Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1896-12-30
THREE NEN YEARS. EYES.

cries swept the storm from the air, leav-
| ing a dusky mist of pitiless iciness to
brood over the landscape.
Then it was that Thor, UP in his frigid
kingdom of the north, loosened his furies,
bidding them make their holiday revel
over the universe.
Suddenly his invincible winds swooped
down upon the great town. They
plOwed up the sOdden snow and hurled it
in frozen masses and pillows of sharp
Sleet through boulevard and alley. The
pOpulace fled from the icy hurricane,
shrunk, and disappeared.
a little beggar-Waif painfully toiled
caught her up and tossed her from one
gulf of white snow into another until
she was indeed adrift. Everywhere
We're the merciless white folds that must
soon become her shroud. They dashed
against her face, blinded her eyes,
strange corners. She was numb beyond
feeling physical pain when they flung her
against the grating which spanned the
sight of a glow of opulence. But she
could see and she chung to the iron bars,
hungrily gazing upon the luxurious scene
on the other side of the protected Win
dow.
1t was not the splendid appointments of
the room that so cruelty entranced this
stray starveling-it was the vision Of the
prepared feast amidst a glittering of
china, silver and glass, that made her
forget her fright of the tempest.
Then she heard the laughter of chill
dren, and a sharp longing pierced her
heart to look upon the dancing, frolick
ing little ones who must be in the grand
parlOr where the play was in progress.
She was half way up the snow-bur
dened steps when the entrance door
opened and closed, and two great-coated,
hptnprp6 In
per slab eXpostulating with the weather.
Are YOU equal to a walk in the face
of this beastly gale?' queried a ringing
voice as they descended the stair. era
ciOus heaven! what have we hear? A
beggar. a thief! Come. move on. thou
abbreviated vagabOnd; we give no Guar
ter to the tramp of any dimension here
abouts. Then, as the bundle of rags
crOuched closer to the icy stone Come,
since my gentle persuasion is scorned,
perhaps
1t is not likely that the trimly-booted
foot was thrust forward with harmful
lntent-but the steps were slippery with
ice-the gentle push was enough to send
the scrap of breathing human refuse to
the snow-crusted pavement.
Now that's too bad!-the poor little
creature may be hurt!' said second
voice freighted with compassion and re
buke.
the ground the poor little creature had
gathered itself together and had scram-
bled to its feet.
Sharp sleet was beating against her
stratched, haggard face; the tempest was
tearing the tatters from her almost flesh
less body. She Lad lost the thin, wooden
shawl which she had pinned over her
head early in the day and the wind was
Juggling Sayagely at her streaming hair.
But she was not cold -no-the maddest
fire was leaping through her veins.
Il hate you, | wish | could kill you
yes, kill yOu!' she shrieked, finging her
claWlike hands toward them.
It's too bad! The child is hurt in
sisted the second voice.
philanthropy and this style of wealth
er don't hitch" replied the first speaker,
briskly turning away and motioning his
companion to follow
The child ran in the opposite direction,
shrieking her rage as she went out of
their sight into the swirling drifts of
snow.
rious night. One lunging over the ave
nue.. was indiscriminately breathing
wicked invectives because the tempest
had caught him away from home He
was a, man who was singled out
by fellows as fit subject for
''perdition" True, he was luridly
profane; he looked upon his own
kind with a suspicion; he boosted that
no bonds of sympathy united him with
anybody or anything. Therefore it was
not wonder that he expressed himself in
sulphurous terms when the ran afoul
some sort of stumbling block during that
eXasperating journey down the avenue.
Industriously cursing, he righted him
self, then halted.
THE Lord Harry The thing moves
its aliyen' he exclaimed leaning for
yVo rC from
couch of snow.
"Of course! This is another proof
that Providence is hunting around to
protect His sparrows." he sneered.
where ON the face of the earth is your
home, yOungSter?
Although the ragged and battered lit
tie staryeling was too numb to speak,
she clung to him. Her eyes, looking into
his. appealed for his pity and protection.
Now, that's queer. Gosh-all-hemlock!
To think that anything human should
stick so like blaZes to mel! he mildly
commented.
Then he added, with g touch Of fierce
ness in his tone, as if he were getting
the best of somebody:
Eyes, / can afford to make 4 fool of
myself Nobody gives Il Christmas pres
ent 70 me. I'll cajole myself with one"
He tucked the promiscuOus bundle I'M
der his arm and went bowling down the
avenue.
Although he did not think it, the wick
cd man, in His name, did a deed that
New Years eve that had beer scorned
by presumably better men and women
all day.
s. -
Again it was New Years eve in the
great town.
The Blaisdell mansion was Illuminated
from foundation to cornice. For hours
the elegant equipages of fashionable folk
came with swing to the curbing, and
men and women who were accounted as
the best" alighted, and, walking over
the tapestry covering the iciness, went
in 70 participate in the revel
For long people had talked with each
other about the wonderful change in old
Joseph Blaisdel As his hair grew
whittier he became gentler. True his
mouth was not less firm bur it had lost
its defiance: his eyes retained their sharp
luster. but they had not kept their scorn.
Not SO long ago society had been aston
ished when old Joseph BlaisdeII had in
troduced his adopted daughter to society.
Then they had said to each other that Il