Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1910-02-23
CHARLES GARVICE

face of the old man bending over him,
and the unseen watcher through the
doorway upon both figures, that the
angel of death was waiting to bear the
little one away to his eternal home.
The voice he had heard was the
child's, and in a weak little baby
tone it spoke again.
Father Sam, when shall we tum to
the country and see all the horses and
the trees and the birds? 'Tismas is
very tired and Sleepy.
Every soon. now. my pretty one,'
muttered the old man, turning his
head away and setting his face as II
to force the tears back; very soon
now. Christmas, very soon.''
VERY soon-are you sure, Father
SAM" muttered the child. I'm SO
glad so glad. Don't you feel sleepy,
Father Sam? You look tired-so very
tired. When we get to the pretty
country YOU will go to sleep, wont
YOU? You won't leave me, Father SAM
will your"
mo | won't leave you, my Snow
| DROP muttered the old man, broken
ly "Try and go to sleep, Christmas;
lean your head upon my arm and smut
your eyes. Do you feel very tired?
ooh. very, very, very tired, Father
Sam" lisped the little one. ME won
go to sleep, though, if you won't prom
ise TO wake me when we come TO the
country. I wan to see the birds and the
flowers you told me about want u
see them when you do, Father SAM
You'll wake me, won't your"
Eyes. I'll wake you, Christmas,
said the old man, rocking to and fro.
How twiet it is" lisped the boy.
Father Sam, | wish the canary was
here, it seems so lonely. Speak 10
'Tismas Father Sam. Tell him about
the country, about the birds and the
trees we are going to see- | don
like it to be so twiet. Speak to me-
Father Sam"
] The old man cleared his throat.
want to hear about the country,
! Christy?" he said, hoarsely. "We're
in the country now. Look, there's
/ some trees, and tomorrow we shall
see the birds"
Tomorrow broke IN the boy
family. Let me see them now
P'raphs l shant wake in the morning
Father Sam. Let me see the brides
now"
The birds are all gone to sleep
Christy-all asleep" said the old man
But look at the trees; there's trees
and grass, Christy; that's country
you know. Look at EN- and go &c
Sleep"
The child shook his head.
Me 'fraid to go to sleep; we 'fraid
the bad man come and knock us
down. Father Sam, me 'fraid to go tc
seep. 'Tismas want to go home"
The old man groaned, and Rugged
the child to him with piteous, helpless;
anguish.
I'VE can't go home, Christy; we
are too far away
NO." said the boy Not too far
'Tismas not too far. Father Sam
take him home to his little bed. 'Tis-
mas say his prayers and go to s'eep-
he never hear the brides sing"
Never! Oh, yes, you will, my lamb
tomorrow" said the old man, huskily
Go to sleep, my angel"
The child sighed.
Yes, Tismas go to sleep now, Fa,
Their Sam, and if 'Tismas doesn't
wake up to see the trees and the
brides, Father Sam will tarry him
home to his little bed, won't he?"
Eyes, yes" burst forth the old man
Father Sam will never leave his
Snowdrop, and Snowdrop must never
leave his old father-never, never!"
Never, never!" lisped the child
and, putting out his hand, touched the
old mans face with smile of child
ish love. "Tismas never leave Father
Sam. 'Tismas loves Father Sam
Ilsmas go to s'eep now, and when
he wake up he hear the brides sing
the brides sing
The last words died away on his
little pale lips, and his bright golden
head sunk lower On the old mans
/ breast.
Silence, deep and profound, feel
upon the two.
: The man outside frowned deeply
choked sigh with a morose cough
and advanced to the doorway.
The old man looked UP and held uu
a warning finger. Hush! he's alseep, ;
he said, with no surprise in his voice
at the unexpected appearance, only a
loving, deeply anxious solicitude ror
quiet.
The man nodded, stepped slowly
and softly into the shed, and, drop
ping down upon broken milking
stool, leaned his head upon his hands
and gazed at the two figures, old man
and child, with dreamy abstraction.
q /,