I suppose the grand histoire is finished , n'est ce pas ? You will then send it to me care of M. Gryhomski Austriche , and he will give to me in clandestine way at Varsovie , otherwise it will be confiscated at the frontier by the stupide Russians . ` Now we are dispersed in two sides of world far apart , for soon I go home to Pologne and am no more '' juif errant . '' It is now time I work at my life in some useful way , and I do it . ` As I am your grand fils , it is proper that I make you my compliment of happy Christmas and New Year , is it not ? I wish for you so many as they may fulfil long human life . May this year bring you more and more good hearts to love you -LRB- the only real happiness in the hard life -RRB- , and may I be as now , yours for always , ` VARJO . ' A year ago he sent me his photograph and a few lines . I acknowledged the receipt of it , but since then not a word has come , and I begin to fear that my boy is dead . Others have appeared to take his place , but they do n't suit , and I keep his corner always ready for him if he lives . If he is dead , I am glad to have known so sweet and brave a character , for it does one good to see even as short-lived and obscure a hero as my Polish boy , whose dead December rose embalms for me the memory of Varjo , the last and dearest of my boys . It is hardly necessary to add , for the satisfaction of inquisitive little women , that Laddie was the original of Laurie , as far as a pale pen-and-ink sketch could embody a living , loving boy . TESSA 'S SURPRISES . I. Little Tessa sat alone by the fire , waiting for her father to come home from work . The children were fast asleep , all four in the big bed behind the curtain ; the wind blew hard outside , and the snow beat on the window-panes ; the room was large , and the fire so small and feeble that it did n't half warm the little bare toes peeping out of the old shoes on the hearth . Tessa 's father was an Italian plaster-worker , very poor , but kind and honest . The mother had died not long ago , and left twelve-year old Tessa to take care of the little children . She tried to be very wise and motherly , and worked for them like any little woman ; but it was so hard to keep the small bodies warm and fed , and the small souls good and happy , that poor Tessa was often at her wits ' end . She always waited for her father , no matter how tired she was , so that he might find his supper warm , a bit of fire , and a loving little face to welcome him . Tessa thought over her troubles at these quiet times , and made her plans ; for her father left things to her a good deal , and she had no friends but Tommo , the harp-boy upstairs , and the lively cricket who lived in the chimney .
To-night her face was very sober , and her pretty brown eyes very thoughtful as she stared at the XXXXX and knit her brows , as if perplexed .
Austriche Laddie Polish Pologne TESSA VARJO embalms fils fire harp-boy