The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-10-20

than all art. So have they sung together, on
every Christmas eve, for twenty-five years
May it be long before God calls them to sing
it on high
Bessie, come help us !" calls the Doctor.
No, friends. | am passing through the VAL
ley of Humiliation tonight, and the Miserere
Deus mel is more fitting strain for me than
that song of joy. am struggling with pride
and weakness and when | conquer, as by the
help of God | surely shall, may perchance
find that herb, "hesrt's-esse," which is said
to grow so plentifully here, and be able to
sing with the shepherd. boy of whom Bunyan
speaks
| &C. He that is down need fear no fall
| He that is low, no pride;
| He that is humble ever shall
Have God to be his guide"
Christmas Day-There is nothing like right,
true, honest friendly words and chances, to lay
evil spirits. They are sometimes better than
prayer and fasting | was convinced of this
when met Mrs G. and the Doctors friendly
greeting this morning, and looked upon his
radiant face. Surely, | told him, laughingly,
in Sir John Stockings words
mo sun upon an Easter day
Was half so fine sight"
but he suggested warming PAM as being at
the same time "more correct and profess
siOnalo
At dinner, found out the meaning of all
the whispering and plotting of yesterday The
Lees were all at the table-the old grand
mother, the widowed daughter, Mary, and
Bubby," looking as rosy and plump as before
his illness. Their happy faces were good sauce
for festival dinner, and we ate it with happy
hearts. And when, on rising from the table,
the Doctor fervently thanked God, not merely
for the good things which had been set before
us, but that He had put it into his heart to
share them with others, | fret felt the true
meaning of the custom for the mean and the
dishonest, the wicked and rd-hearted, may
sit at loaded tables but God alone can put it
into their hearts to share their goods with
others
Then there were Christmas gifts for all
thankful words and smiles, and some tears
and then they wrapped me up, buried me in
furs and shawls, and with Mrs CPS motherlv
kiss and blessed words on my brow and in
| my heart, the Doctor drove me to my uncle's
H. stood on the steps to receive us but as he
sprang to the side of the carriage, the Doctor
put him aside, with some joke about being su.
perseded by a younger man, and, taking me in
his arms, bore me in, and placed me on the
sofa
They gathered round me with their Christ
mas greetings, and |, like simpleton, burst
into tears. Then there was coniusion-uncle
crying out that | was fainting, aunt, Emilia,
and h, running all ways for re ,toratves, while
the Doctor quietly seated himself by nv side,
undid my wrappings, and whispered--"ls this
really the wisest thing you can do Bessie %
could not help smiling at his look, and.
taking glass of water from H., shook off
my tippets, and begged uncle's pardon for
being so nervous.
Happily, uncle and aunt felt it incumbent
upon them to be very thankful to Doctor G..
and say great deal of their obligations.
obligations !" said the latter laughing !;
task my wife about that. Why, twas only
yesterday she convinced me that we could
give more in Christmas charities this year than
ever, because God had blessed us with the love
Of this girl here. My wife has q curious way
of seeing things; but H. here looks as if he
understood all about it,"
If II. did, uncle and aunt did not but uncle
said he was infinitely obliged to Mrs. G. for
her good opinion of his niece, and aunt always
knew her "to be very kind-hearted wo-
man and 10 the Doctor took his leave.
Sophie came in to welcome me back and
certainly her yellow face was not the least
pleasant thing that met my sight
But they were all in excellent spirits uncle
unbent himself 10 far a to laugh at some of
the pointed sallies flying between H. and Emf.
liza, and aunt seemed for once in the world,
quite forgetful of household cares Tired and
weak, | sat and watched them and thought
how handsome they were all four and could
understand something how a man of uncle's
mental caiiber must feel towards one as plain
looking as 81 my niece" Emilia and H. are both
worthy of their race could not help whisper
ing some of these thoughts to aunt, who opened
her eyes, and answered.
"Ays, just 50 Emilia, though is more Of
CraDston than an n. |; the Cranstons are fine
looking family. But what are you saying
child! You are not 50 very plain-not ugly,
you know. Indeed, now, think this illness
mas Improved you. You have lost that--wel,
that fullncss OF the chest and .shouldcrs--that
country look, as call it. "a little atten.
ton to dress, you will havSvquite slender
figure, to what it was before. By the bye do
you know II. admres your figure He says
it is just the style which one sees in the paint
ings of the old masters. We had quite : dis.
cussion about it the other day, and he half
convinced me tina. no was right"
As he always does" | added, mentally,
1850 '"yeu euoe H. AuiBut uOt enkc ~ IuO
his head to make me the chief figure in his
domestic scene
Nsp Years Day 1885,. There have been
several parties the past week, which | have
been obliged to enjoy second hand, from the
piquant descriptions Of Miss Cranston and H.
have plead i'll health for not attending, and
the excuse has been accepted. Indeed ! am
not strong, and so to-day am permitted to
keep my room, while Emilia after the New
York custom, receives calls She fits back
and forth between the parlors and nv room,
like beautiful bird, to report her calls. Just
now she came in to tell me she had received
call from H., and begged me to guess who
was with him.
How should know, deari" said, smi.
ling at her eagerpess. "Your impaticpce
would never wait until had done guessing
"How stupid Why, it was Mr.. T., the
young lawyer, whom they are all talking
aMr: T.. thought he was in New York;
On! he's on his way to Boston, and 70
called to see me. Il
oh, ! wish the P.'s and We knew it"
"Why?D
"Oh, because II would vex them so. They
are dying to got him TO visit ut their houses.D
Bot what Is there peculiar about the man in |
"Oh, enough he never compliments, or, at |
least, very rarely. And then he says such |
queer things-just what he thinks of you For
instance /: ! was playing, one day, when he
called at our house and, at his request kept |
an I rIaya1 l.x,ll;ac,Iv. "A 49,. 4 L. a.