Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-12-24

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terms joined his, and
low and then the Pickering lights
played on the bright dress of girl
or the eager face of child, but for
the most part the shadowy figures
gave no hint of race or degree, until
at last the little crowd gathered into
poorly lighted room, where the flare
of an oil lamp showed a motley gath
ering of country people.
AS the boy slouched toward seat
girl stopped him. She wore a pink
knitted hood, and her cheeks rivaled
the color of her head-covering.
Merry Christmas" she said, and
gave him a coquettish glance from
her bright eyes as he returned her
greeting.
The boy walked by her side lit
tie awkwardly, but unafraid. He was
10, and he lived on the hills. 1t was
the time for love, and the girl was
his chosen mate. After the festiv-
tiles they would go up the dark path
together, and he would kiss her at
the door of her fathers cabin. and
ShoS WOoAd DS LuclI
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 lit
tie room; it was only on the mountain
top that the deep tones rang like
A. hell -as he chanted wild song
to his sheep.
The thought of the sheen brought
uneaslness. Up there on the noun
tain his flock lay waiting 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-cheeked 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, until a little later
an outer door opened, and q man
stepped in, his shoulders white with
glistening flakes.
ITS snowin'," said the boy.
The girl nodded, but kept her ewes
on the stage, where four small girls
recited a 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 restlessiy. Eve
got to CO." he said.
mo, you hain't." her voice pleaded.
Its a fearful storm" he whispered,
Hear the wind, an the sheep are
out"
They hain't a-goin' to hurt" she
whispered back, Fan you got to "a
home with me-"
your pap's here" he said.
'If you don't stay" and now she
threatened ENORMOUSLY, "if you don't
stay, I'll go home with Jed"
The boy looked at her, at her ros.
red cheeks, at her blue eyes, at the
thin line of her scarlet lips. "But the
Sheep" he said, uncertainty.
The new minister was speaking en-
i ENTHUSIASTICALLY, yCdlAluS W move CQ1s
lethargic people. The boy listened
with face alight. Through the LONG
hours of his childhood he had sal
in the sunshine and dreamed of great
deeds. With the awakened i'm
pulses OF youth. he had tramped the
forests and wondered what life mean,
to the men who were not Of the noun
tains. And now he knew. for the
minister was voicing the doctrine O
endeavor. 1t was not emotion tina
made the world better, but energy
one must not only dream, but one
must do. The great men were those
who were faithful in the little things
Remember that tonight we make
merry" he said. finally, "but in the
year to come we must work--work
for the souls that are within the
fold; and as the shepherd cares fol-
his sheep, SO must we care for those
| who are astray"
"As the shepherd cares for his
sheep" The words struck the boy
with the force of blow. He hall
rose in his seat. but the girl reached
out restraining hand.
Stay" she commanded, but the
| boy looked at her with unseeinl
eyes.