The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-12-26

though she had walked only ) short
distance. .| 81. =.:s u. I. 5.5s5
~You dear little one!" cried Marthe
Dean. "How did you come here9"
II was oil lost till 1 said my.
prayers," was the quick reply. We
were going to SEQ grandpa, ) and tum-
bled out Of the big sleigh into the
snow. Then the horses wouldn't stop,
% told the Lord, just o. mamms told
me to. and He helped me to got here =
And didn't you get hurt anywhere,
you poor babe?" inquired Narths
Dean, blushing 1t the little girls SIM
pie declaration Of faith.
mo, ma'am; the snow was nice and
soft; II didn't hurt re one bit, but
my toes are freezed, guess" And
she sobbed with pain as Martha
ehafed her little, chilled feet, from
which she had Immediately removed
the cold, wet covering:
Underneath the damp outer cloak
the child's clothes were dry and
warm. and, having put: the cloak over
4 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-
PLANTATION of it. ....
wont mamma come soon to get
me? l want to 60 to my grandpa s
house." murmured the little girl,
drowsily, and just then there came a
clamorous jingle OF sleighbeils and a
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 a single in
slant; then, turning hastily, he shout
ed to some one outside:
"She is found! She is here!" and
FASTENED out. -
Then there entered into that plain
little kitchen a company of people
the like of which it had never con-
tanned before.
First a tall, beautiful lady, fur-clad
from top to toe; then a gentleman,
also stately and fur-clad, and behind
them came bustling and painting an
elderly gentleman, neither 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 cd parsonage in many
other respects. sS
| The lady's lips were Quiverinq and
she seemed speeches. with joyful
emotion, and the tall gentleman
stopped and lifted the child up to
her with reassuring words, as ii to lei
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.
mo fire, ma'am, Eucn night Al
this9 Why, why, pray? 1ts won.
der my little granddaughter didn't
finish freezing after she got in here.
"Oh, no, father, the lady has hel
we'll wrapped up, and her wet thing,
all removed" said his daughter, fol
she noted the flush that rose to The
cheek of Martha Dean.
ayes. and it was perhaps bette,
that she was not taken in by q hot
fire when so near freezing" said the
younger gentleman. who was evident
" the father Of the little girl. He
now turned to Martina Dean.
1--WE were driving from the station
to the home Of my wife's parents
madam. two miles beyond here. when
the horses became excited 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
unmanageable and ran, yet they kept
the road, and when they reached
home stopped. OF course, we re.
turned - 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"
1T 10 nothing" replied Martha. "
would be glao to do more. will now
build a fire. 80 that you may &c,
warm and dry before going out into
the storm again."
"Needless trouble, madam; We are
not cold" quickly replied the old gen.
tleman. flames and John are waiting
and we must 60. Just tell ME" one
thing, madam. if you please, how
many little ones have you? see sew.
eral pairs Of peppers in yonder.'
| Martha Dean informed the old
gentleman as to the number of her
family, while busi]y engaged in dress.
ing the little girls feet in some shoes
and stockings belonging to her, own
little Edith. while the child chung
tightly to her mothers neck.
Two boys and two girls, the oldest
a girl of ~. the youngest girl Of
four: Tommy and Johnny between
he repeated, a. he turned to 60. 81 will
see you again tomorrow, madam;
goodnight and q merry Christmas!"
Then. with the little Annie wrapped
until she made m enormous bundle
the whole party took their departure
''Our name is Lewis and fathers il
Ray; We will see you again: will cal