The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-12-19
MARGARETS LETTER.

MARGARETS LETTER.
James Oakley worked al his trade as
carpenter in the same village, near the
Hudson river where he was born. His
little cottage with the tall lilacs in
front, and the kitchen garden i'm the
rear, WAS a very dear place 10 him. His
pleasant-faccd, sunny-hearted wife kept
the home always bright and tidy, and
the three rosy children filed it with
glee and laughter Margaret, the old
est, was a sweet, loving girl; Dick was
a sturdy, many little fellow, and Rob
he was the darling o. the house.
Mr.. Oakley was a skiilful mechanic
and an industrious, God-fearing man;
bHt times were dali for him in Smith
vile Center. There was little going on
in the way OF building now, and he
often had to be absent from home for
weeks together, while employed at some
remote place.
After many earnest talks with his
wife they decided % remove To the west,
where new villages and cities were rap
idly growing up. - they found a pIr-
chaser for the little couage, and had an
auction sale of the COW and horse and
all the furniture except some heir
looms and few articles which they
would not part with. Then, after bid
ding their neighbors good-by, they en-
tered the cars and were whirled away
to a new home in iiourishing town in
Illinois.
1t was early in spring. the red-bud
bushes were bri=sIt in the thickets, and
thousand flowers, new and strange To
the Immigrants, painted the prairies.
An air of fbgStling activity pervaded the
town. Buildings were going up on
every side, and Mr. Oakley soon found
employment at better wages than he
had ever received IN his old home.
For time everything went well with
him and his family. His work was in
constant demand, and if his thoughts
ever turned with tender regret TO the
green hills which surrounded his former
home, - lad only to look at his rosy
children and picture TO himself the
career which seemed open for them in
the vigorous growing west.
Spring wore away into summer. and
under the long and rainless heat the
river which flowed past the town
sirunk into its bed. leaving great
stretches of Shiny ooze fostering in the
fierce sunshine. Autumn came al
length, with soft south winds laden
with germs OF disease. Robbie, the pet
Of the house, was stricken with
malarial fever. For long days. and
nights lac lay in his crib, tossing and
moaning, with flushed checks and
heavy eyes. Al length the crisis was
passed, but recovery was slow; and
while Robbie was still the mere shadow
81 the ruddy-cheeked little boy he had
bocn, the fever seized upon his father. |
There were sOrrowful times now in the |
little household. Mrs Oakley watched |
day and night beside her husband and |
little boy, and helpful Margaret proved |
herself Il treasure.
When the first brief, wintry davS |
came Robbie was once more playing /
around the house, and his father upon
whom the fever had spent its force.
coald onlysit, wan and pale, in his arm
c.iair. His little savings were rapidly |
melting away and a long winter had |
only just begun. Christmas was near |
Il hand, and who was to fill the chill
dreR's stockings and make the day a /
merry one for them?
Margaret was thoughtful little girl.
and she pondered long over the matter.
Two days befere Christmas she got .
postal card, and sat down and wrote on
il as follows;
Oman SANTA Claus We have |
moved since last Christmas. and / am 4
afraid YOU won't know where 10 find
Js, - I write this We live now al
No. 3j East Fourth street. Papa and
Robbie have been awfully sick. and
papa isn't well yet. Please bring Rob
uie bali and Dick a sled, and | would
like doll, for | LOST mine when we
moved. Good-by.
"MARGAEET OAKLEY"
She wrote the name Of Santa Claus
on the other side Of the postal card,
and Just then her mother called and di-
rec;ed her TO 20 to the grocery for some
things. 30 she took her basket and
started, accompanied by Prince, the
dog. As She passed the corner she
dropped the card into mail box
which was fastened 70 a lamp post. Ali
that dag and the next Margaret went
singing through the house, in the old
way she had shown 30
little since sickness had invaded the
soon after the postal card was
dr,pped into the box the PosJman came
around and threw ii, with lot of other {
cards, letters and newspapers, into a {
bag. which he carried 20 the post Office
There clerk took the bag, poured the
out on table and began sort
ing them over. When he came 10 Mar
garet's little letter he laughed and I
showed il to Thomas Raymond, anoth- I
er clerk who was busily engaged at :
another table. Mr.. Raymond read it
through. The name Oakley attracted ;
his attention. ''What if il should be
James Oakley. the friend of my boy 7
hoOd?' he asked himself
Christmas eve came, and Margaret. '
Dick and Robbie, with the unwavering {
faith of childhood, hung up their
said their prayers around I
their mothers knee, and were soon
tucked away in their little beds, dream :
Ing Of Christmas and Santa Claus. Mr.. |
Oakley, too feeble 10 st up more than
D few hours at time, had already re- )
tired. Mrs. Oakley sat thinking sadly c
of the disappointment which seemed
awaiting the children for the first time
IA their lives. Suddenly the doorbell
rang, and a. Mrs. Oakley opened the
door, there stood an expTessman and :
in the street a loaded wagon. From its l
depths he drew oat AT big tat turkey, a !
and heavy paper box wrap