a corner of her apron, and swayed her stout
body to and fro.

"An' dis is Christmas time, too," she continued. "How Missie Jean did
lub Christmas. I kin see de dear lamb now, wif her eyes shinin', an'
her cheeks jes like two rosy apples. But to hear her happy laff was de
bes' of all. An' she was so good to the chilluns. Why, de house was
allus full of dem on Christmas day, an' Missie Jean, was jes like a
chile herse'f, de dear lamb."

"I know she was," Mrs. Watson replied. "The very night she was stolen
away I showed her the presents we made for Danny. She was so much
interested in the toy boat, horse and cart John made. She was very
bright and happy that night. Poor dear, she little knew what was in
store for her."

It was the week after the great storm that the Colonel was sitting as
usual one night before the fire. Mammy had put the baby to bed, and
was busying herself about the room. The silent man was thinking of his
lost daughter. He had given up all hope now of ever seeing her again.
The last spark had fled with Dane's arrival. He had been encouraged by
the thought that the courier would bring some word of his loved one.
But the first glance at the young man's face had told him the worst.
There was no hope. Jean was either dead, or worse than dead. What he
had endured since the night she had been stolen away he alone knew. He
tried to be brave and to face life with the same courage as in the
past. But he found this to be almost impossible. He was getting old,
his loved ones had all been taken away, and he had nothing to live for.
This feeling of depression increased as Christmas drew near. He ate
but little, and he found it difficult to sleep. He would rise long
before daylight, and every morning Mammy found him huddled before the
fire. He was as kind and gentle as of old, but he was not the Colonel
Sterling who had played such an important part in the war.

Old Mammy had just replenished the fire, and the flames were licking
merrily around a big hardwood stick, when a noise sounded outside.
Then the door was thrust suddenly open, and as the Colonel turned his
head, Jean rushed across the room, threw her arms about his neck, and
almost smothered him with rapturous kisses. With a great cry of joy
and amazement the Colonel clutched the clinging girl, and staggered to
his feet. He was trembling violently, and his excitement was intense.
He looked into her face, touched her hair, and laid