News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1921-05-04

| have seen the like OF II hundred
times. Almost every young mother
with a child In her arms has that
look or ought to have 1.-THE most
beautiful and mysterious thing in the
world. The light Of that old star
which led the wise men is in 1t, I
sometimes think. Study 1t and you
fmay hear voices In the sky as did the
shepherds of old"
So the boy acquired the companion
ship of those divine faces that looked
down at him from the wall near his
bed and had something to say to him
every day.
Also, another friend-a very humble
One--had begun to share his conf.
dence. He was the little yellow dog
Christmas. He had come with his
master, one evening in March, to
spend a night with the sick Shepherd.
Christmas had lain on the foot of the
bed and 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.
Chris mas would edge away when his
masters back was turned. In jitfy,
he was out of sight and making with
all haste for the door of the Widow
Moran. There, he never failed to re.
inivn tnl-nn nf tha
Womans understanding of the great
need of dogs-a bone or a doughnut
or a slice of bread soaked in meat
gravy-and warm welcome from
the boy above stairs. The boy always
rad time to pet him and play with
him. He was never fooling 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 to make
\ 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 Blenkinsop found him, al
ways, on Bob Moran's bed.
May had returned with it's warm
sunlight. The robins had come back,
The blue martins had taken posses
sion of the bird house. The grass had
turned green on the garden bor-
ders and was now sprinkled with the
golden glow of dandelions. The leaves
were coming but Pat Crowley was no
longer at work in the garden. He
had fallen before the pestilence. Old
Bill Rutherford was working there.
The Shepherd was at the open win.
dow every day, talking with him and
watching and feeding the birds.
Now, with the spring, a new feel
ing had come to Mr.. Hiram Blenkinsop
He had been sober for months. His
Old Self had come back and had
impaired his youthful strength to the
man Hiram. He had money in the
bank. He was .decently dressed
People had begun to respect him.
Every day, Hiram was being nudged
and worried by a new thought 1t
persisted in telling him that respect
abiNy was like the Fourth of July
Il very dull thing unless it was cele-
brated. He had been greatly pleased
with his own growing responsibility. |
He felt as if he wanted to take look |
at it, from a distance, as it were That |
money in the bank was nudging and
calling him. 1t seemed to be lonely |
and longing for companionship,
Come, Hiram Blenkinsop." it used |
to say. Lets be off together and |
get silk hat and gOld-headed |
can, an make 'em set up and take
notice. Suppose you should die sud.
den an leave me without an ownerY
The warmth and joy of the spring
ime had turned his fancy to the old
lream. SO one day, he converted his
Dank balance into "a roll big enough