The Ordway new era., 1909-12-24
A Christmas Dream
BY MRS. W. L. BLIZZARD
Awarded Third Prize in the New Era Contest

wilderment. How different and dilap-
idated everything looked He pushed
open the gate and went inside. The
steps had been torn from the porch
and destroyed: window panes were
broken. and the old curb at the well
had met a similar fate. The cherry
tree In the back yard. under which he
and his sister had SO often played.
had been chopped down and only the
stump remained to mark the spot. He
went down the hill to the spring where
the old spring-house had stood. but
time had left his footprints there also.
He left the place and started to a
neighbors where his boyhood sweet
heart had lived.
In passing the cemetery one monu-
mcnt. rising high above the rest. at
| tracted his attention. AT the base OF
the monument was a name-hls name.
| He went over and stood before the
graves of his father and mother. How
long had he been gone that the hand
of time could make such changes?
How long had he been boarding money
in that little mountain nut In the far
West, little dreaming that death. the
destroyer, had visited the loved ones
at home? Standing there In the an
guish OF his soul. he was startled by
tho sound of someone near. Turning.
he saw little girl kneeling before the
two graves nearest his mothers. ar
ranging some geranium blossoms which
she had brought. upon them. Then.
with scarcely more than glance ut
the old man. she placed some blossoms
upon his fathers and mothers graves
| also.
The old man gazed at her more In
tently. How like his sister she looked!
The same innocent blue eyes and curly
brown hair.
What is your name. little girl?"
he asked. kindly.
"Annabcl Lee." the child answered
promptly.
And who are these people buried
hcre?"
They are my mamma. papa. grand
ma and grandpa" she said.
His sister, too, was gone. and only
he was left. No. not only he: there
was the little girl, his sisters child.
Where do you live?" he asked at
length.
since mamma died last September
I have been living with neighbor.
have no one left to care for me. all are
mere" she said. pointing to the graves.
except an uncle who went west when
young man and was killed by the
Indians" Then that was what they
had thought. perhaps grieved over him
through all these years. And he, what
had he done? In anger he had left his
fathers home. vowing to make for
tune In the world. through iabor and
sclf:1leniai he had made II, but what
was that compared with what he had
lost?
II am your uncle. little one," he said
chokingly. "you must go with me. No.
must come to you. the little noun
c little girls" he said. talking more to
] himself than to her.
His plans once made. he Immediately
Z went back to the mountains. interested
e some men In his project and showed
: Them the place where he had obtained
: his wealth; a large cave which he
!. had dug In the mountain side near a
8 spring. and where for years he had
= washed particles OF gold from the soil.
i Over the entrance to the cave he had
d placed large trap door which was
concealed by moss and rocks.
3 This spot, where now stands one
y Of the largest gold mines. he sold to
e the men for goodly sum. and pur-
Il chased the old home in the East, where
3 he spent the remainder OF his life with
E. his sisters little girl
Is Thus II was that dream Of Christ
Is mas brought peace and happiness tc
Y an old man. and home and plenty tc
{ the little orphan girl.