The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1902-12-26

under the pot and set vasalissa on n
STOOL In the warmcst uook. Then she
brought three bowls. filled them with
Tue bean broth md put them OIL the
| tapie. over them she asked q blessing.
| Before her own wooden spoon had
mnde two Journeys from bowl to lin
she heard timid knock at tho door.
| ehe rnn quickly to answer It. A tall
pale lad stood outside. In his arms he
carried smxll mite Of boy. about
whose shoulders was wrapped worn
md soilcd wompn's shawl.
The tall, pale Ind looked into the Ore
Lighted room with, longing eyes. His
teeth chattered with the cold ma be
asked: Good mother. may we ask
shelter for the night? The cold bites
bitter hard. and my little brother Pc.
trusha is but n sickly cripple"
ihen Baboushka opened wide her
door with an eager hnnd and fast beat.
Ing heart Perhaps. at last. this was
the child. What she said aloud was:
"Thnt indeed, thon mayest. But why
art thou abroad on such bitter night
with the little one7"
She took the crippled boy In her
strong. loving arms and carried him
straight to the great chair In the chin.
ney corner. She raped her own
best shawl about him ard chafed his
small. withered feet until they glowcd
with warmth. The tall pale lad
locked on gratefully.
Il am seeking an asylum for the LIT.
tie one" he said. ~ have to work hard
70 kaep him and myself from want.
rich merchant has promised me work.
but he says | m4st not hrine petrusha.
time"
"And wher. .e%. you an asylum for
. himr
small, sad face Of the cripple. The tall
brother answered sadly:
ALIAS, that ! knew not yet. I was
seeking the nearest town to ask coun.
Sci Of the priest"
Baboushka laid 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. I
have tiny truck1s bed into which he
will at to . nicely. Such as have,
dear child, make thee welcome to I'm
the Christ Chiifs name"
The night was but WY little older
when the three shiidfsn, Ossip, vssa-
usHa and psfrusha, fed, warmed and
comfrtod, were sissptng tho care free
siecp Of fnnpcenf childhood.
Only tho tail Lad and Rabeushka sat
by the ATestdA ,bscsuse there was no
bed lefs tor them. ~
"""Tell me, good mother" tho boy snid.
looking straight into her Kind eyes,
''why are You 90 good to all children7
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.
Eyes, I viii tell you, my son. for you
are nearing your own years Of respsp-
sibilitv. and 1t will be we'll for you to
learn In good time tho solemn lesson
that an opportunity once lost is lost
forever.
MANY years ago was setting my
I honse In order when three men stopped
at my door with groat piece Of news.
1--WE have seen a radiant star In the
east they said, and we know that tha
I Christ Child must be come. Leave thy
labor. Come with us to And him and
to do him honor.'
but ! sent them away with words
Of foolish impatience. 'Seest thou not
that l am setting my house in order 2
Go thou to where the star beckons
thee, and will follow at some more
convenient time. can see its light
without thy help
so they went their way and left me
to go mine. But when the time came
that I found IT convenient to follow
the star clouds obscured the heavens,
and there was no star to be seen, and
80 ] knew not how to seek the Christ
Child.
II have been seeking him ever since,
up and down In the land. Whenever,
wherever l see q little child I think
perhaps have found the One I seek,
and my heart yearns over him. But
not yet have found the Christ Child,
whose face must shine with the radi.
ance of the star lost"
| With tears Of sorrow wetting her
eyelashes Babouslika fell asleep ip no,
chair. She had flled all OF her beds
with cold and frIendless children.
i And as she slept tender hand
seemed to dry her tears and q loving
voice to whisper In her ears:
| 'Inasinuch as ye have done 1t unto
! the least OF these little ones ye be-: