Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-23
CHAPTER III.

Ii was nearly midnight and fashion,
able congregation had ssembled In the
little church Of st. Joseph Two young
girls In while dresses stood at the door
and received the donations that were
offered By the worshipers. for the poor.
Naturally II was q hard task for them
to preserve the rigid silence that de-
Corum demanded, and they cOnversed
with each other In low tone as dif-
feIent people passed, dropping courte-
sizes TO those who by their liberal con-
trlbutlons earned a greater degree OF
respect. one Of the largest donors was
Madame Francois. q widow lady. She
was a woman OF more than medium
height and her face bore traces Of ex-
IRENE sorrow. She walked down the
church with a dignlfied step that re.
called the old days when France held
court and noble lords and ladies prac-
ticed the art OF gallantry BAH said
woman with q red handkerchief tied
turban-like round her Lead, who stood
at the door, Il hate her, the proud
arstocrat."
20, Mother Crosse. don't say that"
pleaded one OF the girls. she
has suffered 50 much wei,
replied the other Il am glad
Of IT, She has had nothing but sugar
pluins since she was born" II IL only
right she should suffer Ike the rest OF
US
Eyes. that's true, but don't you think
for that very reason her trials are all
the harder 20 bear now? II seems 10
me we grow accustomed 60 grief, ike
everything else, and cease 20 feel things
so keeniy. think Madame Francois
is an angel" added the girl with
warmth.
$50 are her husband and son. an
swered the older woman, dryly.
yes. she never mentions them. l
sew for her. and II We chance to speak
Of the war. she will always change the
subject, but they say she sends lovely
flowers every day TO place on their
graves"
The conversation was here interrupted
by the entrance Of more contributors
and soon the service commenced.
Although ST. Josephs church was one
of the smallest in The city. II had gained
the reputation for having the finest
music, and tonight the crowd OF wor'
shippers was so great that there was
barely standing room. AS the supreme
moment arrived and the hour OF mid
night sounded, a great stiffness came
over the kneellng congregation, broken
only by the tlnkllng OF the little silver
bells as the priest raised the eacred
emblems in his hands and blessed the
people. an,
Suddenly the shrill cry Of a child
broke upon the air. and all eyes were
turned towards the alcove whence
Il came.
Wonderful. astonishing truly. Those
near enough saw something they VIII
never forget. There In the manger the
cradle Of the infant Jesus, was real
live baby, sitting up and rubbing ms
eyes sleeplly with his little fists. from
his neck and arms hung gay colored
ribbons, and the more simple OF the
people thought that the Lord Himself
had again assumed this humble gulse 10
visit them this night. The whole con,
gregation was agitated, but the priesl
turned towards them with his hands
appraised and they knelt once more.
Then Madame Francois who was SIT,
ting near. rose and taking the child
In her arms calmly resumed her place
with him in her lap and his crying soon
ceased as he nestled TO her
breast. Another woman stand
ing near, looh III ".
situation at a glance, and although she
was very much shocked at the saorl'
lege that had been committed she re-
nlaeed the wax baby In the manger
with reverent air.
At last the service terminated and
the people crowded around to see the
miracle, but everything was as usual
There lay the figure and no amount OF
slightest sign of life, land yet We heard
IL cry" said some, and others affirmed
they had seen IL sitting up, and that
its face was lovely beyond description
Then as the story grew, some said
that II had a halo round its head. and
others that the figures Of Mary and
her husband had moved also.
No notice was taken OF Madame
! Francois, as she sat with her new
found treasure folded to her bosom
! Her heart yearned toward the little
waif, tears were streaming from her
| eyes, and a sensation Of peace such as
| she had never known. since her great
sorrow, was In her heart, She gazed
on the lovely little head and he grew
more and more dear TO her every mo-
ment She took the baby hand In her
palm and the little fingers closed un-
! consciously on hers. She feared each
moment that his mother would come
! TO claim him. How could she have left
! him? That was her query, Who would
! have dared to place her child in such
| n place? She knew the yeneration In
| which these sacred emblems were held.
| She could not account for IT, but was
content to enjoy the delicious pleas
ure Of the moment In her imagination
she saw herself a bride and q happy
young mother, Again she Viewed her
handsome soldier husband and lived
over the happy days that were passed.
At last she woke from her reverie
! and found herself alone in the church.
No one had come 20 take her precious
burden from her, so wrapping him In
her cloak she rose TO leave The priest,
too. was on his way out. and to him
she conhded the mysterious secret He
agreed with her that no better plan
could be adopted than the one she
proposed which was that the little one
should be hers unless claimed by his
parents.
With q sensation almost OF exulta-
ton she stepped into her carriage. and
was soon rolling swiftly towards her
home. The more she looked at the
child. the more unaccountable TO herself
were her feelings. II was as II she
had known this little face with It's
wealth Of golden ourls, all her life.
What could II mean? Like an ignis
fatuus, the recollection seemed with
her, and then again II was gone, lie
smiled in his sleep. II was as familiar
to her as her own face in the glass. A
most remarkable coincidence. certainly.
There was no happier woman in all
Paris that night than the proud Ma
dame Francois, as she laid down beside
the baby in her luxurious room and
she felt that God Himself had sent one
OF His children TO comfort her lonely
heart In the loss Of her own son.
CHAPTER ".
We r,oef pnvv ratt,rp 10 NOR Cahri.