreamland while
| she was carried swiftly over the country
| toward the land where Santa Claus greets
| Christmas amid snow and ice
! Dick" said the engineer to the fireman
as their train went laundering across the
prairie. ''is this some joke of yours?" and