The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1906-12-20

and now and then the
nicAer1ng lights played on the bright
oIess OF girl or the eager face of
q cnlId, bat for the most part the
snaoowy figures gave no hint of race
OH uesree until at last the little crowd
ea'nereo into poorly lighted room,
"nere the flare of an oil lamp show
eo motley gathering OF country peo-
pie, few crude benches, a platform
screened by curtain Of Turkey red
and an attempt at decoration which
resulted in beauty because nothing
could spoil the vividness of the noun
tain holly or the grace of the ground
pine.
AS the boy slouched toward a seat
girl stopped him She wore a mink
knitted hood and her cheeks rivaled
the color OF the head covering.
Merry Christmas" she said. and
gave him a coQuettish glance from
ner bright eyes as he returned her
greeting.
Ihe boy walked by her side a lit
tie awkwardly, but unafraid. He was
nineteen, and he lived on the hills
1t was the time for love, and the
girl was his chosen mate. After the
festivities they would go up the dark
path together and he would kiss her
at the door Of her fathers cabin. and
that would be their hetrothal.
They sat together on the front
bench and read from the same hymn
book. The boy sang softly. He would
not let out his voice in the little
room; it was only on the mountain
top that the deep tones rang like
bell as he chanted wild song to his
sheep.
The thought OF the sheep brought
uneasiness. Up there on the noun
tain his flock lay faiting for him to
come and open to them the shelter of
their shed. but the temptation to go
a-pleasuring had been great. and the
smile OF the pink-cheelIed girl, the
music. the lights, the companionship
had lured him from the lonely watch
under the stars.
Then the girl whispered to him
and he forgot care. and a man step
ped in, his shoulders white with glst.
ening flakes.
It's snowin'." said the boy.
The girl nodded. but kept her eyes
on the stage. where four small girls
recited Christmas poem in unison.
Again the boys thoughts flew to
the mountain, where the snow was
blowing and curling and drifting
against closed door. and where the
patient flock, nose to nose and body
to body for warmth, bleated for the
shepherd who did not come.
At last he moved restlessly. I've
got to CO." he said to the girl.
No, you hain't," the voice pleaded.
ITS fearful storm" he whispered.
Hear the wind an the sheep are
out"
They hain't a-goin' to hurt" she
whispered back. "an' you got to go
home with me-"
Your pap's here,"- he said.
IF you don't stay" and now she
threatened querulously, ''if you don't
stay, I'll go home with Jed"
The boy looked at her, at her rose
red cheeks. at her blue eyes, at the
thin line OF her scarlet lips. "But the
sheep" he said, uncertainty.
She smiled. sure now of her con-
quest. 'I tell you them sheep hain't
.a-goin' to hurt" she repeated, and
once more turned her attention to the
platform.
The new minister was speaking en-
Enthusiastically. yearning to move this
lethargic people. The boy listened
with face alight. Through the long
hours of his childhood he had sat in
the sunshine and dreamed Of great
deeds. With the awakened impulses
of youth he had tramped the forest
and wondered what life meant to the.
men who were not of the mountains
And now he knew, for the minister
was voicing the doctrine of endeavor
It was not emotion that made the
world better. but energy; one must
not only dream, but one must do. The
great men were those who were faith
full in the little things.
Remember that tonight we make
merry" he said, finally. ''but in the
year to come we must woodwork
for the souls that are within the fold;
and as the shepherd cares for his
sheep, so must we care for those who
are astray"
CAS- the shepherd cares for his
sheep" The words struck the boy
with the force OF blow. He half
rose in his. seat, but the girl reach
ed out restraining hand.
"Stay," she commanded, but the boy
looked at her with unseeing eyes.
II go to find my Sheep he said,
bud left her.
Fe found them in a close gray
Ah against the shed. The wind
around them, and the snow pill
them and those that were
e door stumbled in stiffly
10y unlocked it.
IA rude fireplace, and
beside 1t. The boy
and the flock, re-
blaze. lay down
with soft sounds