Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1921-06-01

tender note in his voice.
Almost twenty years she had been
lying Ia the old graveyard near the
ash tree. Since then the voice Of a
child crying always halted his steps.
Il Is probable that, In her short life,
the neglected. pathetic child Pearl
that having been her name-had pro
tested much against n plentiful lack
" comfort and sympathy.
So AIr. Blenkinsop's agitation at
the sound OF baby crying some
where near him. In the darkness OF
the old graveyard. was quite natural
and viii be readily understood. He
rose on his elbow and listened. Again
ne heard the small. appealing voice.
by thunderi Christmas" he whis-
pered. III that amt like Pearl when
she was a little, teeny. weeny thing
no bigger'n a pint o. beerl Say. IL
Is, sir. sure as SIM
He scrambled 20 his feet, suddenly.
Tor now. also. he could hear the
voice OF a woman crying. He CROPPED
his way In the direction from which
the sound came and soon discovered
the woman. She was kneellng on a
grave with a child In her arms. Her
grief touched the heart 81 the man.
"who be your" he asked.
am cold. and my baby is sick,
and / have no friends" she sobbed.
"YeS. ye havel" said Hiram Blen-
kinsop. Il don't care who We be.
I'm yer friend and don't We forgit H."
There was a reassuring note In the
voice OF Hiram Blenkinsop. Its gentle
ness had IN Il n culver OF sympathy.
She felt II and gave TO him-an I'M
known, invisible man. with just a
culver OF sympathy In his voice
her confidence.
IL ever one was In need OF sympa-
thy, she was at that moment. She
felt that she must speak out TO some
one. So keenly she felt the impulse
that she had been speaking to the
stars and the cold gravestoneS. Here
at last was a human being with a
CULVER OF sympathy in his voice.
Il thought / would come home.
but when / got here 1 was afraid"
the girl moaned. II wish I could die"
"No, We don't. eitherl" said Hiram
Blenklnsop. Sometimes. I've thought
that l hadn't no friends an wanted
to die. but I was just foolln' my
self. To be sure. / amt had no baby
on my hands but I've had somethln'
just as worrisOme. guess. Folks like
you an me has got friends a-plenty
II well only give 'em a chance. I've
found that out. You. let me take that
baby an come with me. know
where you'n git the glad hand. You
Just come right along with me-"
The unmlstakable note OF sincerity
was IA the voice Of Hiram Blenkinsop.
She gave the baby into his arms. He
held Il 20 his breast a moment. think
Ing OF old times. Then he swung
his arms like a cradle saying:
"You stop your hollerin'-ye gor-
darn little skeezucksl IL amt de-
cent to 90 on that way in a graveyard
an We ought 20 know IL. BE ye tryln'
10 wake up the deadE
The baby grew quiet and finally
fell asleep.
~C0me on. now" said Hiram. with
the baby lying against his breast.
"You an me are gOin' out O. the past.
know a little house that's next door
% heaven. They say ye can see
heaven from IT'S winders. It's where
the good Shepherd lives. Christmas
an know the plaee-ion't we, Of
boy7 Come right along. There amt
no kind o doubt o. what they'll say
10 US"
The young woman followed him out
Of the old graveyard and through the
dark. deserted streets until they came
10 the cottage OF the Widow Moran.
They passed through the gate into
Judge Crooker's garden. Under the
Shepherds window. Hiram Blenkin-
sop gave the baby 10 its mother and
with his hands to his mouth called
"Bobl" In a loud whisper. Suddenly
a robin sounded his alarm. Instantly.
the Shepherds room was full Of light.
In a moment. he was at the window
sweeping the garden paths and the
tree tops with his searchlight. IL
fen on the sorrowful figure Of the
young mother with the child In her
arms and stopped. She stood looking
up az the window bathed in the flood
OF light. II reminded the Shepherd
OF that glow which the wise men saw
In the manger at Bethlehem.
Pauline Dakerl" he exclaimed.
"Have you come back or am dream
ing7 It's yol-thanks 10 the Blessed
Virgin It's youi Come around TO
the door. Ny mother win let you
IN
IL was q warm welcome that the
girl received ~ the little home OF the
Widow Moran Many words OF COM
fort and good cheer were spoken in
the next hour or so. after which the
good woman made tea and toast and
broiled chop and served them In
the Shepherds room.
Goo love ye. child So he was a