The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1854-02-03

t yet my father is the last man in the wor
whom should have expected to take such
, step. wonder whether che is young or olt
A little more marina lade, dearest?"
"Whle we are wondering" said Henr,
: smiling, eve might as we'll just think wher
, our Christmas-dinner is to come from"
"Ah! | have not thought Of that vet,
said Mory;" "Christmas-day is-when!"
"on Thursday week. We have hi,hert
managed to keep Christrpas in some fashion
and, though matters tre worse with us nov
thun over before-Le'
"We will have Christmas pudding, won
we, !ove, though we pinch little for it!-
Well, We will see; there are twelve day,
yet. How | should like peep at the secon,
Mrs. Sellers! Bah! the word does not seen
natural. | never WM call her "mother,,
whatever age she may be-"
|, "Now, Iconsidctihat uIJAi0d of.my little
wife. Suppose she should turn out a very
angel, Christmas angelp"
Nonsense, Henry. Do you suppose that
any one could equal my own dear mother!"
Mary wiped tear from her eye, and rose
to clear away the tea-things, and revive the
scanty fire, which had sunk down to few
red ashes. She then went to the window.
and stood for few minutes observing the
shivering passengers below, who hurried
along in the lamp-light; hats, bonnets, and
shoulders whitened with the snow that fell in
huge tlakes, but melted Immediately on the
tramPled mud OF the pavement, moist with
the rain Of the previous day.
Here comes Mr.. Fairlegh at last" she
exclaimed. Chow thankful you ought to be,
Henry. for such friend! He never fails YOU
hail, rain, or snow. Poor mani! it is pity
he has not plenty Of money He would
know how to turn it TO good account"
'Ah wife, thou art mercenary,I lear.''
"N"j ! only mesqt="
The door opened, and in came tall, we'll
t,gentlemanly-l looking man, with huge
head o. curly black hair, sprinkled with gray,
which he had the habit Of holding down, as
ii immersed in tho abstraction of deep re- !
lection. When he raised his remarkable !
head, and looked straight at you with his |
thoughtful black eyes, shining from under
prominent and shaggy brows, it needed
most perfect candor and recttude of inten-
lion to meet that scrutiny unbenched; for |
you felt that there stood a man whose per-
ception penetrated all DISCUSSES and petit |
nesses OF feeling, and who possessed, besides
stern sense OF justice that was ready to |
expose and annhilate everything that was
not genuine. With the false and hypocritical
he was very Joab; but innocence and con-
tident integrity experienced an indescribable
sense OF protection in his benevolent presence
and were drawn towards him as by an ir- !
reslstable attraction. Children and dogs
always ran to claim acquaintance with
Andrew Fairlegh; and children and dogs
generally know pretty well what they are
about in matters of affect
This man, such as we describe him, walked
INTO the little parlor where Henry Drummond
was still lying extended on the sofa, and ad-
'ancing towards the fire shook himself like
huge dog. Then laying aside his shaggy
great coat, and massive stick that he always |
carried, and which was so like him in genera
appearance, that his friends considered it a |
part of him, he first took Mary's hand with u
kindly greeting, and then seating himself
beside the invalid, entered into an examina-
ton of his condition.
Gal! well, SO far" he said, in his deep
musical voice. "Our little nurse performs |
ner duty well. Not inc many wife, who
will "my love" and "my dear'' her goodman
while he is able to attend to his business, g.
BUY her satin gowns to gossip about in, and
will set off, as soon as the poor fellow fails
IN health and pocket to complain among her
acquaintance how extravagant he has been,
and how irritable and troublesome he is"
lcoSTlNuEDl