The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-12

level lines, where the wind swept fiercely
in the winter months, and in summer the
sun blazed with a scorching heat which
seemed as if it would dry up all vegeta-
tion except the golden gorse and purple
beatber-there In a little dip or hollow of
the ground slightly protected by bit of
broken bank from the fury of the ele-
1nents. stood two or three tiny cottages,
roughly built of grey stone and rooted
with purple states, on which few great
stones were placed at intervals to keep
them from being dispersed by the frequent
gales.
IN warmer weather the sombre color of
Che place was relieved by growths of
creeping golden lichen and bronze-green
moss. and the cold grey stones of the walls
were partly hidden by hardy monthly roses
and honeysuckle while a patch of garden
ground was gay with pinks and pansies'
bollvhocks and sunfowers. With bright
blue sky. in which the larks were singing,
overhead, and a blaze of ANIMALS in the
Garden beds. the little cottages looked gay
and comfortable enough, and had more
than once tempted passerby to wish that
he could find for himself some such peace
full home in the wilderness.
But in winter the scene was changed.
The snow drifted over the moorland until
there was nothing but broad expanse of
Wilderness to be seen, and although the
broken ground sheltered the buildings
little. the garden beds would all be hid
den and the roof piled high with snow.
Then the scene was desolate indeed, and
the only sign of cheerfulness came from
the red light of a fire cleaning through
some uncurtained window, or the appear
ance of living beings at the cottage doors.
But the dWellers in these cottages, for
the most part, Indignantly repudiated any
charge of loneliness or desolation. They
were not so far from the outer world as
at first appeared. They were only on the
edge of the moor: the nearest market town
was less than two miles away-and what
were two miles, unless one were weak or
infirm, or the paths were utterly obliter-
ated by rushing torrents and pile of drift
ing snow? Besides, there were landmarks.
A number of tall poles had been placed
at fairly regular intervals alongside the
path which led from the cottages to the
town, so tnat Wnen the snow was very
deep the Wayfarer might find the hidden
track by means of these signal posts. In
deed, far from being unpopular, the cot
tages were very much desired, as they
were well built and let only to respectable
tenants at a comparatively low rent
One of them was occupied by lonely
spnster, who had been once a housekeep-
er, but had retired from service with a
small pension, another by a stone mason,
his wife and a brood of rosy, noisy, dirty
faced and riotous children, and the third
by a widow who kept herself and her two
children aloof from the others, and was
voted proud" in consequence.
1t was at the firelif window of the wild
oW's cottage that the two children stood
on the afternoon of Christmas eve press
ing their faces against the panes and
straining their eyes to distinguish the
long-eXpected figure of their mother
the pathway from the town. They were
not so robust-looking as the stonemason's
children next door, but they were scrupu-
lousy neat and clean, and had the refine
ment of appearance which is generally
thought to betoken gentility of breeding,
although it sometimes proceeds from in
sufficiency of nourishing food.
The elder of the two was a boy about
8 or years old, with thoughtful brow,
curiously clear and limpid hazel eyes, and
a mingled gravity and sensitiveness of ex-
preston, as if he reflected more deeply and
had borne more trouble than most boys
of his age. Harry had, in fact, been his
mothers friend and comforter as well as
her child, during the years of her widow
hood He was wise beyond his age, in the
knowledge that comes of a long continued
struggle with poverty and grief; yet COM
partnership with his mother and certain
dreamy strain of character had kept him
IN quantity ignorant of the world and of
many ordinary facts of life.
His little sister, Katie, who was only
Id
monplace child than he, but she was re-
markably winning, with a sweet little face
which peeped out between a mass of tam
gled brown curls, and a contented smile
forever lingering In her big brown eyes.
OF course, Harry was the leader of the
two. Whatever he did or said was perfect
in Katies eyes, and she would have fol-
lowed him into danger or unto death with
complete faith in his power of protecting
her and of it's "all coming right in the
end'
"Mummy's a long time" she said at
last. when the dusk had begun to deepen
and the sign-posts were lost in the twi-
light haze.
She will soon come" said Harry en-
couragngly. "She said she would be
long time doing her shopping, and she was
going to get some nice things for Christ
mas you know. Oranges, Katie, and
crackers, perhaps, and Christmas pres
ent for you and me-"
Won't Santa Claus come this year,
then?" Katie Inquired with interest.
Il don't know" Harry answered doubt
fully. II asked mother this morning, and
she said she thought we were too poor,
and lived too far away from the town for
Santa Claus to come any longer. But she
said that she would try to bring us some
thing herself If the lady paid her for her
work"
oh" said Katie, only half understand
ing and much more placid about the posi-
bnity than Harry seemed to be; for his
forehead puckered little and his face
looked mournful, as he murmured.
Il hope the lady won't forget. She did
promise, but mother says that ladies don't
always keep their word"
Won't mummy bring us any presents
II tie naughty lady doesn't pay herr" said
Katie, catching his look and pickering
up her own smooth little brows, as if she
We're going to cry.
7 am 'fraid not" said Harry; but new
or mind, Katie, Wen keep Christmas
somehow, you'll see. Why, perhaps shall
have a present for you; you'll see"
He waggered his head al her as he spoke,