Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-20
BY. L. f. CHITTENDsN.

BY. Il. r.. CHlTTENDEN,
Copyright 1896. by s. S. Mcclure Company
1t was the night before Christmas that it
happened.
Mary was sleeping soundly. for she was
her fathers housekeeper, and she, that day,
In addition to her other duties. had washed
and ironed, though she was 80 tiny she had
to stand on box to reach her tubs.
Beside that, she had to look after Tim and
Pete.
Tim was her brother and he was a slight,
pale little chap. who walked with crutch.
Pete was large, sulen-lookng bulldog.
Tins inseperable companion.
He had come limping to the cabin, some
months before this lamed by cruel blow,
and Tim, with feeling of pitful sympathy,
had fed him and washed his wound.
Pete responded to this with a love and de-
votion that showed itself in every wag of his
ridiculous bunchy tail.
Mary had interccded with her father on
Pete's behalf.
Let him keep him. father do" che begged.
eth save me a sight Of worry, for Tim to
have a dog to go round the woods with him
and he can eat the scraps"
"But he looks like an ugly customer" said
her father looking the dog over.
80, father, he's got a lovely disposition" Fl"
said Tim. Look at his eyes, just"
And the father. after looking in Pete's
palmetto eyes, salu, wen, Cndp, keep MN
If you want"
They lived half a mile up the river. from
the little town where were the lumber mills.
in which theiI father was night watchman.
For few days past. Mary and Tim had
noticed an unusually worried look on their
father's face.
What worries thee. father?" said Tim
that evening, after supper, as he sat on a
stool. at his fathers knee, while the father
smoked his pipe.
Sometimes Tim remembered that his
mother, who died when he was a very little
chap indeed, had said thee" and thou"
and had worn a garb of quaker gray. and
when he felt n great rush of tenderness
toward his big sturdy father, he liked to
use his mothers words
II always brought a tender touch from
his fathers hand on his Lead.
Nothing little chap. that | need worry
you about" answered his father his hand
lingering on his sons head.
"Is II that you're feared the mills will
shut down again." asked Mary, from her
dish washing.
mo. not that exactly" said her father,
frowning at the fire, but ther's a feeling
OF trouble brewing. Thcys a Canadian
Frenchman, by the name OF Pierre. been
hired lately, an he's tryln' fur all he's worth
to stir up the men ganst the young boss
They's 3S 900 feet o. lumber stacked I'm
the yards, an ef they should git a troublin
an that git ahre or anythin' 1t I'd be bad
day fur us ALL"
"why don't the young boss send off the
bad man?" asked Tim.
'"Cause he's so good and trustn' like.
Now. his fathers gone away, they's only
him, an they ought to be more watchmen
put on. but the young boss goes long. easy
like. till by me- by he gets his back up,
an then he's business"
Hadn't you better take Pete along with
you?" said Tim
mo. | reckon not" said his father. laugh
ing as he rose TO 20. well. good night,
children. I'll be back soons can. an don't
you worry. | don't know what made me say
anything about It TO you. 'Taint likely
anythlng'll happen. You're old father is
always worrying bout something"
A NIGHT WATCH.
After he had gone. Mary brought her