Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1922-06-15

preached. The tree for the Sunday
school had long since been given up,
but Christmas eve forlorn group of
wistful-eyed children gathered in the
church and spoke Christmas pieces
and sang Christmas carols, with long
ing gaze fxed on the empty corner
where was wont to be the shining tree.
1t was on Christmas day that the
widow Blake fought the good fight in
her little six-by-nine room. On the bed
lay black cashmere gown, faded and
rusty and carefully darned; on the
table lay little heap Of bills and sill.
yer. The woman gathered the money
In her two hands and dropped 1t into
her lap; then she smoothed the bills
neatly one upon another, and built lit
tie pyramids Of dimes and quarters
Fifteen dollars! It must be five years
now that she had been saving that
money, and she did so need new.
! dress She needed 1t to be-why-
even decent Hooking sourly at the
frnyed folds on the bed.
It was on Christmas day, too, that
the little cripple who lived across the
bridge received a five-dollar gold piece
by registered mail. Donald's eyes
shone and his thin fingers clutched the
yellow gold greedily. Now he could
have those books Ibis eyes rested on
an open letter on the floor by his
chair; a mimeograph letter signed
John w. Grey" Gradually his fln-
gers relaxed: the bit of money slipped
from the imprisoning clasp, fell to the
floor, and rolled in flashing, cleaning
circles round and round the letter,
ending in glistening disk, like seal.
just at the left Of the signature. The
lad looked at the yellow, whirling
thing with frightened eyes, then COW
cred his face with his hands, and
burst into storm Of sobs.
On the 26th of December, the Rev.
erend John Grey entered on his list:
Mrs. Blake, SIS; Donald Marsh, S."
The little minister's face grew pale
and drawn. The money came in bit
by bit, but it wanted twenty dollars
and ninety-five cents yet toy complete
the needed thousand. On the 9th the
teacher Of the infant class brought a
dollar, the gift Of her young pupils.
On the 28th, nothing came; on the
10Th, five cents from small boy who
rang the bell with peal that brought
the Reverend John Grey to the door
with startled hope in his eyes. He
took the five pennies from the small
dirty fingers and opened his mouth to
speak his thanks, but his dry lips re-
fused to frame the words.
The morning Of the 3Oth dawned
raw and cloudy. The little minister
neither ate nor slept now. The door.
bell rang ut brief intervals through.
out the day, and stray quarters, dimes
and nickels, with an occasional dollar
were added TO the precious store until
It amounted to nine hundred and
eighty-hve dollars and eighty-five cents.
It was nearly midnight when there
come gentle tap at the study door
Without waiting for permission the
minister's wife turned the knob ,and
entered the room. Her husband sal
with bowed head resting on his out
stretched arms on the. desk, and hel
eyes filled with tears at the picture
Of despair before her.
! "John, suppose we can take this,
said she, In a low voice, reluctantly
laying little pile Of silver on thu
desk; there's just ten dollars there
Then she recoiled in terror, So wildl,
did her husband clutch the money.
where did you get this?" he gasped
Ill saved it from time to time on
Of the household money. I meant 70,
should take it and 60 out to Cousin
Franks for rest and vacation ate
this was over" said she doggedly.
Vacation! Mary-vacation! =" he ex
claimed, with rnutterable scorn. Thel
he fumbled In his pocket and brousb
out a little change. With tremblin,
fingers he picked out ten pennies an,
4 fve-cent piece, putting a lone quar-
ter back in his empty pocket.
4 ''Thank God, Mary, we've done 1T
and the mans voice broke,
New Years night there was ju
bilee meeting in the town hall. Tn
Reverend John Grey hurried through
his bread.and-milk In some excitement
He was to preside, and must not
late.
The hall was full to overlooking. o.
the platform with the minister sat tn
deacons Of the First Congregations
church-and the Honorable Pete
Wentworth. The weil-fed, well
groomed honorable gentleman himsel
looked about with a co1nplacent smil
this was indeed most delightful
occasion. u
The Reverend John Grey's address
was an eloquent tribute to the grea
generosity of their distinguished fel
4 low townsman. The minister's yoic
trembled affectingly, and his THU
cheeks flushed with emotion. Tn
First Congregational church was deer
! ly indebted to the Honorable Pete
Wentworth. and would fain expires
q its gratitude. 81, II
The minister's wife listened with
{ faraway look on her face, and littl'
4. ~, - -