Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-12-24

valley that lay between the mountains
Hannah Bandeau made q garden,
| filling the soil by her own hands, with
| the aid Of few simple gardening
| tools. And Peter gave her what as
| sistance boy of his years could
give. Esther kept the little matched
| cottage tidy and clean, preparing the
| meals for the three workers who were
out of doors most Of the day. and who
| came in at night from their toll, very,
very tired.
But they never complained of their
lot for they had hopes that Dame
Fortune would smile on them some
time in the near future. And she did
in the form of a fairy.
| One morning-it was on Christmas
Eve-Adam Bandeau and family sat
around their plain, undressed wooden
table partaking of a simple break
fast of mush and milk. Adam spoke:
"'Tis the holy time of Christmas,
mother" he said. "And we should do
an act of charity towards someone
poorer than ourselves, even though it
consists in giving ever and ever so
small gift. The Lord sacrificed his
life for sufferers. We should make
some small sacrifice in his name on
the day of his nativity What say you,
mother?"
"You are right, ADAM" acquiesced
Hannah Bandeau There is the widow
David, who stands in great need. She
has two children, and the wolves got
among her sheep and destroyed three
of the finest ones. She is struggling
hard to maintain her children and
herself, and to keep above asking for
aims. What say you to our sending
her bag of wheat and small
cheese?"
very good, mother" agreed Adam
Bandeau. "And as shall have to
watch the sheep and COW, and keep
them where the best grass and herbagc
grow on the mountain side, either Pc
ter or Esther shall take the cart and
go with the wheat and cheese to
Widow David's cot"
"I'll CO." offered Esther "for Peter
is helping mother in the garden. They
are breaking up the ground against
the planting of new vines in the
spring"
: So it was agreed that Esther should
take the dog cart and make the jour
ney over the mountain to the cottage
of the widow David. So, as soon as the
breakfast was over Esther tidied up
the house and placed the noon meal
consisting of wheaton loaf. Jug of
home made wine and a small cheese.
on the table. Mother and Peter will
be hungry after the forenoon spent in
the garden" she said. Poor father al
ways carries his bread and cheese in
his pocket. and eats as he drives the
sheep from pasture to pasture. How
tired poor father is of an evening after
a day spent in climbing the steep.
stony mountain sides after the sheep.
And dear mother. too. is aweary from
her labors when the day closes and it
is time for lighting the torch in the
chimney-place.'
Thus soliloquizing, little Esther
made herself ready for starting to the
widows home. Peter had hitched the
dog to the little two-wheeled cart and
Adam had measured out full bag Of
wheat which he had put into the cart.
Esther Went. to the storeroom and got
from shelf a small cheese.
"Now. before GOing, shall fix the
fire to hold until monday. otherwise
the. house would be cold on mothers
and Peters return" ct must be ex
planned that the weather during the
Christmas season in Southern France
was not cold at the time of this story.
True it was somewhat frosty OF even
ings and mornings and cooler through
out the winter months than during the
term of spring and summer. But the
ground did not freeze till in January;
therefore Hannah and Peter could pre-
f@r ft@ ,rSr ~
,plantlng)
4 So saying. Esther picked up a huge
log that lay beside the fireplace. "Ah,
this Is the log father said should burn
our Christmas Eve fire. Well, this is
Christmas Eve, and I'll throw the log
on the flame and have the house
CHEEKY on the return of the dear ones"
But just as Esther was lifting one end
of the heavy log-the Yule log-a fash
of light leaped from the farther end
and caused Esther's eyes to go shut.
When she opened them again there be-
fore her stood fairy. "Ah. / have
come to bring you some Christmas
cheer" said the fairy. "You parents
are good and deserving folk. They
were robbing their larder to help the
needy widow So here is a bit OF
good fortune for you-and yours, little
helpful maid. Take of 1t for your
selves and for those about you who
are in need" Then. before Esther
could reply. the fairy had disappeared,
going, as she came. in a flash of light
that closed Esther's eyes for mo-
ment, When she again opened them
she found herself alone and the Yule
log lying on the fire. burning brightly.
But greatest surprise of all was there
in the shape of q bag of gold. When
Esther beheld it she gave cry OF
tbankfulness "Now we may buy
good farm where there is fine pasture
and a vineyard, and greatest good OF
ALIVE shall be able to do much for
the poor Widow David shall this day
receive gold enough to buy herself a
farm, and many other poor on the
mountainside shall be made comfort
able. All, good fairy you came to us
on the Holy Christmas Eve. And we
shall do much good with the fortune
you have intrusted in our CARE
Al AJo,,o orJ uonnoh ponHnQn did