Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-12-19

y
a gift on the trees had been bought
of loving hands.
Old errors die hard, and there were
| many present who feared that any
| thing so full of human happiness must
be some way tinged with evil; but as
the service went forward that feeling
faded away. Polly Dodge and her
Sunday school children sat in the
front seats, and when Elder Manley
went into the pulpit and read the
Christmas story from the old, worn,
leather-covered bible, it seemed as if
the heavens were opening and the
Dayspring from on high shone upo1,
them.
Then Polly Dodge took charge and
led forth her little flock, and they
scattered the last remnants of doubt
and opposition. For Polly had taught
the children some Christmas songs
and recitations which she had learned
at Lowell, and with these the little.
ones carried the Christmas spirit into
the hearts of the older ones, never to
be taken away.
Dea Simeon Leland sat in his pew,
vainly striving to conceal his emo
tions. When the sweet melodies OF
| the carols rose and fell in the fresh
voices of the children, he found his
heart responding and longing to JON
with them, for he was noble singer
| in the choir. Then Lois Ward stepped
upon the platform to recite, and it was
as if he saw a vision of his own little
Lois who died so long ago. She re-
peated Sir John Bowring's beautiful
hymn
God is love, his mercy brightens
All the path in which we rove.
Many a time Dea Leland had sung it
with the choir, but now the words
seemed to glow with new and heav-
emily light, and he bowed his head
upon his hands, and his mighty frame
shook with the strength of his emo
ton. But his cup was not yet full
When the presents were being distrib-
uted the name of Dea Simeon Leland
was called, and little Lois brought
him a large bundle. He opened 1t
and found a warm, knitted muffier,
an paper was pinned to it, on which
was written: From your loving
daughter, Mary Petetngill Leland"
"Leafy, Leafy, look!" said Aunt
Sally Horton in whisper Of awe, as
she placed her hand over her lips.
why, what is It, Sally?" said Mrs.
Ward.
ir1,f tho fr00O
Mary and her child-It looks like-it
might be, you know" and words
failed the old lady.
But there were others who noticed
it also. David Leland's young wife was
sitting in low chair back of the trees
beneath a sort of bower of evergreen.
In her arms she held her baby, asleep
upon her breast. Her pure, sweet face
| cleaned against the dark green back
ground in the strange light of all the
| Pickering candles, and her lips were
parted in a gentle smile as she watch,
ed the motions of the happy children.
| There were many there who thought
of that other Mary and her holy Child,
and a hush fell upon the people.
Simeon Leland lifted his head, and
he, too, saw the vision. Then he put
down his muffler upon the seat, and
| slowly went forward to the place
where Mary sat- He bent over and
reached out his hands to take the
child. At first Mary drew back, but
when she saw the look upon Simeon's
face she lifted the little boy and LAID
him in his grandfather's arms. The
| child awoke and uttered little cry,
and then nestled to the old mans
neck. Simeon came forward to where
his son David was sitting, and laid his
hand upon his shoulder.
Friends and neighbOrs," he began,
"this night the scales have fallen from
my eyes, and for the first time have
seen the meaning of the love of God.
All the meaning of the birth of Christ
is jest as new to me as it was to them
shepherds in the fields of Bethlehem.
l feel tonight like Simeon of old when
he took the child Jesus in his arms in
the house of God. But amt a-goin'
to pray like him that l may now de-
part in peace. l pray that l may be
spared jest leetle longer to show
| forth this new love of God in my life
before you ALL
"Ah-google-goo!" said John Peter
gill Leland. Jr.
But where now was Polly Dodge in
this moment Of her triumph? She
was nowhere to be seen, nor Ransom
Ordway either.
Then Elder Manley stepped forward,
and the door Of the church opened,
and Ransom and Polly came up the
aisle arm in arm and stood before the
minister.
"These young friends whom we all
love-" he began, have decided to
travel the journey of life together,
and they wish to begin it here at this
happy festival"
By this time it was very still in the
Westinghouse, and under the appre-
henSlOn that some harm was ahOIlt to