Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1892-12-08

he had another q i,.tiiae fI,e snefgh.
bors did not remembergit. What tiley
| did remember was thathc had suffered
deep griefs and forsakcn them to make
others happy. He was dwarfcd and
ugly, with Il long. brown face scanned
with fine lines like dried fig. Blu,
the kind heart shining in his pleas
snt smile made up for the hooked nose
and bcctling brows. Beside. Pcre LIE
bonhenr had no critics; only loving
friends.
He lived in little one-storv, hump
backed house on Dumainc street. in
the French quarter, and kept books for
Il sugar house on the lcvcc. whittier he
had piled his way along the same
streets for twenty-five wears until the
families in his daily route were in
tmatciy acquainted with his tiny iig-
urc i'll lis worn but neatly brushed
| suit of mourning. As he shunlcd by
with II peculiar step. punctua:cd with
his cane. people indoors recognized
and greeted it with "'rhcrc goes Pcrc;
God bless him for a good man."
His charities were only suspected.
Even Agalcc.thc good-hcartcd old wo-
man who kept his small house and scod-
ed him aifcctionatcly for his rulnous
extravaganza, did not dream of the
bountics that poured from his slender
purse. Aud yet, there was always
enough al the years end.
Tonight is Christmas Eve and Perc
is home from the Office.
Agalicc has built good lightwool
fire. which flames against the scarlet
table cover aud makes the Sitting-room
CHEEKY. But the old man himself is
not gay. He moves restlcssly in his
handsome morocco chair. The pos,hu-
nous gift OF Il rich friend. 81 souvenir
of the tired heart his visits mad so oft
en- relieved" However, change of
position brings no comfort. Al last.
rising and lighting Il candle on the ia
BILE. he passes with it across the hall.
through his bedroom into the little
one beyond Here he mazes LONG at
the bed half lid by pretty white cur
tains, at the low dressing table with
its fat pincQa!itan and small mirror
proppet' against the wall, nj he cor
ncr l!ied with MI sorts of playthngs.
IL is a ctliid'> room and Pcrc handles
the small objects with love almost
rcvcrcntial. Signing deeply. be opens
a drawer and searches until he finds
a pair ot stockings. when he returns
sadly 10 the >lling-room. Hanging
them on the nails driven in the wool
ed mantcl for the purpose. lies clous
de Noel. rs his absent darling had
named them 50 many wears APO. lie
takes some packages from hi, pocket
2nd begins to fill the gaping legs and
limp feet, trying TO rrolony his task
by doing and undoing ii half dozen
Times. rs if 10 arrange The bundles
more 10 his satisfaction. Bat ii is
quite finished nj last and Pcre sis
down, bHrying his face in his empty
arms. How il all comes back TO him,
that Christmas eve twelve Wears AFRO,
1t was raining, and he bad changed
his wei shoes and coat for slippers and
a short jacket. The fire WAS burning
,he,l ;:s now and Nllnct, the biz NAL
tcsc, WAS purring on his cushion near
the hearth aud blinking conidentiully
at the two apples that Agaicc had put
to roast before the blaze. Papa was
content that night and leaned his head
against one long. bony hand to shield
his eyes from the light. Perhaps he
iell aslcep--he always thought not.
himself when Agaicc. dragging a
large basket, burst into the room be-
fore be had yet heard the bell ring.
Wake mp. Monsieur wake up. Here
Is some VINE for Your present" she
cried AL excitement
He started from his chair nervo,,,ly. |
and was longer than usual finding lis |
glasses for this sudden interrun,ion.
There IT was truly. a basket tied with
q rope and labeled with n torn piece
of paper. a Christmas prcScn, for
fcre lie Bonhcur. the best man God
ever made Blu, for the name he
would have disclaimea the RIGHT of |
the gift. so great was his humility, bl,
while he still nondcred the mcssare
A-alicc had raised the lid. The lirs, |
thing she saw was u fine white shawl. |
Removing this. she palcd with sur
prise.
My stars. monSciur.' she cjacula-
ted. lapsing into English because cv-
erythlnS uncommon was happening.
They have mex Il big mistcg. |, IS
The 'foundin"> al the corner hey
look after. j, is II child. lcctcl bcbc
in the wine case
Perc pccrc, over his glasses at the
wee form cu,lhlcd among the bits OF |
clothes for its wardrobe. As he uaz.d |
4 TINY white caskcl with a waxen treas
urc, the one pale bloom of his shor,
married life, tloa,cd before his blurred |
eyes ight aud he kneccd beside this
rough cradle c!a>pin@ he baby fingers
while the tears believed the little
face. II was the Alteration of the