The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-04-03

the last-named nation, indeed--a sturdy, rose
faced lad-stops before our ndustriousli wheel
whizzsr, aud tries to whisper something its bug
zing will drown Nothing daunted, he slips the
woollen band from its place in the groove, and
watches, in sort of roguish resentment, her eff.
forts TO remedy the confusion.
"Bs aws' wi We, Andrew, We neer-do-weel n
she exclaims with half a frown, and a dgnifed
wave of hand not quite so white as city dam
sells, but quite as graceful in it's gestures
"Ye'll neer hearken to me, Jessie y he pleads
in extenuation. "Ane O. yer country and kins-
folk, suld be higher to ye nor stralge-fOlkw
"Ye best ken for why no ~ returns Jessie, in
a very low, but decided, tone, turning her face
determinedly away, and taking up her broken
roll to join.
Mind ye no O. lang syne tO-night7o persists
the repulsed swain.
"O' the kirk in its bonny box trim, and the
manse--and a. that ~
al do mind me o. lang syne, mayhapp she ex.
claims, suddenly, turning full upon him face in
which tender and resentful memories are strong
| ly blended with rising tears
A glance shot.fresn raT eyes, kArough those
tears evidently disconcerts her would be eloquent
companion; but he pleads on, though still more
awkwardly.
sYe'll no hear my say, Jessie7 yen wear the
willow for ayeN
"Nae, mon, III bide nae word tonight mol
ne'erw she answers, gathering up her womanly
dignity as she slips the band at last with harsh
vibration into its groove
Andrew turns away ruefully to his dormitory
and the wheel swings faster than ever
" hat blow n speaks the farmer, from his
chair, as he shrinks forward from cool draught
of air. Next Christmas Eve will find us in the
new house, if the summer prospers usp
" Ii nae will be sac home-likep speaks Jessie
half-regretfuly glancing about and above her.
Mrs. Rathburn has seated herself, with chop
ping-knife and tray in hand, and countensnce
whose mood of half-vexaton quite contrasts with
its expression Of satisfaction half an hour before
"Ah, you're always for old times and old fash
ions, jessie she answers, with a marked empha-
sis in tone and in the fall of her knife upon the
contents of her tray. "Now, I'm, for convenience
} snd comfort, and a whole roof over ones head.
Young folks can afford to live on by-gones but
old folks must look out for their livingp
=" bide meier weel to change the old love for
the new - returns Jessie, strange sad express
siveness COMPRISING her lips and kndling her
still cheek
Snap goes her thread for the first time; and
Jessie bends to mend it with a feeling Of relief
in shielding her flushed face.
Better an you did, child ~ replies the good
woman, laconically; and the farmer shakes his
grave gray head thoughtfully, as he stirs with a
long poker the fading COILS.
"Andrew ris' in huff tonight ~ puts in Da-
vid, slyly, from his stool
"You may look farther and fare worse, | tell
your exclaims her mother, more decidedly.
Andrew is likely lad, and better to do than
some could speak on You keep to shadow
foolish girl ~
Jessie drops a tear down upon plain gold
ring-her betrothal ring-that was welded TO
her finger just one short year ago this very even
ing.
"rll meier be false to it ~ she murmurs, low.
+" | wish you may ever see him alive, the runa-
gatew adds the other, in tone embodying some
anxiety and more contempt; and Jessie bursts
into tears
"Dont be harsh now, Sally p says the farmer,
in peace-promotng tone. I" } essie is likely
lsssie, and there's time enough to her yet in life
Don't get up a fret for Christmas Eve, anyhow
Jessie come here, child, and don't feel hurtw
"Ye've aye been kind and guide to me syne
was my ain fathef's BARN ~ she exclaims choking
down her sobs into composure, as she leans over
the arm of his chair; and he strokes her bowed
head with his horny hand.
"Dear mep he soiloquizes breaking the 81
lence of q few minutes, "when | was lad like
Dave here, Christmas was no more than any
other weekday and Popish enough would the
out in his almanac, and chopped chip the less
for its comingp
"Whats the use 2" asks Davie.
It's the morn O. the Saviour's birth time p
chimes In Jessie, reverentially.
True, my girl, so they ssy-and If it be or be
not as some wise clergy opinionate, why, there is
no harm in judging it 80, argue. We must beg
his blessing, and 90 to the rest he gives us. Put
by your spinning and skates, my children and
David read the first chapter out Of Saint Luke
The simple prayer is said Dsvie has scamper-
ed up the ladder after his predecessors the old
couple are snugly tucked into their curtsined re-
cess and Jessie sits down alone with the blacken-
ing Goals At first she bends her head into her
checked-apron, and sits motionless on the hearth
then, drawing it up with a short sigh, she muir
murs, Ane twelve month syne but | mauna
bide fhinkmgw
With one long glance at her ring, she draws
from her pocket pair Of w0rsted red and brown
mittens, tastefully and secretly wrought for a
Christmas present to Davie, whose blue sock
hangs from the chimney pole, open-mouthed to
Santa Claus and she commences narrowing off
the thumb.
She has q watcher from above Dave is long
headed boy and he has a secret slumbering In
that head tonight, which circumstances will
doubtless develop; at present 1t only peeps out Of
MS euIeWu, udll- icIt Vyc, WhaCn 10 oChb
to the chink in the floor beside his mat-bed
"pd give sixpehce to know what that Jessie
is brewing, II can't be for Andrew; no, there
be is snoring away in the loft corner, as stupidity
as though she hadn't sent him up with flea in
his ear! Ii can't be for that scape- grace Of a
Pierre, whom she loves better than her two eyes,
| because he's beyond land and seas, and hope
| he'll stay there. wonder p he adds, pulling a
folded square from under his pillow slyly and
consequentially, and, holding it to the Pickering
ray from beneath, New York; he reads the su-
| prescription curiously. E" 1t can't be he, any
| how be decides at last "fier fingers must
therefore be stitching and maneuvering for my
| honorable and distinguished self Hum! Pm a
lucky chap wish she'd be done, though, hang
| up her stocking, and give a fellow a chance to
pay her back in her own coin,n says he, tucking
| the letter under his bolster. "Heigho Pm tired
| of stretching my eyes open for her aud wbat-in-
the-world kind Of sight shall have at partridge
tomorrow? Ughp as a fresh blast ratified
against the chimney, and shook the snow-fakes
down the crannies Of the roof, he pulled his blank
ct over his shivering shoulders. "A time Of it
| Santa Claus III have, poking down our chimney,
Pm sure hope he'll not send the old roof rat
Ting about our ears Not stirring yet down
there! Well, well III tuck in, and wake to the
| start Of her in the morning.
David turns over to his straw pillow, and falls
asleep in three minutes time.
Jessie too stops to listen to the blast and shud-
ders invoiuntarily as the thought Of her betroth-
al night-a clear, calm, star-lt, heavenlit night
comes over her, and she feels rs If the whole
world had changed with her changing destiny
She fastens the last tapering thread Of the gay
mittens holds them proudly up in the freight,
and then hastens to fold and tuck them, with
huge red apple, into the gaping mouth Of the
overhangng stocking She softly buries the few
pale embers in an avalanche Of ashes and stoops
moment to muse over them.
Forgotten Nae, nae! 1t mama be! u Gamma
be" she whispers, fervently "Bides he VII the
angels! Sure then he wad M leave me sac lane
iy-he wsd be nigh me, this trys.ing night! sure