The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1896-03-12

went weakly in through the low door
way of his humble home, n bright fire
of pine knots was flaming and popping
in the fireplace, and a pot of coffee, sit
ting in the hot ashes ut one corner of
the fire, was breathing sweet fra
GRANGE from its mouth A wave of in
eXpressiblc thnnkfulness swept through
him ut the sight. The children clus-
tered about him with Explanations of
wonder, and the mother, placing the
little stranger in chair before the
pleasant flames, went into the other
room. The giGnt-lilse father, rubbing
his hands before the grateful blaze
looked at the children with beaming
face.
wal, my hcartics," he said, Eye see
I've brought yc a little sister"
The child, as II somewhat frightened
by the circle of roguish faces. put out
her hands appealingly, and the big
mnn drew her into his lap and crooned
over her like woman.
Don't yc be afeared, little thing.
don't SO be nfcard," he said. "If y'r
pap or nanny never come yen be al.
ways safe with MS. We had little gal
once, amost y'r size an heft, an'-yes,
she looked nmost like ye. We called
her Breeze an | guess wen call We
Gale, for y'r amost like her."
Tho ciiill looked trustingly up into
his synpatlQtic face, but IL was plain
she did not understand him.
81 reckon " cant make me out, little
~ g. g. a.. l. Ia aut.l
"but yc rrcdnt be afcard, ye needn't
be afcardN
The children were pressing about
them, and the father drew Lannie upon
his other knee. Tho pudgy little fellow
looked gt the palc-fnccd child n moment,
then, touching her thin hand, he looked
up into the mau's face and lispcd: "She
LanniPs sister. Lannic's new sisterl'
and Tie oilier children jumped up and
down. with glcc.
The mother heard IL as she entered,
and when she came forward with the
tiny dress and shoes that once had clad
their little Breeze, her heart was full.
raking the willing child TO her breast
she passed into the other room again TO
cloth her in dry garments, and the big,
ragged, stcaming man leaned forward
md pollcd the fire, and the children
wondered, for his eyes were wet.
Presently the woman came back, and,
with quick step, set about getting
breakfast Armor remained leaning
forward. steaming, and gazing dimly
into the bed Of burning knots. Pcsent-
w his head sank down as IL IL were lead;
he had fallen asleep from utter ex-
h0ustion. The woman touched his
shoulder.
"Drinl, this cup OF coffee, Trave, she
snid soothingly. nm strengthen you
till get some breakfast on the table"
But he could hardly drink il, his
hands shoot, so, and he looked up pite-
pusly In her face. Lucy, I'm amost
peggcd." he snid
Yes; oh, Trave can't you stop nows
| Can't You quit drinlSing?" She cried
| and her thin frame shook from head t.
| foot.
The man swayed forward over his
knees and groaned: Lucy, I will II J
kim But suddenly he threw himself
back with look Of torture in his face
III need it now I'm Albumin up, Lucyp'
he cried. "Ain't there any in the house2
| Jlst .poonfulw
A look Of despair spread over the
womun's face, "Trave, there amt any,
she said. lyon must go TO bed now,
and sleep until y'r better" and she led
| him into the other room us If he was "a
trembling child.
When She came out again she asked
for PAM, but none OF the children had
seen him, and she went anxiously 10
| the door and looked out. The boy was
)lmping slowly UP the path with his ia
TIERS rustcd rifle on his shoulder. lie
Ind found Il in the bottom of the water
logged boat
"Hrcal,iaat is most ready, Paul, "
! said The mother, and her voice was an
infinitely tcnder carcss, She did not
praise him, hut he saw an approval in
her eyes too great for words.
ei1n not much hungry, mother" he
salt 'Tll Fct the tubs filed, SO we
can 60 TO work when y're ready"
| When the poor meal was prepared he
came in and ltc a few bites in silence.
Tie food chol,ed him when he looked at
his mothor's carc-worn face. Suddenly
MS they sat at the table the father cried
ceasJ,o hrU Wts