“My son, if you will order a horse and cutter I will go with you, as I am deeply interested in what you have been telling me,” answered the father, getting up off the couch. He could scarcely stand without the aid of something, but it being Christmas day he wished to give something to the poor children he saw gazing in at the shop windows, and thus it was that he came to be near enough to save one little one from death. Soon his son came with a horse and cutter, and helping his father in, they went down the street where they first met, three hours before. Soon the cottage door was reached. Paul kindly helped his father out of the cutter, and told the driver to call for them in an hour. They hurried up the steps to the cottage door, and tapping lightly, Nettie bid them come in. Mrs. Spaulding was in the parlor where the child and her parents were, and as soon as Nettie saw who the newcomers were she ran lightly to her mother as she said: “Mother, there is a gentleman in the sitting room anxious to see you.” Mrs. Spaulding came in, and Paul said, “Mrs. Spaulding, this is my father. We have called to see how the little girl is getting along.” Mr. Burton, senior, came to the lady and said, “Minnie, is this you, who I thought dead so many years? My son has given me a happy surprise this Christmas day.” Mrs. Spaulding stood as one in a trance. Finally she said, “Sir, how came you to think I was dead?” She spoke sorrowfully. “Dear lady, or my dear Minnie, (if I may call you so as of old) when I came home from the army my father told me you had sailed in the vessel that sank off the coast of S——, and as none of the crew lived to tell the sad tale, I supposed you suffered the same fate, as I could not get any trace of you in Liverpool.” “No,” answered the lady, “your father was mistaken in the ship, as we landed safe, and I am among the living, as you see.”