Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-12-26


Across the prairies that lie between
Fort Dodge, on the Arkansaw, under the
hill,
And the struggling hamlet OF PurdyvilIe,
Where dwelt Niles Nelson, who rode that
day
From his home to the northward, far
away,
Over the bunch grass, bare and brown,
Into the busting frontier town.
The night was dark-not star on high
And the blizzard brewing up there in the
sky.
Niles Nelson stepped out into the street;
The wind was driving binding sheet
OF powdery snow right into his face.
But Niles was happy; he left the place
With glow in his heart, for little Mol,
His baby daughter, would get her doll,
The Christmas gift he had promised long.
Niles Nelson, trolling Christmas song,
And facing the north wind, sturdily rode,
Whilepast him the Storm Fiend's coursers
strobe.
The snow grows deeper, the night more
Wild
When he hears the wall of a little child
Lost in the prairie and doomed to die
If Heaven prove deaf TO it's feeble cry.
He leaps from his pony, he searches long;
He feels it; he has it within his strong,
Rough hands; he presses it TO his breast
a place of shelter, a place OF rest.
Don't cry, little honey, youu catch more
cold"
And he wrapped the child in many fold
OF his blanket coarse, and lie Rugged it
tight
TO his big, broad breast, but the billiards.
Still strove to wither its tender life.
He mounted his pony, and then the strife
lfs.I, rtN1 Ia inn
And the biting cold Chat the plainsmen
When the Storm Fiend aies) Lcgan once
more,
And under his breath Niles Nelson swore.
Then a silence fell in the tumult wind,
And he heard the voice of the little clil.
Now | lay me down to sleep;
pray Thee, Lord, my soul to keep;
If 1 should die before / wake,
pray Thee, Lord, my soul to take
Niles Nelson paused, at the sound dis
And thenSand then Niles Nelson prayed:
Lord save" was all he could think OF
Lord save" he muttered, Lord save
Then staring to northward, and into the
81 see it, he shouted: Thank God.
light"
Twas beam from q lamp on the window
sill
OF his own sod cabin. With right good
will
His pony qulckened it's tagging pace,
And soon in that dear. familiar place,
His cozy cabin, Niles Nelson stands;
| He kisses his wife and he holds her hands.
Nyn11 iao' hn oria 'uvh
tie Poll?
I've brought her wonderful Christmas
doll"
Then he points to the bed where the
blanket lies
in queer little bundle: That's my sur
prise.
why don't you answer? You're deadly
You tremble and shiver; you sob and wall.
she said:
Ny God. how can L? Oh, Niles, she's
dead"
"Dead?" yes. Niles. she's lost in the
snow;
To-day was pleasant, and Moille would go
On the prairie to play, and she didn't come
back.
When the night shut down, all stormy and
black,
set the lamp on the window sill,
Rushed into the storm and sought until
The blizzard drifted me back to the door.
That shall open for Mollie, our Mollie, no
more"
Niles Nelson stood like statue Of stone;
Then he raised his hand and said, with
groan:
as there God that will kill a. child
And bring it's father across the wild
Of wintry plains to save from death
The child Of another?" He drew his
With savage hiss. as he snatched away
The blanket in which the baby lay.
The blue eyes open; the rose lips call:
ooh. papa, you're home! Now want my
doll"
Stanley Wood. in Chicago Times.
"A Christmas Story.-"I did not ex-
pcct single present."-Lif
~