Little Falls herald., 1900-12-14

though she had walked only short
distance.
"You dear little one!" cried Martha
Dean. "How did you come here?'
II was all lost till l said my
prayers" was the quick reply. I'VE
! were going to see grandpa, and tum-
bled out of the big sleigh into the
snow. Then the horses wouldn't stop
so told the Lord, just as mamma told
; me to, and He helped me to get here
"And didn't you get hurt anywhere
yon poor babe?" inquired Martha
Dean. blushing at the little girls sim
! pie declara ton of faith.
"No. ma am; the snow was nice and
soft; it didn't hurt lie one bit, but
, my toes are freezed. I guess -\n&
; she sobbed with pain as Martha
! chafed her little. chilled feet, from,
which She had Immediately removed
! he cold. wet covering.
Underneath the damp outer c!o::'<
i the child's clothes were dry ans
warm. and, having put the cloak over
chair to dry. Martha wrapped h>:
in heavy shawl and sat holding ht:
and gently rubbing her chubby feet.
watching the blue eyes slowly c:osi1:.
| in sleep and wondering to whom ske
belonged and if the child's account o1
her mishap were really the true cN-
planation Of it.
| wont mamma come soon to get
me? l want to 60 to my grandpH :
house,. murmured the little girl
drowsi]y, and just then there came ii
clamorous jingle of sleighbells' and {"
loud rap upon the outer door. Almost
simultaneously with the knocking
upon the door it was opened and the
! snow covered form of man stood be.
; fore Martha Dean for single in
slant; then. turning hastily. he shout.
ell to some one outside:
':She IS found! She is here!" and
FASTENED out,
| Then there entered into that plat"
little Kitchen company Of rco'':"
! the like of which it had never cn:',
tained before.
First tall, beautiful lady. fur-t"f
from top to toe; then a gentieman
also stately and fur-c|ad. and hc:.;@r'
them came bnstjng and painting a:'
elderly gentleman. ne'> her tall m'~
handsome, but. like he others in re-
as any Santa Claus. and very like tlr;~-
mysterious old personaee in n;.a :,
other respects.
The lady's lips were qu7vcr;ug a~~'
she seemed speechless with ioyf1,'
emotion. and the tall gent'enn :
stopped and lifted the child up 7*'
her with reassuring words. as i; to Tt
her see that her darling was ,t7*-
harmed. AS for the elderly ge1t;t-
man. his sharp. restless eyes swe|1
the room and its contents in trice.
+ NO fire. ma7am, :ucn a night as
this? WHY, why, pray: It's y wo,.-
der my little granddaughter fdidr''
! finish freezing after she got in herc.'
"Oh. NO. father the lady has her
well wrapped up. and her wet things
all removed, said his daugi1 Ter, for
she noted the fush that ros~ to the
| check Of Ma tina Dean.
eyes. and it was perhaps better
| thar she was not taken in by hot
fire when so near freezing," said the
young~r gentleman. who was evident
! ~ the father Of the little girl. lie
now .tnrred to Martha Dean.
I'VE were driving from the station
to the home Of my wife's parents.
| madam, two miles beyond here, when
The horses became exclted by the
wind and storm and somehow man.
aged to tip the sleigh SO that little
Annie was thrown cut. though all the
others stayed in. The horses were
unmanag gea1>lc and ran. set they kept
The road. and when they reached
home stopped. OF course, we re-
turned rs soon as possible after get
ting control OF the horses. This ex-
+; plains our intrusion upon you. and
no words can express our thankful
ness to you for your kindness toward
our poor little gir1.''
"It is nothing" replied Martha. II
would be glad to do more. I will now
build fire. so that you may get
warm and dry before going out into
| the storm again.
| Needless trouble, madam; we are
| not cold:'' quickly replied the old gen.
| tleman. "James and John are waiting
and we must 60. just tell me one
thing. madam, if you please, how
many little ones have you? l see sew
eral pairs of peppers in yonder."
| Martha Dean informed the old
gentleman as to the number of her
family, while busily engaged in dress
ing the little girls feet in some shoes
and stockings belonging to her own
little Edith. while the child clung
tightly to her mothers neck.
''Tvo boys and two girls, the Oldest
! girl of -, the youngest girl of
! four; Tommy and Johnny between,"
he repeated, as he turned to go. II will
see you again tomorrow, madam;
goodnight and merry Christmas"
Then, with the little Annie wrapped
until she made an enormous bundle,
the whole party took their departure.
"Our name is Lewis and fathers is