Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1833-07-25

l hiS hdNNO Hilioy anu HIS Douy was L0lT.
ty stone of healthy, substantial flesh,
stepped in the spirits of life. He had
been long married, but marriage had
wrought no change upon him. They
who suppose that wedlock transforms
the lark into an owl, offer an insult to
the lovely beings who, Frightening the
darkest hours with the smiles of affec-
ton, teach us that that only is unbe.
| coming in the husband which is dis.
graceful in the man. Nearly twenty
years had passed over them, but Janet
was still as kind, and in his eyes as
beautiful, as when, brstowing on him
her hand, she blushed her vows at the
altar; and he was still as happy, as gen.
erous, and as free. Nine fair chila.,ra
sat round their domestic hear;n and
one, the yoangling Of the flock, smiled
upon Its mothers anee. Peter had ne.
yer knowG sorrow; but was blest in his
wife, in his children, in his f1ocks. He
had become richer than hrs fathers
He was beloved by his neighbors, the
tillers of his ground, and his herdsmen;
yet no man envied his prosperity. But
blight passed over the harvest of his
joys, and gall was rained into the cup
of his felicity.
1t was Christmas day, and mors
melancholy looking sun never rose on
25th of December. One vast sable
cloud, like universal pail, overspread
the heavens. For weeks the ground
had been covered with clear, dazzling
snow; and as, throughout the day, the
rain continued its unwearied and mo-
notonous drizzle, the earth assumed a
character and appearance melancholy
and troubled as the heavens. Like a |
mastiff that has lost its owner, the wind
howled dolefully down the glens, and
was re-echoed from the caves of the !
mountains, as the lamentations of a le-
gion of invisible spirits. The frowning
snow-clad precipices were instinct with
motion, as avalanche upon avalanche,
the larger burying the less, crowded
downward in their tremendous journey
to the plain. The simple mountain
rills had assumed the majesty of rivers,
the broader streams were swollen into
wide torrents, and, gushing forth as
cataracts iii fury and in foam, envelop-
ed the valleys in an angry flood. But
! at Marchlaw the fire blazed blithely;
the kitchen groaned beneath the load of
preparations for joyful feast; and glad
faces glided from room to room.
Peter Elliot kept Christmas, not so
much because it was Christmas, as in
honor of its being the birthday of
Thomas, his first. born, who that day
entered his nineteenth year. With a
fathers love his heart yearned for all
his children, but Thomas was the pride
of his eyes. Cards of apology had not
then found their way among our Bor.
der hills; and, as all knew that, although
Peter admitted no spirits within his
threshold, nor drunkard at his table,
he was, nevertheless, no niggard in his
hospitality, his invitations were accept
ed without ceremony. The guests
were assembled; and, the kitchen being
the only apartment in the building
large enough to contain them, the cloth
, was spread upon large oaken table,
stretching from England into Scotland.
On the English end of the board were
placed ponderous plum'pudding, stud
ded with temptation, and smoking sir
loin; on Scotland, a savoury and we'll
seasoned haggis, with sleeps head
| and trotters; while the intermediate
space was filled with the good things
of this life common to both kingdoms
and to the seasons.
The guests from the north and from
the south were arranged promiscuous-
ly. Every seat was filled-save one.
The chair by Peters right hand re-
manned unoccupied. lie had raised his
hand before his eyes, and besought a
blessing on what was placed before
them, and was preparing to carve for
his visitors, when his eyes fell upon the
vacant chair. The knife dropped upon
the table. Anxiety flashed across his
countenance, like an arrow from an
unseen hand.
"Janet, where is Thomas?" he en-.
| quired; shave none o'ye seen hint"
and without waiting an answer he con-
tinued, -"how is it possible he can be
absent at time like this! and on such
day, tool Excuse me a minute,
friends, till just step out and see if |
can find him. Since ever ] kept this
day, as many o. we ken, he has always
been at my right hand in that very
chair, and Gamma think o. beginning
our dinner while | see it is empty"
wf the filling of the chair be all, ;"
said pert young sheep farmer, named
Iohnsn,, ktI will stem into II till Master