The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1895-12-25
Close at his elbow


Jack jumped in his surprise, and turned
to see who spoke. There stood little tot,
dressed in brown velvet cloak, bonnet
to match, with wee brown muH hung by
a silk cord around her neck. The voice,
very tired, came from a sweet mouth, land
the face looked chilled in the sharp wind
AS he stared at her she repeated her first
remark, II amt to sit down."
"Wal, vunny. Where you going?"
Il isn't doin'; Use des tum.''
Just come? Yes, I see that but where
is yer mother?"
Mamma says she tan't talk till she sits
down, and don't fink tan eiver.'
Jack set out his blacking box for her and
she sat down on its not over-cean surface
settling herself with a contented sigh as if all
her WEAKNESS were now over and she had
no further care except to take the rest Of
fered.
Don't you want to go home?''
II don't fink could find it now, rs So
tired"
"You ran away, didn't you, now"
mo, I didn't, des walked away, and
Pat, he satup 50 straight and never looked
to see, and des he'll wonder when he finds
I dot home firstp
1t began to be plain to Jack now. The
baby had been left in the carriage while the
mother went shopping, and tired of wait
ing, finding the door Unmatched, she had
climbed out, and while Pat, the coachman,
looked straight ahead in way that coach
men have, she started toward home. think
ing to be there to welcome mamma when
she returned. What should he do with her =?
While he stood wondering what he should
do she solved the question for him.
SIS 'ou doin" home now?"
He would take her home and she might
sleep in Mays cradle. She did look little,
like May, and the voice reminded him sof
the one so lately stiled forever.
eyes, I'm goln' home now, and I'll take
you HON with me for a little visit Per
haps my mother'n make your dolly new
dress. Don't she need one?'
mo. she don't need anything 'cept tray
twill like dramma's. Her lace spread is al
togever too fine for such wever."
"Come, now. or we won't get home to sup.
per-"
"Papa tarries me when Use tired" was
the brief remark; and Jack silently took
her up in his arms, just as he had Baby
May so many, many times, and somehow
the ache in his heart seemed to grow less.
What's your name"
mamma tails me Pet sometimes, and
sometimes Kitten. an anything else she tan
/ fink Of" Silence tor moment, and then
very thoughtful little voice said: II like
it best when she takes me up and hugs me
and tails nae dood." A sob, and then, ''She
won't tall ME dood now. tause she told ME
to tay in the taTriage and-and I didn't"
"What does papa call your"
"Why, Use papa's Trismas Doose. I
tum Trismas, you see. He tan't celebrate
me now, tan he?" and the baby sobbed
again on Jacks neck.
Poor baby, tired and away from home
Out ofbreath with his burden Jack ceased
to talk and baby soon slept ON his shoulder.
II wonder what does make Jack 50 late?'"
and there was a shade of anxiety on Mrs.
Stoves face. Her husband sat by the
stove, thinking sadly of the times when
this night was almost, If net quite, the hap
piest of all the year. What merry voice
was that one of last year, as she wondered
what her stocking would hold OF pretty
things for her And then Jack-hoW pleased
he had been in talking of the gOries of the