The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1854-12-20
4 Christmas Legend.

sons, man, his wife and two children The
age of the one, a boy, was about ten, that o
the other, girl; seven. They were looking ur
from their little stools to their parents, whose
conversation they had been listening to will
some attention, and anxiously awaiting for ar
opportunity to speak upon a subject in which
their hearts were much interested. Christmas
eve is an epoch in the life of youth. They look
forward to its approach with all those pleasing
anticipations ever attendant on boyhood, and to
the fulfllment of those joyous dreams which
pictured that happy event in all the gorgeous
colors of youthful fancy. There is a charm in
the very sound of christmas, it comes upon the
heart that is care worn like a ray of hope, it
sheds upon the pallid cheek of sorrow beam
which illumines the darkest chambers of the
soul, it is day set apart for the great purpose
of purifying the moral world and giving to Gre
ated things glimpse of that which is eternal
The sabbath is the holy day of the week
christmas of the year. Happy they who can
meet it with smile-happy they who extend
to their children the full hand, and strew their
pathway with the gems their young fancies had
conjured up. The hobby-horse in the eyes of a
little urchin, is mine Of wealth, doll to a
smiling faced girl, is gift whose price, in her
There is not one upon whom a parent or friend
bestows testimonial of affection or esteem,
but becomes in the eyes Of the receiver prize
to be remembered when other and ''brig ghter
things shall have passed away"
That happy moment when the morn breaks
upon the holyday and the stockings treasures
are laid before them, is worth, in their estinla-
ton, all the promises and bright prospects of
the great future. What is the future to the en-
joyment of youth who bask in the sunshine Of
the present?
There was pause in the conversation, the
little girl looked up and met the fearful eyes of
her pale checked mother, the past had been the
subject of their discourse, ,and the remembrance
had filled their hearts with grief Their daugh-
ter now spoke.
F'Mothee, have tied my stocking to that big
nail near the fire place, do you think Kris Krin-
gle will come down the chimney to-night?'
80, sister, what nonsense quickly replied
the boy, chow can such huge figure as he is
represented get down our poor chimney?"
"That is it, my child-it is because we are
poor. Poverty keeps from the humble doorall
the bright things Of the earth, except virtue,
truth, and religion, these are more Of heaven
than of earth, and are the poor mans friend in
his hours of adversity."
''Then, father, I will take my stocking down,
I thought indeed mother, thought that Santa
Claus and Kris Krnyle loved all those who are
good, and have not been good? I know my
lesson, [ love you, mother and my brother
dearly, and do whatever am told''
Eyes, yes, you are good girl do not take
the stocking down. Custom, at least, should
hn Oh ,b,, /,
not be disappointed" This was uttered with a
and silence again reiyned in that humble dwell
ling.
EYES," muttered the father "this night
seven years ago she disappeared, eloped, and
no tidings heard of her since. AndAhese child
'sThink of it ncsrnore, husband, she was an
ungrateful child, but this is not all, the ami
versary of that misfortune heralds in another,
our rent is due tomorrow and merciess land
lord to deal with What shall we do?"
''Unyrateful child! Yes, yes, SO she was, at
least in that one act, for up to that period was
she not our pride, our comfort? You ask what
shall we do about the rent. Why, do as others
have done before U.s. go to the poor-house, and
that day which has and will give joy to thou
sands, will be to us the gloomest, and that little
girl, that dear creature, whose stocking now
hangs upon that rusty nail in expectation of
finding therein some pleasing toy, will find in
its place mouldy crust Of bread-it is all her
father has to give. God be with u.s. but this is |
a fearful world.'
go, husband, say not that The world is
Deity's work, and are not created things his
cleatures?"
''True, it is our lot, then, come what will let
us bear it patiently. Yes, wife, you are right.
But have often thought, and sometimes my
thoughts assume strange forms, and the mind
strange ideas. There is fearful
mystery in the philosophy of Deity, for do we
not see the wicked prosper, and the righteous
begging hsead? Crime dwells in palaces and
sits in cushioned pews, it rides in cost vehi
cles, and mocks the cries of the poor for bread,
while honest poverty starves. l often think of
this, and regret to say find myself murmuring
at the decress of Providence'
'Dear husband, what are the fee short
years of life on earth to that which is eternal.
If the righteous suffer here, will they not be
forever h@ppy there? while the wicked and the
prosperous man Of crime, for his short lived
pleasures on earth, will meet an eternity Of wo
1ereafter.''
You are my better angel, Gertrude, from d
his time forth I will never lepine Hark! some
one knocks, see, John, who it is"
John opened the door and admitted into the
'oon an old man andewoman, both carrying
bundle evidently all their worldly wealth. The
I'D trayaler stood for moment in the middle
If the room, gazing on the group before him,
hen enquired how far they were from the city.
''Two miles," was the answer.
F'Two miles-We will not be able to reach it ;
o-night, my dear wife is nearly tired out, we t
ave travelled far today
''Then, sir, travel no further. John, hand .
hairs-sit down-that lowly bed is yours for l
he night-to-morow it is the landlord 's-sleep I
here in peace. Wife, get some bread and {
heese for our guests, and John put some more t
hips on the fire, for the wind whistles wintry {
round the house, {
"And is this your family, all your family?"
inquired the female traveller in a tremulous
oice. I
NO! no! not all, we had one othcr--a daugh-
ar.'' +
Dead! alas, we must all die."