Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1892-12-29

home lay this way. aud she ran along up
The road. and for the first time in. or 50
many months laughed aloud in her gee
A rabbit ran along with its queer lon,
leaps in front OF her, and stopped once or
twice to gaze back Mt her with its great
gray eyes, and She laughed again IN the
moonlight and went tripping along The
moon sank lower and lower as she kept 10
her journey hour after hour without fla.
glng. and presently the eastern sky began
TO redden- The birds began to twitter cu
the houghs. the COWS to low away OF over
the hills, and all nature gave notice that
II was waking up from its slumber~ Tor
another days life
But nothing in animate creation WAS ~
happy as Fay. She WAS free-iree a. tbc
breeze that tossed her tangled curls back
and forth. And she was going home
home TO papa and mamma Could any
body he As happy she'
"iiowdy do, little bird'" She chirrupcd
Are you very happy. aud is it going to he
your Christmas tomorrow, lIowdy do,
you great big round sum | see You com.
ing up over the hills away oil yonder
Quit hurting my eyes when look at you
DO you know that Christmas Is coming 10
morrow"
Once in great while she would pass
farmhouse, and when the sun was well up
above the horizon she came to where /.
man was walking across the road with two
great steamiug buckets OF milk
Hello. little girl Where are YOU going"
said be.
Il am going home" she said with a
smile
You are ont pretty early" he returned
a
his cup tie flied i, for Her. and then h. an
it again. laughing as he left. saying. You
must like coed sweet milk "
Fay nodded and smiled and trpped
along. After awhile she came toa railroad
track All. that is the way to 20 home
surely. She thought. for railroads -,e,ery.
where But how could she ridel The
past tweiyemonth had taught her fiutn-
cial vision among the traders She had
been with, and She knew that riding upon
the train cost money. and she had not even
so much a penny But she dismissed
the thought az trouble and tripped along
the track. placking little flowers by the
waysde 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 She
began stepping upon them. but She Kept
bravely on and c!apped her lttle 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 boarse whistle OF an engine: then caIne
the rumble OF heavy train and the great
iron horse, with his carriage. stood pulling
and blowing ght by the side OF the strange
kind Of house, and big iron pipe swung
Itself over 10 the housetop. and she could
hear water running.
All, If She only had money to pay for "A
ride! IL WAS 50 far and already she WAS so
tired And she looked at the strong engine
till she could hardly see 1t. for the tears
would NIL her eyes in spite Of ali her ef
forts. But just then a great gust OF smoke
and steam came out and enveloped her.
and TO her 1t became kind faced old man.
with great, long white beard, and rs it
wrapped its soft arms around her it said
Il am the Spirit OF Steam. As soft as |
am. Idraw this immense train Of cars But
for me they would lie here helpless ana
useless. When am called | respond with
joy, and leap through the air, whirling
this great rumbling train after me by the
weight Of my little finger Climb up the
steps and get on my train. | 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 aud lay down in 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
Oft with snort the Spirit Of Steam folded
her in his arms again and sang in her ear
such sweet and soothing lullaby that her
soul ioated 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. lis this some Joke of yoursy" and