Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-04-16
CHAPTER NNIII.
Nan Gives Old Man Hill a Piece of Her
Mind.

Mind.
AT midnight the storm ahated, the
wind died down, the clouds were spent
and gone. having let down all the snow
that was in them: and the stars, the
eternal stars, brilliant and beautiful as
in one other night in far Judea, shone
down upon the silent earth
Loo awoke somewhat late and looked
out. Christmas morning had long
since dawned, clear and beautiful; not
a breath stirring the frost-bound air
all dazzling blue above, all dazzling
white below, the snow dry and pow
derry and glancing like diamond dust
in the sun. Out over the far-rcaching
white landscape, picturesque and lone
ly, the deep black forests, soundless and
motionless, stood solemnly amid the
surrounding whiteness-the frozen
edged river, like a shining blue ribbon,
winding out and in around them,
\ lovely morning, typical Canadian
Christmas; the brilliancy of the sky as
the smile of God Himself upon all His
creatures on this day Of peace and
goodwill Yesterday His angels rode
in His chariot of the whirlwind, shed
ding this warm covering Of snow over
the hidden roots of the flowers, owes
the grass; over the germs of life every
where; over the tender springing fall
wheat in the unsheltered fields, In
the cities thousands on thousands of
little children would be in ecstasies Of
81 -, .rsF
had brought to them in the night; the
people in the forenoon would all be
flocking to the churches to sing Praise
God from whom all blessings 1low."
Old animosities would be abolished,
old friendships renewed; around many
plentiful tables would gather the
merry feasters, husbands and wives,
children, friends, lovers all truly, a
beautiful and happy time this Christ
mas.
And vet she laid her head against
the easement and sighed; one word,
one little word or two on paper and
she too. could have been so happy.
Il am wicked, wicked to be so dis
contentcd. am not half-thankful
that | am not lying in that great snow
drift" she murmured but | am so
faithless, | don't deserve letter. !
ought TO trust him, to believe what he
said to me- They say it is hard TO get
letters down in winter. Perhaps Mi.
Myers will know dear. good Joshua
Myers. I'll go over to Che dinner and
see if can walk so far. Oh. | am sure,
perfectly certain that it letter could
have been sent at all he would have
done it, /"
Are ye going to lie there all day,
Loo called Mr. Hills voice upstairs;
them COWS don't like TO be kept wait
in like this"
Loo called, Yes, I'm coming" and
hastily completed her dressing, wral
ping herself well up,
Before going down she drew out a
pair of thick wooden mits which she
had knitted, also q cloud OF soft, hcccv
wool and with these in her hand de-
scended the stairs. Nj. Hill was cat
ing his breakfast in the kitchen, old
Nan waiting on.
Happy Christmas TO you said LOO.
Same 10 You, Loo, an thank God
you're able to say that much How
dye feel this mornin? Your father
needn't a called you, I'm sure; I'd "a
done all the mlkin' there's to do now.
Three of them cows Is dry you know"
answered Nan
Loo laid the mitts down beside her
fathers plate, saying, "A Christmas
box to you, father" and then stepped
over 10 Nan and wound the feecy
cloud about her neck, her face show
ing out of il like a withered apple
Do You like it, Nam"
Nan took hold OF the dangling tas-
sells, closed her fingers over 1t, enjoying
the soft feeling OF the wool. Then she
turned her great, steel blue eyes on
Loo They brimmed over and she
stepped outside the kitchen for mo-
ment.
Well I'm glad you had the sense TO
make Inc something useful, said Mr.
Hill, examining the mltts, there's an
awful waste OF mcney going on around
Christmas time man in Toronto
was telling me the other day he never
could get out of ii short O. so or $40"
: His words, as they always did, af-
fected her with sense Of hopeless
ness. This weary way Of measuring
everything by money, as II money
value We're the only value in this
world look all gIsdness and all beauty
out OF life A flower OF what money
value vas il" And yet only the AL
mighty Who ruled the stars could make
IT The robin singing to his mate up
in the cherry tree IN the orchard when
the trees were az III bloom 81 wha.
money value vas his song And yet
that song was but one 81 the countless
melodies n the eternal anthem 81 ma
ture, grandiy rolling II the thunders