The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1899-12-02


treaties, and putting on their poor outdoor
clothing, the aged couple, clingly closely
to each other, stepped out into the snow
covered road, and commenced with slow
and feeble steps to walk towards the work
house, to which an order for admittanee
had been granted them some days before
They were very sad the while, and so weak
from hunger and cold that they had hardly
thought they should have strength to reach
their destination The extreme cold, in
deed, seemed to have affected Mary head,
for she prattled on, as if they were going
for pleasure stroll in the height of sum
ner, instead of nearly falling every second
step they took But her old husband kept
up bravely, though every now and then he
felt if the vial of laudanurh were safe in
his coat pocket 1--WE shall pass Lady
mead on our way, prattled the old woman.
Il wonder if Patty has any idea we are
going to the union today, and if she will
run out and give us a kiss. | mind when
we passed Ladymead one day last summer,
that thought it the prettiest little place |
had ever seen; and it made me think OF
our Joe and how, when he was lad, he
longed to be d farmer, until his godfather,
Mr. Wilkins, came to see us and offered to
prentice him to the boot trade Aye, but
fancy poor Joe can like sitting in shop
in Lunnon all day aud never seeing the
country from one year end to another.
I.adymead is all set in fields, and with the
barns and granaries close agen the house,
and sweet dairy. Patty is lucky gal
to get place there She seems main
happy, too, and says her missus won't let
her work too hard. Well, poor child, all
her life is afore her, and all ours is behind
us-but we mustn't grumble, Robin
We We had our day, and very pleasant
day it has been, too; and now the winter
come, with the frost and snow around us,
and We oughter be thankful that there's a
shelter ready for us, though it ain t, may
be, all we should choose. | think that 5
the message the Christ Child came to bring
US, anyway
As she was babbling on they dragged
their weary limbs past the farm where their
daughter had lately found a new service,
and. to their delight, there she stood at the
outer gate. needless of the cold wind or the
snow. on the lookout for her parents on
their way to the union. As she ran tc
meet them Hazel thought with an inward
erumble that she might have seemed lit.
tie more sympathetic, with the terrible
Journey they were bent upon.
SOh, father and mother, she exclaim-
ed. cheerily. II We been on the lookout
for YOU ever so long. thought you woalc
be passing in the morning. But you stayed
to have some dinner, pose.
Aye, my gal replied the old woman,
I'VE had some arrangements to make, anc
50 we didn start till afternoon. But it
bitter cold and we must be getting on, foI
We We better than mile to 20 yet.
NO, no, cried Patty, you must g,
mo- further tonight. My-my mistres.
SAYS you must turn in TO Ladymead ans
r have some tea with me. and stay over to
morrow for your Christmas dinner
Ave, but that's kind, said Robin.
..She wouldn't hear Of your spendin:
Christmas in the union, and no more woul'
L., continued Patty, 80 give me you
arm, mother, and we Il soon have you be
side 4 nice warm IRE.
1t was about time, for poor Mary Haze
was half dead with fatigue and cold. Ii
a few minutes their daughter had the oil,
couple seated beside n splendid FIRE in s
wide old fashioned kitchen crate, aud wa
! plying them with big cups of hot tea ant
plates of bread and butter and fresh egg
FROM the farm.
1--WE have very few eggs now, salt
Patty, laughing, as she placed them betor
, them, but saved these expressly for IN,
4 lesr father and mother. ! wish | coul'
: have saved you the walk here, too, bu
there was nothing TO send for you or--o
the mistress Of the farm would have LET m
have II at once.
But, my dear daughter, said Mary
who was revived by little food, ''yo
mustn't take advantage of your missus
kindness You are quite sure she will no
7 be displeased at our taking tea with you.
'Displeased? Why, mother, she ha
made me watch for you ever since /
o clock. We hoped You would be here
dinner. Out father is falling asleep. II
Is tired. poor dear, and so are You.
should think the best thing fer you bot
; was bed, and then you viii be nice an
fresh tomorrow to spend happy Christina
Day.
"Ah Patty, you forgets there's moth
ing but the union afore Us, replied he
: mother in a plaintive tone, but there,
{ won't be ungrateful But, as you say
nv dear, think your father would be gla
of his bed, for he's spent trying day
Z ever man did.
!, Patty thereupon led the way to an airy
y comfortably furnished bedroom, with
n large, luxurious feather bed for the oil
e people to nestle into, and bright hr
n burning on the hearth.
0 "Oh, ain this lovely p exclaimed Mrs
e Hazel. as she took survey of the apart
e ment. ''but YOU mustn't make too much G
J, us, Patty, for it will make the diferenc
n all the harder to bear. Well, my man,
y she continued, when her daughter had lei
d them alone, '.the Blessed Christ Child ha
e brought US one more happy Christman day
at all events, hasn't He p
n ssSeems 80, - said the old man, who, be
d tween the cold he had been subjected
0 and the hearty meal he had consumed, wa
. almost too sleepy to reply
e And you won say nothing aSain'
b Papish stories again, will you?' pleade
1 his wife. But Hazel had eurled himse
round in the feather bed and was alread
d sunk in sleep.
The old woman-his sweetheart of owe
o forty years-crept in beside him, and lai
t her hands upon his. They were old an
faded and crippled. but the freshness c
, their mutual love, his tenderness for he
and her trust in him, was pathetic in 1t
simplicity.
e They slept till late in the morning. n
one came to disturb them, though Mar
: thought once that she heard footste
a creep about the room, and had an indis
e tinct remembrance of form bending owe
g the bed, but she was utterl y weak an
a wornout, and Nature was taking her re
| o,rxo ~ oloeal,, saal;no, tho avalids of hot