Birmingham age-herald., 1894-12-22

the street lamp, was singing with all her small might. And such a voice! It mado him think of tho "herald angels, about whom she sang, or, better still, of Rather inc.
 He waited until the carol was ended, and then raising the sash called out in persuasive tone, "Little ones, will you come here, and as the children hesitated he added: Don't be afraid l only want to speak to you moment" And a little later Tony and his sister were standing before the old man in the great wide hall.
 II want to tell you how much I have enjoyed the anthem that you have been singing out there in the cold and to ask you if you won't come tomorrow and sing it for me again. used to have little girl like you, touching Katbie's hair softly as he spoke, 'who sang it every Christmas day"
 Did shep'' Kathie asked, looking up at the grim old man with genuine interest in her big blue eyes. Why, that's just what my mamma used to do when she was little girl, isn't it, TonyP"
 Tony, who unlike his sister, disliked to speak of what he termed family !" fairs" before strangers, simply nodded and was about to say that they would be very glad to come in the morning when their host of five minutes, leaning eagerly forward, exclaimed in hoarse voice: Your moth- CT, children? Who is sheP Who are you?"
 Half frightened by tho change that had come over the old mans face, Tony an- swered wonderingly, We are mammals children, Kathie and Tony, and mamma is Mrs. An; hony Girvin" Tho sudden ness of the discovery was too great to be borne calmly, and the old man trembed li iI-D ia1 |, fl,o hn11 for a servant. "Tell John,' he said when the domestic appeared, ito have the car riagc ready immediately" Then turning to tho puzzled children, he said in voice that he tried in vain to steady: Little ones, your mother was the little girl who used to sing for me years ago. Will you take mo to her, for 1 want to go tonight"
 It was years before that his daughter Katherine had come up behind him one cv ring, and putting her arms about his neck told him with an unwonted scyness that she had that day promised 70 Do An thony Girvins wife, and he, enraged that his idol should be willing to rlerry q poor musician, who, though good and talented, was guilty of being in moderate ciroum- stances-he, the fond, affectionate fsther- had broken from the soft embrace and commanded her-yes, he had usod that very WOru-tO break her promise or Uo leave his house forever. And how proud ly sho had lowered above him in her tall beauty as she utterly refused to comply with his commands, because-and the words were gnlling to the father-because she loved Anthony Girvin moro than the whole world "Then show your devotion to this pauper and go' he had shouted, littlo dreaming that he would be so promptly oheyed, for, with slight bend- ing of the beautiful head, she had gone from tho room, and when with half formed fear he went to find her a note on her dressing table told him that 'her de- votion to this pauper' was proved, for sue had left her fathers house forever. The torturing remorso that followed almost drove him insane, and when he was con vinced that all search for his daughters whereabouts was vain he had settled down to an almost entirely secluded life, which was in its very nature living death.
 Tony always persists that they owe their present happy life to Kathie's fondness for discussing family matters, but Kathie her self and Kathie's idolizing grandfather lay 1t all to the old Christmas carol.
 @Nr'TL