The Utah County Democrat. [volume] (Provo City, Utah) 1898-1909, 1908-12-17

sight better. She's been settin' up
wrapt In comforter by the kitchen
stove. | amt let her go to the winder
yet; It's 80 draughty. An then I'm
keepin' the winder for Christmas. I'm
goln 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 sun'll
be out. It's ben rainin' stiddy the
whole endurln' week January thaw's
lost count an come ahead o. time,
guess; an there amt a speck o. snow
in the valley. | 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 II you do. y
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. II 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,
II was only partially dry, to be sure,
but there was enough pine-tree kin.
ding to insure royal blaze and every
burning armful would dry another
armful.
"Luzannel" 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 seel" she cried. "Oh,
Eugene. the miracle has happened
oh. can't you buy the place? Come.
come and sect The swamp is gone.
all gonel What am | doing? | am
looking into heavenl"
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
1t the pine-clad hills, their black-green
depths casting purple CLEANS across
them, and a great pale heaven, still
with flush of rosy sunrise in 1t,
soaring overhead.
IL 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 II to the window and pulled
up the white shade. The little mother
looked out bewildered. mo snow?'
she said. Then she looked back al
her husband. at the others. and looked
out again. Have l died?" she whls
pered. hoarsely.
"Oh, mother, mother, don't you see
what's happened?" cried Laury. ia
TIERS KEEP 1t for a surprise. It's the
dear Lords Christmas gift to youl
- "lhln- She sal.y- slssriar -+rer-1ttei-
thin hands. ut gives me youth again
It's what had. so long ago, with
health and stren'th an love. oh, IA
Their dear. think heaven1l look jes
sol You don't suppose it's dream. a
vision-that It won't last?"
'Last?" said her husband. They've
dreened the swamp and are goin' to
lay II down to grass. An there'll be
no more damps rising to make rheu.
mates. An you'll see Il every day OF
your life as long as we live. little
mother"
It's too good. it's too good" she
said. Il must be goin' to die. I've
heern tell O. folks dreaming dreams
an seem visions wen they was goln'
to die. Well, well, | don't deserve Il,
but what Christmas mornin'. You
and the two children here an the
delectable country there. Oh, it's
beautiful II makes the world seem
a nj place for Christ TO have been
born In, | hope the Lord knows how
thankful | be-" And all day long
they heard her singing softly TO her,
self part of an old communion an.
them, "oh, taste and see that the
Lord is good"