West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1903-01-01
HOW BABOUSHKA
FOUND THE
CHRIST CHILD
by...
JEANETTE n.
WAlWORTn

ospyrssat. fscs.
~ Jearnstts
n. ws,ssc~fh /,

shalt share our IRE and our porrl,lgc.
and all that ls mine thou shalt share
with ossip. I can keep the wolves of
hunger and cold away. and IL thy aunt
comes to claim thee she shall hnd thee
rosy and happy"
Then Vssalissn quickly dried her
tears. and with her hand clasped I'm
Baboushkn's she trudged cheerfully
forward until they came TO tiny little
cottage set back from the road a short
distance. In its one window a iamp
was burning brightly.
The window and the lamp belonged
TO Baboushkas cottage. She pushed
Its unlocked door open. and the chill
dren entered with her into a clean
swept, well warmed room.
A large chair was drawn close up 10
the hearth. As Baboushka entered she
glanecd eagerly nt this chair. and again
she muttered under her breath:
II had hoped he might have come
while I was out"
Good mother" ossip asked. "why
do you leave lighted lamp In the win
dow when you go awayT
80 that" she answered, should any
one go astray In the cold and the dark
he might md his way TO my poor
cottage. And now let us see II the bean
broth has kept warm all this time
made IL before left home In the early
morning hours so that IL any wander
crs found their way hither they might
not leave my roof hungered."
The bean broth had kept warm. She
bads Ossip throw n few more fagots
under the pot and set vasallssa on a
stool In the warmest nook. Then she
brought three bowls. filled them with
the bean broth aud put them OH the
table. Over them she asked a blessing.
Before her own wooden spoon had
pnade two journeys from bowl TO lip
she heard a timid knock at the door.
She ran quickly TO answer a. A tall.
pale lad stood outside In his arms he
carried small mite OF boy. abort
whose shoulders was wrapped worn
and soiled woman's shawl
The tall. pale lad looked into the fire
lighted room with longing eyes. His
teeth chattered with the cold as he
asked: Good mother. may we ask
shelter for the night? The cold bites
bitter hard. and my little brother Pc
trushn is but sickly cripple"
Then Baboushka opened wide her
door with an eager hand and fast beat
Ing heart. Perhaps nj last. this was
the child. What she said aloud was:
That indeed thou mayest But why
nrt thou abroad on such bitter night
with the little oncT'
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 and chafed his
small, withered feet until they glowed
with warmth. The tall. pale lad
looked on gratefully.
II nm seeking an asylum for the lit
tle one" he snid. IL have TO work hard
10 keep him and myself from want 4
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
himr
Baboushka looked pitifully at the
small, sad face OF the cripple The tail
brother answered sadly
Alas. that ] know not yet. ! was
seeking the nearest town to ask coun-
sci OF the priest"
Baboushka laid a 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.
have a tiny truckIe bed into which he
Will At to a nicely. Such as ! have,
dear child, I make thee welcome 10 in
the Christ Child's name"
The night was but very little older
when the three children, Ossip, vasa-