Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1907-12-19

HE boys lantern glowed
like will-o'-the-wisp as he
came down the dark noun
w tain path to the little
~ sm church. Soon other Ian
terms Joined his, and
now and then the Pickering lights
played on the bright dress of girl
or the eager face Of a child, but for
the most part the shadowy figures
gave no hint Of race or degree, until
at last the little crowd gathered into
a poorly lighted room. where the flare
OF an oil lamp showed a motley gath
ering Of country people.
AS the boy slouched toward a seat
a girl stopped him. She wore pink
knitted hood, and her cheeks rivaled
the color of her head-covering.
merry Christmas" she said, and
gave him 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 fathe1s cabin, and
that would be their betrothal.
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 wac only on the mountain
tor that the deep tones rang like
q 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 waiting for him to
come and open to them the shelter
Of their shed, but the temptation to
20 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 a man
stepped In, his shoulders white with
gIistening fakes.
"Its snowin'," said the boy,
i The girl nodded, but kept her eyes
on the stage, where four small girls
recited a Christmas poem in unison.
! Again the boys thoughts few 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 go" he said.
mo, you hain't," her voice pleaded.
"It's fearful storm" he whispered
Hear the wind, an the sheep are
tout"
"They hain't a-goin' to hurt" she
whispered back, IAN you got to go
home with me"
"Your pap's here" he said
IF you don't stay" and now she
threatened ENORMOUSLY, IF you don't
stay, III 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-.
Enthusiastically, yearning to move this
lethargic people. The boy listened
with face aiight Through the long
hours Of his childhood he had sat
IN he sunshine and dreamed Of great
deeds. with the Awakened I'm.
palsss Of youth. be had tramped the
forests and wondered what life meant
Is tie men Who were not Of the noun.
talna And noW ~ tnou. for tha
nlnisisr una pricing ne focEins q
zezror q ~ Ne en1tt11 l1el
sts lhs gorl1 t1llI. ~ GagUs