isa-normaladvance-1913-00063

Description:	THE NORMAL ADVANCE63»fjat Cfjrtetmas prougijt to tfje Holman*LENA MAE McKINLEYAS FARMER HOLMAN left the littlevillage of AVestby, where he had gone totransact some business, the sky suddenly grewdark and the snow began to fall in greatflakes. Faster and faster it fell until, by thetime he had reached home, it was severalinches deep. The farmer, whose temperamentwas naturally stern, was by this time in a mostdisagreeable frame of mind. His trip hadbeen very unsatisfactory and the storm hadadded the finishing touch. After unhitchingthe horses, he made his way to the house andentered the kitchen, where his wife was preparing supper. She glanced up timidly ashe entered, but, noticing the frown on hisface, she remained silent.You dont catch me makin any more trips ,to town on the day before Christmas—no, noranyways near Christmas, the farmer blurtedout. All I heard today was, Merry Christmas, and What are you goin to give this unand that un? I believe the whole creation 11lose its senses if Christmas aint knocked offthe calendar.Mrs. Holman stirred uneasily. I was justthinking, Hiram, that we might kill one ofthe turkeys and have a little extra dinner tomorrow. It dont seem right to let Christmas go by without paying any attention to it,The frown on the farmers face grew deeper. More nonsense! he growled. Well, Illtell you right now well do nothing of the sort.Well have just what we have the rest of theweek and I dont want to hear any moreabout it.Nothing more was said until supper wasannounced. Mealtime was always a quiet timein the Holman family, but tonight the silence seemed even more oppressive than usual.Poor Mrs. Holman could scarcely restrain hertears as she thought of Christmas as it usedto be when their little ones were living. Atthe close of the meal the farmer lighted hislantern and started for the barn to see thatthe animals were safely housed for the night.As he opened the door he stopped suddenlyand listened intently.What kind of a noise was that? he muttered. But, as the sound was not repeated, hestarted on his rounds of the different stalls.As he neared the last one, which was vacant,he again heard the strange sound. Raisinghis lantern, he peered around and there, underthe manger, he beheld a small child, sobbingfaintly. For an instant he stood as if rootedto the spot. Then he advanced a step nearer.Hello, there! he managed to blurt out.Whered you come from?Me ants muvver, sobbed the child.The farmer hesitated a moment. Well, Iguess youll have to go with me to the house,he said as he lifted the child awkwardly inhis arms.The little fellow appeared to be about twoyears old. He was poorly dressed and wasshivering with the cold. The farmer, hopingto find out something concerning the child,questioned him closely, but in vain. The little one only gazed at him with eyes full ofwonder.Well, Jane, the farmer said as he enteredthe house, ,it looks like Id have to take aChristmas present whether I want it or not,and he set the child on the floor.With one bound Mrs. Holman had the little one in her arms and held it to her hungryheart as if she had found the one thing onearth which she most desired.Where in the world did you find the littledarling, Hiram? she exclaimed.The farmer related his experience and add-
Source:	http://indstate.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/isuarchive/id/34508
Collection:	Indiana State University Archives

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