Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1892-12-26

oi hio ooAolJ IepenIcu sll luli udLy
time and oft.
The best of women will preach.
81 have such strange feeling about
me this minute. feel as if my boy was
right here by me-" she went on, forget
ting that her "boy" was now a man OF
thirty-five or more.
At this instant three startling raps on
the knocker sounded through the old
house.
''It's that good for nothin Jake Mellen
waiting till this time O. night to fetch
them groceries. Don't leave the slap.
jacks, Katrine; I'll open the door.
And the deacon took up a candle and
stalked through the passage to the front
door. He opened it. What strange
sight to seel
Against the dark background of night
and storm the figure of cherub child
a wee maid of five years, fair as pearl
with bright eager eyes of heavenly blue
and soft feecy mass of pale gold es-
Gaping from her blue satin hood and
falling over her white fur coat.
She advanced fearlessly and piped out:
"rm Baby Marshall, and papas
bought me to danma. My mammals
dead lon time ago, and las summer my
brack nanny, Oosy, die, too, and baby
want see danma."
Another moment and the grand
mother, with the thrilling cry of a
womans soul to an answered prayer
lifted her grandchild to her heart.
Oh, the dear contact! Was it real
the firm, warm, little hand she clasped.
the pressure of the smiling rosy lips?
"Where is papa3 Oh, my dear, where
is papa? she cried, while the deacon
looked on as one raised from the dead,
and Katrine gazed on the new found
treasure and thought of the stories she
had read in Dutch folklore of the angel
of the Christmastide.
"Papa don" cooed the little one. "He
tum for baby after while. Take dis,
and searching the recesses of her little
pockets she produced letter.
The grandfather with shaking hands
and faltering tones read:
MOTHER, DEAR MoTHER-I have brought
you my motherless and only child. | know
that you will love and care for her as your
hard to her. When want her will come for
her, but 1t may bc long years first, If ever.
lead an honest but wild life, and a Taxan
ranch or Rio Grande camp Is not the place
for her. For my chld's sake | part from her
Be good to her, mother. Your loving son,
WILLIAM E. MARSHALL.
A moment later an old man was
struggling through the snowdrifts to.
ward the village as fast as his rheumatic
legs could carry him. Too latel He
only heard the echo of the coachman's
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 and
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 son Is born,
Unto US a king is given,
Christ, the Lordl
Old Mrs. Marshall always walked to
church 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
diei'
In that moment the church clock
chimed 10 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 a 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 coll ar and cuffs; Marianne, the belle
of the family, and the youngest, lass of
eighteen, blond, debonair and roguish,
"ioh Socu ioOhiHS
beside her, the son of we'll 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 little
of dandy in his dress, as became
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 a 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, was made for rejoicing.
Among all the family that day a
queen had been enthroned-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