The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-12-17

rpesent1v. with a scream that made my hair stand on end and the goose flesh raise all over my body. while the tingiing in the sides of my neck, back of my ears gave me the shlVers, some thing came tumbling down the chim- ney into the small handful or nre left on the hearth. utterly squelcninE 1t for all practical purposes. As TOT myself I was so scared that couldn't move hand or foot for min ute. and felt as if I were in one or those nightmare fits when 1t Is impos- sible to do anything but be motionless of muscle and mind. If my strange visitor had been an enemy wi,h niaIi r, cious intentions 1t would have been all up with me, for before I regained con- trol of myscelf, the fall from heaven had rolled out of the fireplace to the floor and was standing before me look 1 ing as scared as I knew l was. | ''Well, I'll be d--d," were the 'hrst words I could utter and as blurted them out. the object began to cry,
 swhere the mischief did you come from?'' I went on without an effort to comfort the weeper. for l had got as far away from it as the restricted quarters of the shack permitted,
 'T-I-I-I got lost" was the sobbing answer I received, and then sathsr 1 ed my wits and began an investiga- ton. "What are you?" asked coming nearer. because 1t looked like girl, and I was never afraid of girls. You won't kill me, will you? she
 asked shrinking away. .sr well, I guess not" l laughed
 want company too much TOT that II do everything I can to preserve your life at least till my buddies come back. Don't you know I never was so Lonesome in all my life. How are you, anyway" The reaction had set in with me, and I was over-doing myself, knew' but I couldn't help 1t. My Santa
 Claus visitor down the chimney was only about ten years old. small for her age, and with the brightest eyes and pinkest cheeks that ever happened in our nelghborhood. Her descent through smoke and soot and fire and ashes had damaged her complexion and her clothes somewhat put coulu see that she was a very pretty child, indeed She shrank further away from me, as talked, and began to whimper.
 "Oh. come off," I cried, "and let up
 on that. I've been a crybaby myself
 this evening. and one In the family is
 enough Now you sit down here till
 I get this fire going and fix you some
 thing nice and warm to drink. You
 look like you were half frozen. Ain't
 it mighty cold out?
 gave her d big chair made out of
 Il barrel covered with fur. and as
 got things ready I made her tell me
 her story. She was frightened at first,
 in spite of all my efforts, but she soon
 became reasonable and rational. and
 told me that she was with her father and mother coming over tho trial through the gap and an accident had happened to their wagon making 1t necessary for them to go into camp for the night. While looking for a sheltered camping place she had wan dered away and got lost.
 ''When I fell down the chimneX and lit in the fire" she said, smiling through the grime on her face, T thought I had dropped into the bad place and I was just sure you had horns and hoofs and a spiked tail till got a good look. and l wasn't so frightened any more
 You are not scared now. are you?' asked feeling quite fatherly and sort of pleased with myself for the good impression I had made, or. at least. that I had removed the bad one.
 instant her face went into shadow.
 But where's pa and ma?' she asked, and began to cry.
 They'll be all right in the morning." I assured her, and handed a steaming hot cup of tea to her. But she refused it, and refused to be comforted until had agreed to go out into the night and find them for her.
 was not anxious to undertake an expedition of that kind at that hour, but I knew every foot of the way to the trail and along it for miles, and I set out alone to do my duty as a host and as a knight to fair lady. After a mile of the trail found a team to one side of the road. and then after half an hours bowling through the night. I dis