The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1896-01-09

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went weakly in through the low door
way Of his humble homo, "a bright fire
Of pine knots was flaming aud popping
h the fireplace, ond n pot Of coffee, sit
ting in the hot ashes at one corner of
the fire. was breathing sweet fra
P-ance from It's mouth. A wave of in
c.prcssiblc thanlsfulness swept through
HIM at the sight. The children clus-
tered about him with cXclanations OF
wonder, and the mother, placing the
little stranger in q chair before the
pleasant flames, went INTO the other
room. The giant-lilSe father, rubbing
his hands before the grateful blaze,
looked at the children with beaming
face.
oval, my henrtics," he said, "ye see
I've brought ye a little Gister.r
The child as II somewhat frightened
b. the circle OF roguish faces, pat out
her hands appealingly, and the big
man drew her into his lap and crooned
over her like n woman.
Don't yc he aicarcd, little Cling,
dcuty e be nfeard,' lac said. "If VII
p > or NANNY never como yen be al
W Us safe with u.s. We had y little gal
OF 2, arnost yr size aI' left, an yes,
Sd looked amos liie We. We called
he Breeze, an / guess wen cal We
Gate, for y'r Almost like her."
FAC child looked tiustngly up into
his sympathetic fuce but IL was plain
she dlj not understand him.
"r reckon sc cam make me out, little
birl, from the way sc look he said;
"b sc nccdnt be afeortl, ye needn't
b. .card.
The children were pressing about
thea, and the father drew Lannic upon
his other l,ncc. The pudlfy little fellow
looked nt In, palc-faced child q moment,
then, touching her Thin hand, he looked
up into the mans face and lisped: "She
Lanule's sister, Lannie's now sisterp
and the other children jumped up and
down with glec.
The mother heard it as she entered,
and when she cnmo forward with the
tiny dress and shoes that once had clad
their little Breeze, her heart was full
Taking the willing child TO her breast
she passed into the other room again 90
cloth her in dry garments, and the big,
ragged, stcaming man leaned forward
and polSed the fire, and the children
wondered, for his eyes were wet.
Presently the woman came back, and,
with a quick step, set about getting
breakfast. Armor remained leaning
forward, steaming, and gazing dimly
into the bed OF burning knots. Pesent-
ly his head sank down as il ii were lead;
he had fallen asleep from utter eX-
haustion. The woman touched his
shoulder.
"Drinlx this cup OF coffee, rrave, she
said soothiugly "n'll strengthen you
till get some breakfast on The table"
But he could hardly drink it, his
hands shook so, and he looked up pite-
ously in her face. Lucy, I'm Almost
pcggedH he said.
Yes; Oh, Trave, can't you stop nowS
Can't You quit drinSine?' SHE cried,
and her thin frame shook from head 70
foot.
Tho man swaycd forward over his
knees and groaned; Lucy, win II ]
KIM" But suddenly he threw himself
back with a looli OF torture in his face
81 need it now! I'm Albumin MP, Lucyr'
he cried. "Ain't there any in the house2
Jist 4 ,poonful"
A look Of despair spread over the
woman's face. "rrave, there amt any,"
she said. you must go 20 bed now,
and sl-epuntil y'r better" and she led
him into the other room as If he was a
trembling child
When she came ont again she asked
for Paul, but none of the children had
seen him, and she went nnxiously 70
the door and locke out Tic boy was
limping slowly up the path with his ia.
Their rusted rifle on his shoulder. lie
had found II in the bottom OF the water
logged boat.
"BreaSfast is most ready, Paul"
said The mother, and her voice was an
infinitely tender caress She did not
praise him, but he saw an approval in
her eyes too great for words.
"lm not much hungry, mother" he
said. I'm get the tubs filed, so we
can 10 10 work when y're ready"
When the poor meal was prepared he
came in and ate a few bites in silence.
The food choked him when he looked at
his mothers care-worn face. g Suddenly
as they sat ~ the table, the father cried