The Cairo bulletin., 1904-12-28


ing where Claus sat feeding the blaze
of the fire The brook gurgled on be
meath n heavy sheet of leo. and all liy-
ing plants and insects nestled close t.
Mother Earth to keep warm The face
of the moon was hid by dark clouds
and the wind. deligEting in the wintry
sport. pushed and whirled the snow.
flakes in so many directions that they
could get no chance to fall to the
ground
Claus heard the wind whistling and
shrleking in its play and thanked the
good KNOCKS again for his comfortable
shelter. Blinkie washed her face laziIy
and stared at the Goals with n look of
perfect content. The toy cat sat OPP
posite the real one and gazed straight
ahead. as toy eats should
Suddenly Claus heard noise that
sounded different from the voice of
the wind. 1T was more like wall Of
suffering and despair.
He stood up and listened. but the
wind, growing boisterous, shook the
door and ratified the windows to dis
tract his attention. He waited until
the wind was tired, and then. still
listening, he heard once more the shrill
cry of distress.
Quickly he drew on his coat. pulled
his cap over his eyes and opened the
door The wind dashed in and scat
tered the embers over the hearth. at
the same time blowing Binkie's fur so
furiously that she crept under the table
10 escape. Then the door was closed
and Claus was outside, peering anx-
iously into the darkness
The wind laughed and scolded and
tried to push him over. but he stood
firm. The helpless fakes stumbled
against his eyes and dimmed his sight,
but he rubbed them away and looked
again. Snow was everywhere, white
and glittering 1t covered the earth
and filled the air.
The cry was not repeated.
Claus turned TO go back into the
house. but the wind caught him un.
awares. and he stumbled sand fell
across snowdrift, His hand plunged
into the drift and touched something
that was not snow. This he seized
and, pulling it gently toward him,
found it TO be a child. The next mo-
ment he had lifted it in his arms and
carried it into the house.
The wind followed him through the
door. but Claus shut il out quickly.
He laid the rescued child on the hearth,
aud, brushing away the snow, he dis
covered ii TO be Weekum, a little boy
who lived in house beyond the Val
ley.
Claus wrapped warm blanket
around the little one and rubbed the
frost from his limbs. Before long the
child opened his eyes and, seeing where
he was. smiled happily. Then Claus
warmed milk and fed II 10 the boy
slowly. while the cat looked on with
sober curiosity. Finally the little one
curled up in his friends arms and
sighed and fell asleep. and Claus. filled
with gladness that he had found the
wanderer held him closely while he
slumbered.
The wind. finding no more mischief
TO do. climbed the hill and swept on
toward ire north. This gave the
weary sn0wnakes time TO settle down
to earth, and the Valley became still
again.
The boy. having slept well in ther
arms of his friend, opened his.eyes and
sat up. Then, as childTwill. he
looked around the reom and saw all
that it contained. 81
Your cat is Blee cat. Claus" he
said at last. LET me hold r."
But puss objected aud ran away.
The other cat won't rum. Claus
continued the boy Let me hold that
one" Claus placed the toy in his
arms. and the boy held it.lovingly and
kissed the tip of its wooden ear.
"HIow did you get lost in the storm,
Weekum? asked Claus.
Il started to walk to mxpauntie's
house and lost my way answered
Weekum
Were you frighiened?
"It was cold" said WeekStnl "and
the snow got in nIeeyes. so I ceuld not
see. Then | kepfson till | feil in the
snow, without knowing where was.
and the wind blew the fakes over me
and covered me up"
Claus gently stroked his head, and
the hoy looked up at him and smiled
I'm all right now said Weekum.
'les," replied Claus happily. Now
I will put YOU in my warm bed. and
you must sleep until morning. when
will carry you back to your mother"
May the cat sleep with me:" asked
the boy.
Yes. if you wish it to-" answered
Claus
Its nice cat" Weekum said smil.
ing. as Claus tucked the blankets
around him. and presently the little
one fell asleep with the wooden toy in
his arms
When morning came the sun claimed