The St. Johns herald., 1900-12-29
pie declaration of faith.

the child's clothes were dry and
 warm. and, having put the cloak over
 chair to dry, Martha wrapped her
 in heavy shawl and sat holding her
 and gently rubbing her chubby feet,
 watching the blue eyes slowly closing in sleep and wondering to whom she belonged and if the child's account of
 her mishap were really the true ex- planation of it.
 Wont mamma come soon to get me? 1 want to go to my grandpa's s house." murmured the little girl, drowsily, and just then there came 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 a man stood be- fore Martha Dean for single in- stant; then, turning hastily, he shout ed to some one outside:
 "She is found! She is here!" and hastened out.
 Then there entered into that plain little kitchen company of people
  tained before.
 First tall, beautiful lady, fur-clad from top to toe; then a gentleman, also stately and fur-clad, and behind them came bustling and panting an elderly gentleman, nelther tall nor handsome, but, like the others in re- gard to outer wraps, he was as furry as any Santa Claus, and very like that mysterious old parsonage in many other respects
 The lady's lips were quivering and she seemed speeches. with joyful emotion, and the tall gentleman stopped and lifted the child up to her with reassuring words, as if to let her see that her darling was un- harmed. As for the elderly gentle man, his sharp, restless eyes swept the room and it's contents in trice.
 "No fire. ma'am, sucn a night as this? Why, why, pray? It's won der my little granddaughter didn't finish freezing after she got in here"
 ''Oh, no, father, the lady has her we'll wrapped up, and her wet things all removed" said his daughter, for she noted the flush that rose to the cheek of Martha Dean.
 "Yes. and it was perhaps better that she was not taken in by hot fire when so near. freezing" said the younger gentleman. who was evident ly the father of the little girl. He now turned to Martha Dean.
 "We 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 out, though all the others stayed in. The horses were and ran, yet they kept the road, and when they reached home stopped. Of course, we re- turned as 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 girl"
 ''It is nothing" replied Martha. "I would be glao to do more. I will now build a 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 go. Just tell me one thing, madam. if you please, how many little ones have you? see sev- eral pairs of peppers in yonder."
 Martha Dean informed the old gentleman as to the number of her family. while busily engaged in dress ng the little girls feet in some shoes and stockings belonging to her own little Edith. while the child clung tightly to her mothers neck.
 1.-TWO boys and two girls, the oldest } girl of 12, the youngest a girl of four; Tommy and Johnny between" he repeated, as he turned.to go. "I will see you again tomorrow, madam; goodnight and a 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 Ray; we will see you again; I will call if you do not forbid me- were the lady's parting words, and soon Martha Dean stood alone in her little kitchen. the sound of the de- parting sleighbells ringing in her ears, her senses almost whirlinG.
 "He looked adzactly like Santa Claus!" declared little Edith.
 "But she didn't look like Mrs. San la, and he hasn't any little girl" ob- lected Tommy.
 Besides, he didn't leave thing for dolefully supplemented Johnny.
 Mamma, what does it all mean ?" in- luired Jennie, the serious-minded one, Tor she with the other children had slept until few minutes before the midnight visitor left the house.
 Then Martha Dean told as briefly as possible the story of little Annie's ad- meantime hurrying the chil- dren again into bed, herself soon fol- lowing them.
 But it was long before she closed her eyes in sleep, her mind was so full of the unexpected event which had just taken place.
 While she was lighting her fire the next morning large box was deliv- cred at her door, followed little later by a load of coal and sundry other articles.
 With love and Merry Christmas,' from Miss Annie Lewis" was marked ha and oven fha