The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1904-12-15

in spite of himself at his chila,en's F,
strange request, n he thought IL
Dora had crown to be as sweet a
woman as she babe fair to be she
would be the very mother these little
children so earnestly longed for.
Here's the money" said Esther,
pressing up closely against her ia
ther and putting the coins into his
hands. eff you have any more YOU
can just give them to the poor chill.
dren."
Mr.. Grahm could not repress the
!, smile that came to his lips at the
| children's idea of the Waite of a few
pennies they had saved. We'll, lit
tie ones, you run off to bed now, and
after supper l will so out and try to
find her
Mr.. Grahm must have found it rath-
er difficult to find the mother. At
any rate, it took him out very often.
and finally he told the children that
IL they wanted a mother he would
have to go away a lew days. The
children consented reluctantly, be
u it would be more lonesome than
ever without papa and mothers
seemed dreadful hard things to buy"
Roland confided to Esther.
Papa, will not be away so long,
after all" Roland cried with delight
when on arising the day before Christ
mas he found q telegram from papa
announcing that he and mamma
would be home that evening at T
o'clock. For Dora had refused to be
away saying that "if she was
to be a Christmas present she must
be HON in inc
Seven o'clock came. but the train
was delayed, and it was past 10 be-
fore Mr.. Grahm and his wife reached
home. Opening the door quietly, so
as not to arouse the servants, who
lac given up looking for their master
until the morrow, Mr.. Grahm stepped
into the library, where the light had
been left burning. Going over to the
fire, in front of which stood q large
chair, he stopped in surprise, and q
look of tenderness came into his eyes.
Dora, look, they have waited for
their mamma he said to his wife,
who had followed him, and now stood
looking down on the two little chill
dren in their night robes. curled up in
the chair, with their arms around one
another. fast asleep. They had been
put to bed, but, feeling that if papa
said he would come he would surely
be there. they had slipped out of bed
and down into the library, where they
had waited until exhausted. Then. set
Ting themselves in the chair, they had
told one another they would just shut
their yes to rest them, but they would
be sure not to go to sleep.
Poor little darlinss!" Dora ex-
claimed, leaning down over them,
while her eyes filed with tears. You
shall never be lonely again if I can
prevent it" Gathering the little girl
up in her arms, Dora followed her
husband, who had taken the boy, up
stairs, II placing the child on the
bed, tucked her carefully in, then kiss
ing the little one good night she went
over to the boys bed. What a spIen-
did looking child" she said; so like
my husband. Good night, my little
man. she whispered, kissing the child
ish lips. Then, turning to her hus-
band, she said: God grant that your
choice of a mother for your little ones
be not in vain And had you seen the
look Of happiness on the children's
faces the next morning, between their
parents. you would say 1t had not
been in Vain.-The Evangelist.