Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-04-23

The windows of the little church
shone out brightly into the winter
night; it was SO still, SO solemn; not
a step could be heard on the soft
snow, and the notes of To Us a
Child of Hope is Born foated out
toward US as We crossed the little
church yard. There stood the white
cross above my mothers grave.
pointed to it.
=" My mother I said.
Let US go over there he said.
Presently we were standing beside
the quiet grave. The tears came to my
eyes. My mother dead, and my father
so far away Then he caught my hand.
Gretchen, this is the fitting time for
me to give you my Christmas present.
And he held out a sparkling gold ring.
This shall compensate you for father
and mother he added in, a low tone.
And over my mothers grave We join
ed our hands in a compact, which, as
| thought, should endure forever. The
evening star twinkled above Us, and
from the little lighted church came a
joyous Christmas hymn. But l pressed
the ring to my lips, and with a prayer
of thankfulness in my heart, I Joined
Hannah and Bergen in the castle pew.
and what harm should come to me?
He stood behind NE, the tall man who
had taken me to his heart to protect
me against all storms. | felt so safe,
so calm, as if I had already reached
port. thought of my father in distant
Rome. I thought Of my sunny, happy,
future, and between sounded the clear,
soft voice of the young clergyman,
and the shepherds were watching
their focks by night Behold, I bring
unto you tidings of great joy
cat the castle, the trees were all
lighted and we had not long to wait
in the dark room. | had barely time
to put the little packet containing my
picture in Eberhardt's hand, when the
great doors were thrown open and the
bright lights of the Chri ~tmas-tree
beamed out upon us, while beneath it
were rich presents for every one.
Hannah clapped her hands for JOY
over the quantity of things with which
she was to decorate her own home; at
my place, beside a black silk dress,
lay splendid illustrated Bible.
4 think whispered Frau Won Ben
deIeben, that g Bible is one Of the
best of ornaments for any house, and
the best of all for a clergyman .
house.
Il looked at her in dismay, but l
could not read in that Ynscrutable face
whether she meant my fathers house,
or whether it was an allusion to his
young successor. l pondered over the
matter with some uneasiness till /
happened to remember the little ring,
which l had been wearing rou1d my
neck on a cord for the last hour, and
my troubled thoughts disappeared.
Why should not the beautiful Bible
be an ornament for another household
as we'll?
" No, I would not be cast down; it
was too beautiful this evening. The
Elected back from happy, grateful
eyes; they gilded present and future
with radiance. This one Christmas eve
remains in my memory as the culmin-
ating point of the sweetest happiness
that has ever fallen to my lot, peri
Cd so short and yet so memorable.
But how quickly time flies when
one is happy. This delightful evening
ended in the gayest manner. Frau Won
Bendeleben alone had not had I'M
c1ouded happiness; she had waited in
vain for some sign Of life from Vienna,
and now she was comforting herself
with the hope of what the morrow
might bring. The roads might be
blocked with snow. It was impossible
that her favorite child should forget
her parents on Christmas eve. So she
comforted herself, and the baron and
comforted themselves. At last
everyone retired, after thanks had
been once more exchanged on all
sides,
To be continued.