Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-12-12

de-Ble has put her little wooden shoe by
the fireplace.
"Ah! it is the vicar" said Jams, TAX
ing his pipe from his mouth and lead
ing the visitor into the little room at
the back Of the shop.
At this moment the door of the
chamber above was opened and the
grandmother cried:
"Hans Hans"
'Ah!" said Hans, "Fleur-de-Ble
wants to speak with me again about
Saint Nicholas
Then, asking the vicar to follow him,
he went upstairs. AS soon as she saw
them the grandmother said:
"Fleur-de-Ble wants to get up and go
down into the Square"
Fleur, her eyes wide open and star
ing, was at window.
''Ah, my Fleur!" exclaimed JAMS, as
he picked up the little girl and put her
in bed.
The vicar glanced at Jams, saw that
he was as pale as the white bedclothes
and that his hand trembled. Fleur clos
ed her eyes and went to sleep; but her
little hands, transparent as the cloud
ed globe ut the lamp through which the
light shone, continued to gesticulate
in an aimles manner above the coun-
terpane.
Courage, JAMS said the vicar, plac-
ing his hand on his shoulder. Trust
in our Savior. He, too, suffered
But JAMS, his eyes fixed on his child,
saw nothing else and heard nothing.
Then Fleurf began to moe her lips
as if she were speaking to some one on
the other side of the night, and at
last she pronounce these words:
Il am Fleur-de-Ble, the daughter of
Jams, the baker, who lives on the
Square
murmured:
Good morning-always playing-ah,
the beautiful dolls!"
Her voice sounded like the soft note
of a violin, and while she spoke a
faint smile played about her mouth
Then she moved her arms slowly, as
if she were making salutation to
some one. After sleeping about half
an hour, Fleur-de-BIe again aWoke and
asked:
HAS not Saint Nicholas come yet?"
mo, Fleur," said Jams, Saint Nicho-
las will not come until midnight"
"Ah, it is so long," said the little
girl. But he has to come a great dis
lance and his ass is tired Papa, have
an easy chair ready for Saint Nicno-
las"
II shall not forget" said Jams.
Saint Nicholas shall have tbs beauti-
ful armchair in the corner, in which
your Aunt Catherine used to sit when
she came to see us last year"
About eleven o'clock JAMS descended
and began making preparations for the
coming Of Saint Nicholas. He had
bought a large doll, which had eyes
that moved, yellow hair and a jointed
body. He had also bought cradle
lined with blue satin. For these he
had paid fifteen francs.
He placed the doll in the cradle and
put in hand box the silk mantle. the
satln dress and the red plush hat which
composed the dolls costume. AS he
handled these pretty things Jams spirits
rose little and he laughed at the
thought of Fleur's joy.
tie TOOK off his shoes and twice crept
quietly up the stairs, the first time to
carry the dishes of bonbons. the second
time to carry the doll, the cradle and
the box containing the dolls clothes.
All these he deposited in a little room
back OF the chamber in which Fleur-de-
Bic lay.
FIeur was still sleeping.
L wish to see her joy when she
aWakes and sees her presents: I am
waiting for that said the vicar to the
grandmother. But that was not the
reason why the vicar remained.
He took his breviary from his pocket
and, murmuring almost inaudibly. he
began to read by the light of the little
lamp. But from time to time the vicar
looked toward Fleur-de-Ble, and then
putting his fingers between the pages
OF the book to mark the place. he said
under his breath:
Lord, have mercy upon these poor
people!"
w