Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1921-06-09
ILLUSTRATIONS BY IRWIN MYERS. NNaE

I'm cold, and my baby is sick,
and l have no friends" she sobbed.
Yes, ye have!' said Hiram Blen-
kinsop. Il don't care who We be-.
! I'm yer friend and don't ye forgit it,"
There was reassuring note in the
voice of Hiram Blenkinsop. Its gentle
ness had in it quiver of SYMPATHY.
She fell 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 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 l would come home,
but when 1 got here 1 was afraid"
the girl moaned. 81 wish 1 could die"
mo, We don't, either!" said Hiram
Blenkinsop, Sometimes, I've thought
| that l hadn't no friends an wanted
to die, but 1 was just foolin' my
self. To be sure, 1 amt had no baby
on my hands but I've had somethin'
just as worrisome, 1 guess. Folks like
you an me has got friends a-plenty
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 BIenkinsop.
She gave the baby into his arms. He
held it to his breast moment, think
ing Of old times. Then he swung
his arms like a cradle saying:
"You stop your hollerin'--ye goP-
darn little skeezucks 1t amt de-
cent to go on that way in a graveyard
an ye ought to know it. 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.
You 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 it's winders. It's where
the good Shepherd lives. Christmas
an ! know the place-don't we, OF
boy? Come right along. There amt
no kind O. doubt o. what they'll say
| to u.s."
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
'Bob!' 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. 1t
fell on the sorrowful figure of the
young mother with the child in her
arms and stopped. She stood looking
up at the window bathed in the flood
of light. 1t reminded the Shepherd
| of that glow which the wise men saw
i'll the manger at Bethlehem.
Pauline Baker!" he exclaimed.
''Have you come back or am 1 dream
ing? It's you-thanks to the Blessed
Virgin! It's you! Come around to
the door. My mother will let YOU
| in"
| 1t was a warm welcome that the
girl received in 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.
"God love ye, child! So he was a
married man-bad cess to him an
the likes o. him!'' she said as she
came in with the tray. Mother O.
Jesus! What wicked world it is l''
The prudent dog Christmas, being
afraid of babies, hid under the Shep-
herds bed, and Hiram Blenkinsop
lay down for the rest CT the night on
the lounge in the cottage kitchen.
An hour after daylight, when the
judge was walking in his garden. he
wondered why the widow and the
Shepherd were speping so late.