Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1895-01-04
THE DEACON's BIRTHDAY GIFT

/
man, and was noted for his great love for
little children His wife was hard-work-
| ing. upright woman, and was noted for her
affection for this worlds goods.
Many years before a little child had
come to gladden. the home of the worthy
couple. but only for few short years did
she remain with them. There came a time
when sweet little Annie lay very i'll with
that dread disease. diphtheria, and few
days later the bell of the village church
tolled its requiem for the only child of the
beloved Deacon Stanley.
As the years rolled on the cares of
this world entered into the mothers heart
and nearly choked out the memory of her
child. Not so with the father All, no,
He thought often of his lost darling, and.
for her sake. all other children were re-
garded by him as so many precious jewels
TO be most carefully guarded and tenderly
loved. His one great desire was to adopt
a little girl, but he had never limited
word OF this to his wife.
one cold evening in January the good
couple were seated in their pleasant sitting
room. engaged in their usual evening occu-
pations, the deacon reading and his wife
knitting. just as the old clock struck
the deacon methodically folded his paper
and placed it on the table beside him.
Seems If 1t grows lonelier hert
every year he remarked. with n sigh.
Mrs. Stanley looked up in surprise.
81 don't think it's lonely she said. en-
phatically. Il have work enough to do
come over you. James,
81 don't know" replied the deacon,
slowly; but some way, 1t seems terrible
sort of still round the house"
We'll, like TO have it still. I can work
better"
Susan. why can't we take a child?'
There. IT was said at last, but the deacon
caught his breath as he saw the change in
his wife. She dropped her knitting
snatched off her spectacles, and fixed her
nn h. haA
committed some crime.
Take a chid!" she cried. What an
idee! As much as i have to do. Why, ]
should go distracted to have a child round
under foot. and there'd be the expense of
board and clothes and schoolin'. Be you
crazy, James Stanley?"
"Oh. never mind" hastily replied the
deacon. II didn't know but you might think
well of II, bein' that we're alone and COM
fortably well off. But / shall get along
well enough"
81 should think you would grimly re-
marked Mrs. Stanley.
The deacon took up his paper and went
TO reading again. thinking that enough
had been said on the subject for that time
at least.
The next day Mrs Stanley went to
quiitin. and lett to his own devices her
husband like men OF smaller growth fell
at once into mischief. Or so Ii would
have appeared to the good woman had she
known that the deacon had ayailed him
sell OF hef absence by writing letter to
his faVorite nephew, Edgar Foster of Bos-
ton. But, fortunately, she knew nothing
about this letter for a long time, and then
things had changed. so it did not matter
A week later a letter came to the farm
house from Edgar. Mrs. Stanley glanced
over her husbands shoulder, as with a
placid countenance he proceeded to read
1t.
Your letters from Edgar amt it?"
she asked.
NpS' he I,,,Ix
letter through in silence.
do you want q boarder, Susan?" he at
last said. Edgar wants to know If you'll
board 5-year-old girl for while. He
says she's well-behaved child. I guess
he sorter looks out for her"
why, don't know" said Mrs. Stanley
slowly. "P'raps I could manage to take
her somehow. Winters a good time for
me to take boarders. on account of butter
and chickens. But a child-dear me,
Well. I'll make up my mind by mornin'."
The deacon wisely said no more, for he
knew very well how his wife would de-
eide. So he was not at all surprised when
she said the next morning that Shed
thought 1T over and concluded to try 1t !;
but she should want good pay"
Secretly delighted to hear this, the dea-
con Immediately answered his nephews
letter, and in a few days gratified by
the arrival of Mr.. Foster with his little
charge.
II will see that the child's board is paid
as long as you will keep her. Aunt Susan"
said the gentleman. "She is a good little
thing, and has neither father nor mother
Her father died few months ago while
in my employ, and, as the mother had
been dead some two years, the children
had to be separated. There We're two boys
ana TINS girl The boys are in the asylum"
he added briefly.
why amt the girl there too?' in
quired Mrs. Stanley, looking sharply at
the boarder.
I
less reply.
Mr.. Foster stayed with them only a day
and night, and with many injunctions to
his charge to be a good girl and mind
Aunt Susan, he babe them good-bye and
was whirled back to the city.
Little Mabel was rather lonely at first in
the large old house, but she was CHEEKY
and sweet-tempered, and soon began to
sing and chatter from morning till night
EVERY animal OH the place soon learned to
love her, and, strange to relate. Aunt Su-
san herself at last fell captive to her
charms. and. unknown to herself a big
place was thawing out in her heart for the
little child.
And now the cold, stormy March was
come, and the deacon's birthday rolled
around. His wife cooked an extra dinner
and when the meal was over and the
dishes washed, took her sewing into the
sittingroom. There sat the deacon with
one of the little books that had been their
Annie's in his hand. He looked from 1t to
Mabel who was playing in the corner
and instantly his wife knew what he
wanted.
Susan" he said. tenderly II an 65 years
old today Can have birthday present
my dear? Will you give me this little
child?"
"Oh. James," said Mrs. Stanley, with
tears In her eyes. She amt mine to give;
she's the Lords: but, I guess she's meant
for you anyway. I've been CROWN hard
and stingy; can see il all now. I'd almost
forgot my own little girl and everything
else. But I'm goin to have share in the
! little thing, too" she added taking the
| astonished Mabel in her arms and kissing
her. II declare, she looks as Annie used
| to-
I've thought so all the time" replied
| the deacon, gently.-Yankee Blade.
| FASHIONABLE WEDDING IN GOTHAM
f,h,, II naJd;o ,g s-t,;caua N.r.;aa n;e.