The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1899-12-17

world failed to reach anyone who
knew of such a person. Nothing
on her, or on the child. gave any
clue to their identity. They were
plainly but neatly dressed. and the
woman apparently far too frail to-
have walked any distance, while
the light snow had erased all wheel
marks. had carriage brought her
there. A coroner's inquest failed
to find any trace of poison, and a
verdict of death from unknown
causes was rendered. Kindly hands
tenderly dressed and laid out the
unknown that day, taking her to
the little union church for burial,
from whence they laid her in the
church-yard. a few days after, and
many tears were shed for the young
life gone out so sadly. Undis-
turbed. she still sleeps there; no
one remembering that she died
alone, stranger among strangers.
The morning was fast passing
before Polly Burton remembered
the Christmas dinner to which she
had invited her minister and his
wife, SO messenger was dispatched
to inform them Of its postponement
until six o'clock, for Polly's mind
was so full of this baby which had
come strangelyto her, thather moth
erly heart fairly ached with love
and pity for the desolate little one,
and from the first touch of the soft
baby body she almost dared to hope
that he might be Gods blessed
Christmas gift to her for Eben s and
Polly's was childless home.
Years ago, in their first year of
welded life, baby boy had come
to them, but he lived only long
enough to fill their hearts with
love and joy, and almost to break
them, when he was forever taken
from them. No other baby had
ever come to this little home, and
the cradle, with all its warm little
home made comforts andthe trunk
full of baby's clothes, were hidden
away in the old garret, to be taken
out each year and aired and wept
over, and then put back again, be-
cause they were too precious to be
given away. So when Eben had
arranged Cor the care of the dead
mother, and had partially shaken
off the horror of it all, he found
that Polly had the little one so
closely gathered to her heart, so
lovingly sheltered in her arms that
it was an accomplished fact that
baby's future at least was settled
matter.
| Then the cradle was brought
down the crooked stairs, the long
unused baby pillows cased in their
rufaed covers, the home made era
die sheets and blankets unfolded
and spread on the little feather
bed, and bathed and dressed in the
little lost Eben's clothes, baby was
soonpeacefully sleeping as only tired
babies can sleep. Poily's busy feet
and hands stopped time and again
that eventful day, as with wet eyes
and thankful heart she thanked
God for this blessed Christmas gift
to her. and as baby cooed and
gurgled and laughed throughout
this bright Christmas day, filing
the quiet house with music long
forgotten there, it seemed almost.
as if he, too, was thanking God
for His goodness to him, and Pol
ly's mind was made up that baby
should never know the loss of q
mothers love, and he never did.
AS the sun was sinking in his
crimson bed, behind the western
hills, Brother Harmed and his good
wife drove up to the late dinner,
Eben sat with the baby on his knee,
lost in thought over what had
happened since the morning light
had dawned upon the little house
hold, and welcoming as they did,
their faithful pastor, who was theil
; counsellor and friend; they talked
over the events Of this strange