The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1908-12-11


sight better She's been sottin mp
wrapt in a comforter b. the Kitchen
stove amt let her 80 TO On" wiuicr
vet. it's so draughty An then I'm
kccpln' N" wiudor for Christmas I'm
Euiu 10 push her chair over there to-
morrow moruiu'. Christmas mornln'.
Won know The Lords got a surprise
'rr Der th"rc. He's got suthin for
her she's longed for ever sine" Bates
was hung the Eraud"st Christmas
present over you see. hop" the sunll
be out It's ben rainin' stiddy the
hole ,ulurm week January tina" =
lost count an com" ahead o time, I
guess: an there amt a sp"ck o snow
in the valley. | wouldn't wonder but
youll find your share in mothers
Christmas. tcw."
What in the world are you talking
about o" asked the painting lady.
Come mp an toll her II you do
said I.aury, and snatchcd 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 tho
Port was delivering great loads OF
wood at 50 gates with the best Christ.
mas wishes Of the Champion family.
II was only partially dry, to be sure,
but there was enough pnc-tree Kim
ding to insure Il royal blaze and every
burning armful would dry another
armful
"Luzannc," cried her husband rub.
bling his sleepy eyes; what In the
name OF mercy are you doing For
she was kueelng at the window with
both hands claspcd, her hair falling
about her her face shining with ecs.
tasy
Come and see" she cried. "Oh.
Eugene, the miracle has happened
oh. can't you buy the place? Come.
come and see, The swamp is gone.
all gone What am | doing | am
! looking into heaven"
For there all the soft rusts and
] TlNEtlN Nflltl hlih bA'"l' Ai''''' -
transluccncc OF violet yapors smitten
with the sun, lay the long interval",
| the river sparkling through It curve
after curve alive with light; beyond
| II the pinc.clad hills, their blaCk.green
| depths casting purple CLEANS across
/ them. and Il great pale heaven, still
with flush OF rosy sunrise in II.
! soaring overhead.
II was at the same instant that
| I.nury having helped her mother
rolled In blankets, into her chair had
with Asas and her fathers help.
pushed II to the window and pulled
up tho white shade The little mother
looked out bewiIdered mo snow"
she said. Then she looked back ut
her husband, at the others, and looked
out again. Have died." she whis-
| pored, hoarsely.
ooh, mother, mother. don't you see
what's happened" cried laury. "Fa-
TIERS KEEP 1t for a surprise. It's the
dear Lords Christmas gift to YOU
"Oh," she said, clasping her little
thin hands. 1T gives me youth again.
IT'S what | had. so long ago, with
health and stren'th an love. Oh. IA
Their dear | think neavcnll look jcs'
So You don't suppose it's a dream,
visIon-that II won't LAST"
LAST" said her husband. They've
drccncd the swamp and are goin' to
lay it down to grass, An thcre'll be
no more damps rising TO make rheu-
matics An you'll sec 1t every day or
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. ve
hccrn tell o folks dreaming dreams
an scc!n' visions Wen they was goin'
To die. Well. we'll. | don't deserve it.
bur what Il Christmas mornin. You
and the two children here an tho
dclectabla country there. oh, it's
beautiful, II makes the world seem
, a fit 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 soc thLt the
A Lord is good