The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1905-12-22
e ChriStm as
Present SEC ay D0a9 .

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The angels name was Rosy. Most
days she was just an ordinary little
girl but on Christmas eve she was
to be an angel. Nate Downey brought
her to the door, and then went on to
his brother Toms. He had some
business to talk over. Toms women
folks would be at the church tonight;
it would be a good chance. The
church was all trimmed with wreaths
OF evergreen and festoOns Of cedar,
with notices and silver stars There
was a mysterious green curtain across
one end Of the platform, and now and
then a young lady peeped from be
hind it with very important face
ROsey was all wrapped up in
great fur cloak, but, OH what a "a
diant white vision was hidden under
that cloak Because, as said, ROsey
was to be an angel, and it was Christ
mas eve.
The church vas full of happy peO-
pie. She nestled down quietly in a
corner, her part would not come for
a long time BY and by she fell to
wondering about the Christmas an
geIs-if they would come tonight
mind to go and see. She would slip
tain and nobody would know.
So she gathered her fur cloak
around her and slipped into the snow.
It was so white and still out there;
the stars shOne down at her; she was
not afraid. The fields stretched away
before her in wide, white silence, and
she went away through a little hollow
and across a pasture field It was
growing cold and she shivered under
see If the angels came.
She wondered If there would be any
little girl angels like her, and if she
would hear them sing. She wondered
which way they would come, and
which was the star the wise men fol-
lowed Maybe If she knew she might
follow it, too and find the little Christ
child, for had not they told her that
He was on earth still2 That one great
star in the east, could it be the One2
It was so bright she would follow it
and see It must be nearly time for
the angels to come
Presently she began to wonder
which way she had come. The fields
were wide and white about her. rising
winds lifted tiny whirls Of snow and
twisted them into garlands and then
dropped them gently She shivered
with the cold. Somewhere lay home,
and the warm, bright church, and she
could not tell which way. She looked
up at the stars, but they seemed 50 far
away, and the Christmas angels did
not come She would sing; maybe
they would hear, and tell her which
way TO go.
It was 10 o'clock when Nate
DOwney started home across the fields
1t was nearer that way; he would stop
at the church for ROsey. Tom and he
had quarreled that night, something
about the river meadow, and he walk
ed on modify, forgetting all about
the blessed Christmastide, and the
baby. Peace that came to earth on
Christmas night so long ago.
All at once he stood still and lis
tened Somewhere out Of the dim star
light a voice sang, faint and far
Peace on earth it sang, peace
and good will"
He remembered that it was Christ
mas eve
Peace and goodwill sang the
voice, blown 2 little farther by the
wind It was Rosey's song; what did
it mean? The farther's lip trembled
a little. ROsey must be singing her
song now in the church; what did it
mean that he should hear il here2
Was anything wrong with the child
his little pet daughter? The wind
blew the sound to him again family.
Peace and goodwill, goodwill to
ment" Might it not be a message to
him? Perhaps after all he had been
rash and hasty with Tom; Tom was a
good man. He would see him again
tomorrow
The voice came again, a little near
er; surely it was a voice, a child's |
-
sob in tit was ROsey's voice!
Nate DOwney hurried on The wind |
tossed the snow in his face, clouds !
were drifting up from the west, and /
blOttting out the stars.
He called finally across the field: /
'ROseyl ROseyl' the wind caught the /
name as it left his lips and tossed it /
away
The little voice sang no more Only |
the wind kept up its swift minor swell /
and went on heaping little mounds in I
the corners A great fear was in his /
heart He called again Oh therei /
whence came the little voice that cried 4
sObbingiy: Papa, oh papai'
He sprang forward eagerly, calling 1
again and again, and each time the 4
little voice answered. til at last he 1
had his own little daughter in his /
arms; the little Christmas angel who /
n@u come through me snow 10 MIN i
with her messages OF peace
Nate Downey stopped a minute at 4
the door Of the church to let them /
know ROsey was fast asleep in his i
arms she stirred a little, half weak
ened BY the lights and voices, and /
murmuTed drOwsily the words Of her /
Christmas song:
Peace and goodwill, goodwill to 4
menl''-Rural New Yorker.
MS a Co,,n,o1 Tst.to Rov