River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-12-10

sight better. She's been settin' UP
wrapt in a comforter by the kitchen
stove. I amt let her go to the winder
yet; it's so draughty. An then I'm
keepin' the winder for Christmas. I'm
goin' to push her chair over there to-
morrow mornin', Christmas mornin',
you know. The Lords got a surprise
for her there. He's got suthin' for
her she's longed for ever since Bates
was hung-the grandest Christmas
present ever you see. hope the sunH
be out. It's ben rainin' stiddy the
whole endurin' week. January thaw's
lost count an come ahead o. time,
guess; an there amt a speck o snow
in the valley. 1 wouldn't wonder but
you'll find your share in mothers
Christmas, tew."
"What in the world are you talking
about? ?" asked the painting lady.
Come up an tell her if you do"
said Laury, and snatched up her shawl
and ran away laughing.
The sun was streaming into the
room before the painting people, tired
with their journey and their work,
awoke 1t was at the same moment
that every team to be had down at the
Port was delivering great loads of
wood at SO gates, with the best Christ
mas wishes of the Champion family.
1t was only partially dry, to be sure,
but there was enough pine-tree kin
ding to insure a royal blaze and every
burning armful would dry another
armful.
"Iuzanne!" cried her husband, rub
bling his sleepy eyes; what in the
name of mercy are you doing?" For
she was kneeling at the window with
both hands clasped, her hair falling
about her, her face shining with ecs-
tasy.
Come and sect" she cried. ooh,
Eugene, the miracle has happened!
Oh, can't you buy the place? Come,
come and see! The swamp is gone,
all gone! What am l doing? l am
looking into heaven!"
For there, all the soft rusts and
russets yelled and glowing under a
translucence of violet vapors smitten
with the sun, lay the long intervale,
the river sparkling through 1t curve
after curve alive with light; beyond
it the pine-clad hills, their black-green
depths casting purple CLEANS across
them, and great pale he'veI, still
with a flush of rosy sun Sc In al,
soaring overhead
1t was at the same instant that
Laury, having helped her mother
rolled in blankets, into her chair, had,
with Asa's and her fathers help,
pushed it to the window and pulled
up the white shade. The little mother
looked out bewildered. mo SNOWY"
she said. Then she looked back at
her husband, at the others, and looked
out again. "Have 1 died?" she whis-
pered, hoarsely.
ooh, mother, mother, don't you see
what's happened?" cried Laury. ia
theirs KEEP it for a surprise. It's the
dear Lords Christmas gift to you!
"Oh!" she said, clasping her little
thin hands. ct gives me youth again.
It's what l had, so long ago, with
health and stren'th an love. Oh, ia
Their dear, | think heaven'l look jes'
so! You don't suppose it's dream,
vision-that it won't last?"
'Last?" said her husband. They've
dreened the swamp and are goin' to
lay it down to grass. An there'H be
no more damps rising to make rheu-
mates. An you'll see it every day of
your life as long as we live, little
mother"
tits too good, it's too good" she
said. 81 must be goin' to die. I've
heern tell o. folks dreaming dreams
an SEEM visions wen they was goin'
to die. Well, well, don't deserve it,
but what a Christmas mornin'. You
and the two children here an the
delectabIe country there. Oh, it's
beautiful! 1t makes the world seem
a fit place for Christ to have been
born in. l hope the Lord knows how
thankful l be-" And all day long
they heard her singing softly to her
self part of an old communion an
them, ooh, taste and see that the
Lord is good"