The Monroe journal., 1921-08-09

.oh Dear But the Days Pass Sc
Slowly" Bob Would Answer With
Sigh.
ceSlas and The First Noel, which Miss
Betsy Singleton had taught him al
Christmas time.
All this Il important as showing
how n poor lad. of a lively Imagination
was wont 10 spend his lonely hours
He needed company and knew how
70 find H.
Christmas day, judge Croker had
presented him with a beautiful copy
II Raphael's Madonna aud child.
Its the greatest theme and the
greatest picture this poor world 81
ours can boast Of" said the judge. Il
want you to study the look in that
mothers face. not that il is unusual.
| have seen the like Of il a hundred
times Almost every young mother
with child N her arms has that
look or ought ~ have 1.-THE most
beautiful and mysterious thing In The
world. The light Of that old star
which lei the wise men is in It, |
sometimes think Study It and you
may hear voices in the Sly as did the
shepherds Of old
So the hoy acquired the companion
ship of those divine faces that locked
down at him from the wall near his
bed and hal something % say to him
every day.
Also, another friend-a very humble
ore-had begun To share his CONT
dence. He was the little yellow dog
Christmas. lie had come with his
master one evening in March, &c
spend night with the sick Shepherd,
Christmas had lain on the foot of the
bed ana felt the loving caress of the
boy. The heart of the world, that
loves above all things the touch of
kindly hand, was in this little
creature. often, when Hiram was
walking out. in the bitter winds,
Christmas would edge away when his
masters back was turned. In Jlify,
he was out of sight aud making with
all haste for the door Of the Widow
Moran. There. he never failed 10 re-
ceiye some token of the generous
woman's understanding of the great
need Of dogs-a bone or doushnut
or slice Of bread soaked In meat
grayy-and a warm welcome from
the boy above stairs. The boy always
had time 10 pet him and play with
him. He was never foollng the days
away with an AK and saw in the cold
wind. Christmas admired his mast
er's ability TO pick up logs Of wood
and heave them about and 10 make
a great deal Of noise with an axe
but. in cold weather. all that was a
bore to him. When he had been miss
ing. Hiram Bienkinsop found him, al
ways. on Bob Moran's bed.
MAY had returned with its warm
sunlight. The robins had come back
The blue martins had taken posses
sion of the bird house. The grass hat
turned green on the garden Dor
ders and was now sprinkled with tll'
golden glow of dandelions. The Leaves
! were coming but Pat Crowley was NJ
/ longer nj work in the garden. III
had fallen before the pestlence. OlC
Biu rutherford was working there
The Shepherd was at the open win
dow every day. talking with him am
watching and feeding the birds.
Now. with the spring, a new feel
ing had come to Mr.. Hiram BlenkiEson
He had been sober for months, III
Old Self had cuae back and ha'
impaired his ymihful strength 10 IN
man Hiram. He had money In tn
bank. He was deon,ly dressed
People had bsgun TO respect hin
Every day, Hiram was being npige
and worried by new Thought
persisted in telling him tlzrt rg7ec'
ability was rIHr tine Furrth df July
very duil tffrg unless II was celt
brFted. He lnul tecn grgftiy pAnSa
with hts owu growing resp5sHbfiit,
HE ft4t as IL h. wantei b tnfe loo
Mt Il. from a distance. rs II vere- Tia
money In the hank WIS ntHglfR an
calling him. II seemed % be lionel
and longing for compsiihonship
"CJnc, nipam Blenkinsop." n use
10 say. Lets be OF together an
get a gllk hat and q gold-beade
can; ~ make 'em set up and tax
notice. Suppose you should die sue
den an leave me without an owteri