re gone and the Trapper seated himself in front of the
fireplace, and called the two dogs to his side. It was a signal that
they had heard many times and they responded with happy hearts. Each
rested his muzzle on the Trapper's knee, and fixed his large hazel,
love-lighted eyes wistfully on his master's face. The old man placed a
large and age-wrinkled hand on either head, and murmured: "Whether ye
be in sorrer or joy, friends come and go, but, ontil death enters
kennel or cabin, the hunter and his hounds bide together. The lad
camps beyend sight and beyend hearin'. Henry be on the other side of
the world, to-night, and guests be gone. Rover, yer muzzle be as gray
as my head, and few be livin' of the many we have met on the trail."
And the Trapper lifted his eyes and looked around the large and empty
room, and then added:--

"It took me a good many years, yis, it sartinly took me a good many
years, but, if I've larned the lesson of Christmas a leetle late, I've
larned it at last. But the cabin does look a leetle empty now that the
guests be gone. No, the lad can never come back, and Henry is on the
other side of the world, and there is no good in longin'. But I do
wish I could jest tech the boy's hand."

[Illustration: THE OLD TRAPPER AND HIS DOGS.

"Friends come and go, but until death enters kennel or cabin, the
hunter and his hounds bide together."]

* * * * *

Ah, friends, dear friends, as years go on and heads get gray--how fast
the guests do go! Touch hands, touch hands with those that stay.
Strong hands to weak, old hands to young, around the Christmas board,
touch hands. The false forget, the foe forgive, for every guest will
go and every fire burn low and cabin empty stand. Forget, forgive, for
who may say that Christmas day may ever come to host or guest again.
Touch hands.

W. H. H.--ADIRONDACK--MURRAY'S

COMPLETE
WORKS

CAREFULLY REVISED AND ENLARGED BY THE AUTHOR
PUBLISHED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN

UNIFORM EDITION

ADIRONDACK TALES

In all matters relating to his Writings or his Platform Engagements,
address the author personally

ADDRESS

W. H. H. MURRAY
GUILFORD, CONN.
CARE THE MURRAY HOMESTEAD

_Copyrighted by the Author. All rights reserved._
1898

+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
| TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE. |
| ===================