Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1905-03-30
One Christmas Eve.

By HELEN ELIZABETH BARBER.
One Christmas Eve lonely litsle
girl sat by the nursery window try.
ing to think of something to suause
her.
All was in hustle below stairs
making preparations for ''Old Sains
Nick"
Little Claire Hardesty was quite
alone, for her nurse had gone below
toloin in the festivities in the kitchen.
Dear me | wish | could godown
In the street." she sighed, as shs
watched the merry Christmas throns.
! think will, she said, Jumping
up from her seat.
Taking her coat aud bod from ,hs
hook, she ran down the steps anc
opening the door softly slipped ou,
INTO the street. Here ali was cole
aud she became rather anxious as /
grew darker and light snow beca,
to fall. She had lost her way. too.
Tor she now found herself in The
poorest pa art Of the city.
A man wGs about 10 run up the
steps of n shabby tenement hCus,
when Claire shyly touched his sleeve.
Please, sir, could you take me
homer I'm quite sure my father
would pay you for it," she said.
Hello lost, eh 2" was the cheerv
reply. Don't you want to come in
and get warm first, though? You
are blue with the cold"
He took her in his arms as be
spoke and up the many flights OF
stairs to the wretched rooms which
were his home.
A little girl sa. by the Ere sewing.
She welcomed Claire heartily after
her father had introduced her. For
Clarie had told him her name as
they came up the stairs.
As Dorothy Chat was the name of
Clare S new friend) was the aye NJ
Claire, they were soon talking mer.
rly.
While Claire warns her chilled
hands and chats we will look back
on the past life of her benefac,or
J ohm Hardesty.
He had been tho younger son cfa
wealthy father, who idolized both
him and his older brother, Charles
A quarrel never existed between
these two brothers until Charles
Johns fiancee.
John Hardesty ran away and his
never saw him again, for the
old man died leaving all of bis i'm
Inense fortune TO Charles.
Revenge lurked in the breast of
ohm Hardesty, for his brother had all
ana ne nothing, save his little
daughter, Dorothy. For, though
ne could not iCrget, be- married A
good women, Dorothy mother; but
now even she was dead.
Perhaps the ChIIdren,s voices
h'OuSOA u'h 'iohi tnc TeVertO into
" hIch he had fallen.
Why, Dorothy it was Clar;es
voice cIear as d bell ~ thourhL
everyone mad heard Of Christmas. +"
Yes, retur2ed her friend, sadly.
Il suppose everyone has except
me. You See | III lame, and father
being out 30 much | have not MANY
friends and know little," So. with
simple. childish faith, Clarie told
her new friend the old, old story.
llways new 10 those W no love TO hear
It.
she had quite forgotten her sur
She must tell this little
Oueiy cBiid all she had been told of
Ihe Christ Guild from the cradle To
he cross. jOhu Hardesty listened
DreduhiesSiy to the vivid description
II the crucitiAiOn.
Listen Claire was finishing hlr
story. Hcr voice is .ow and IL. .inct:
h-a n oil h. suffering heasked
his Heav' My Father 10 -. We them
they VINO had cursed him, insult
ed him and CruCIfied h.mI'
The man arose quickly TO his feet.
Il eau forgive him.! hecried. -
cannot !" Again be fell oack into
bis seat.
Claire crossed the room and softly
put her band on his bow, head.
You have "a great sorrow 10 q lxnt,
, r, someone you D.UStforgive For
give th,m tonight, on this beauti-
ful Christmas Eve.
tie looked up eagerly. But,
child, suppose il were some one
whose fault you could never forget?
Forg We, as you would be for
given, murmured the little peace
maker.
One moment passed, and then ris-
ing resolutely 10 his feet be cried
Il will, tonight An! II is well
Tor US both. child for, TO revenge
me on your father-whom | now for
give-I was going 10 keep you, his
child, when / found who you were
and that you were 10 my clutches.
They decided TO go 10 her father
together that night. Il IN glad that
1readful enemy iS no one worse than
papa, said Claire, when they had
oidden Dorothy adieu and were in
the street again.
Claire went straight 70 her mother,
and in the darkened library the two
brothers were united.
And you have married, John ?"
Charles was saying.
Yes, but she is dead. / have
1ne child, little girl. who has been
anne from birth"
Then we will live together, said