The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1921-06-03

1t was probably an hour or 50 later
when Mr., Blenkinsop. was awakened
By the barking Of the dog Christmas.
He Quleted the dog and listened. He
heard a sound like that OF a baby cry
ing. It awoke tender memories In the
mind Of Hiram Blenkinsop. One very
sweet recollection was about all that
the barren. bitter years Of his young
manhood had given him worth hav-
ing. II was the recollection Of q
little child which had come to his
home In the first year Of his married
life.
"She lived eighteen months and
three days and four hours" he used
to say, in speaking Of her, with q
tender note In his voice.
Almost twenty years she had been
lying In the old graveyard near the
ash tree. Since then the voice Of a
child crying always halted his steps.
1t is probable that, In her short life,
the neglected, pathetic child Pearl
that having been her name-had pro-
tested much against a plentiful lack
Of comfort and sympathy.
So Mr.. Blenkinsop's agitation at
the sound Of a baby crying some
where near him, in the darkness Of
the old graveyard, was quite natural
and will be readily understood. He
rose on his elbow and listened. Again
he heard the small, appealing voice.
by thunder Christmas" he whls-
pered. "R that amt like Pearl when
she was a little, teeny, weeny thing
no bigger'n a pint o. beerl Say, It
Is, sir, sure as sinw
He scrambled to his feet, suddenly,
for 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 kneeling on
grave with child In her arms. Her
grief touched the heart of the man.
'Who be your he asked.
"rm cold, and my baby Is sick,
and have no friends" she sobbed.
YES, ye haveI" said Hiram Blen-
kinsop. II don't care who ye be.
I'm yer friend and don't ye forgit It,"
There was a reassuring note In the
voice of Hiram Blenkinsop. It's gentle
ness had in It culver of sympathy.
She felt II and gave to him--an un-
known, Invisible man, with just a
culver of sympathy In his voice
her confidence.
If ever one was In need Of sympa-
thy, she was at that moment. She
felt tAAt 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 q
culver Of sympathy in his voice.
II thought would come home,
but when got here 1 was afraid"
the girl moaned. II wish could die"
mo, ye don't, eltherI" said Hiram
BlenkinsOp, Sometimes. I've thought
that l hadn't no friends an wanted
to die, but l was just fOolln' my
self. To be sure. aln't had no baby
on my hands but I've had somethln'
just as worrisome, guess. Folks like
you an me has got friends aSplenty
If We'll only give 'em a chance. I've
found that out. You let me take that
baby an come with me. know
where you'll git the glad hand. You
just come right along with me-"
The unmistakable note OF sincerity
was In the voice Of Hiram Blenkinsop.
She. gave the baby into his arms. He
held 1t to his breast a moment, think.
ing Of old times. Then he swung
his arms like a cradle saying:
"YOu stop your hollerin'-ye goi'-
darn little skeezucks 1t aIn't de-
cent to go on that way In a graveyard
an ye ought to know 1t. Be We tryin'
to wake up the dead"
The baby grew quiet and finally
fell asleep.
"COme on, now" said Hiram. with
the baby lying against his breast
"Y0u an me are goin' out o. the past.
l know little house that's next door
to heaven. They say ye can see
heaven from its winders. It's where
the good Shepherd lives. Christmas
an know the pIace-don't we, OIL
bOyT Come right along. There ain't
no kind q doubt O. what they'll say
to us"
The young woman followed him out
Of the old graveyard and through the
dark, deserted streets until they came
to 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 to its mother and
with his hands to his mouth called
sspoh I" In n IOud uhisner. S1ddanlv