The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1902-12-24

straight to the great chair in the chin
ney corner. She raped her own
best shawl about him and chafed his
small, vithered feet until they glowed
with warmth. The tall, pale lad
looked on gratefully
81 an seeking an asylum fer the lit
tie one" he said. Il have to work hard
to keep him and myself from want. \
rich merchant has promised me Work,
but he says | must not bring Petrusha.
That he would take too much of my
time"
And where seek you an asylum for
him:"
BaEcushka locked pitifully at the
small. sad face of the cripple The tall
brother answered sadly:
Alas, that l know not yet. I was
seeking the nearest town to ask coun-
sci Of the priest"
Baboushka laid q kind hand on the
boys arm.
Put care away from thy young
heart Thou hast found an. asylum
for thy crippled brother. He shall
travel no farther on the frozen roads.
He shall be my own little Petrusha. l
have a tiny truckle bed into which he
will fit to a nicely. Such as | have,
dear child, l make thee welcome to in
The Chit CEi!d's name"
The night las but very little Older
When the three children, Ossip. Easa-
llssa and petrusha, fed. warmed and
comforted, were sleeping the care free
sleep Of innocent childhood.
Only the tai! lad and Baboushka sat
by the fireside. because there was no
bed left for them.
Tell me, good mother" the boy said,
looking straight into her kind eyes,
why are you so good. to all children?
Your fame has gone abroad"
Baboushka did not answer him at
once. When she did. her voice sounded
as sweet and solemn as church chimes
at vesper time.
Yes, l will tell you, my son. for yoI
are nearing your own years Of respon-
sibility, and it will be well for you to
learn in good time the solemn lesson
that an opportunity once lost is lost
forever.
Many years ago l was setting my
house in order when three men stopped
at my door with great piece Of news.
I've have seen radiant star in the
east they said, and we know that the
Christ Child must be come. Leave thy
labor. Come with us to find him and
to do him honor
But I sent them away with words
of foolish impatience. 'Seest thou not
that I am setting my house In order?
60 thou to where the star beckons
thee. and I will follow at some more
convenient time. can see its light
without thy help
$50 they went their way and left me
to 60 mine. But when the time came
that l found it convenient to follow
the star clouds obscuretk the heavens.
znd there was no star to- be seep. anu
70 knew not how to seek the Christ
Child.
Il have been seeking him ever since.
up and down in the land. Whenever.
wherever 1 see little child I think
perhaps I have found the One I seek.
and my heart yearnS over him. But
not Yet have l found the Christ Child.
whose face must shire with the radi-
ance Of the star lost
With tears of sorrow wettinS her
eyelasaes Baboushka fell asleep in her
chair. She had filled all Of her beds
with eead and friendless children.
And as she slept Il tender hand
seemed to dry her tears and bving
voice tB whisper in her ears:
"Inasm,.ch as ye have done IL unto
the least Of these little ones ye have
done it unto me. They were homeless.
and ye' &rok them in. They were hun
Sry. ant you have fed them. They
were cold, and you have warmed them.
The ChHist Child is in thy own heart." ."
And o,s that glad Christmas morning
Baboushka awoke with q great peace
in her soul, for she knew that she had
found him she had been seeking far
and wide.
The Dispatch wis lvs the pc ,plr II Lcxipp-
ton y Merry Chris mas ard nappy view
Year.