Kenosha tribune and telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1855-1855, 1855-01-04
From the Evening Poet.
A CHRISTMAS STORY.
FIN CHILDREN HE UTOPIA.

1t was Christmas-eve. and | was seated
in my easy chair, drawn up before the bl-
Ting wood-f fire in my quiet study, lost in
Il Golden reverie. Beautiful pictures aof
long ago. kept green in memory through
many twilight musings, were passing be-
fore me. The present, too, with its cheer
full realities. and the far-off future, with
its hopeful plans, came to fill my heart
with happiness. How long my reverie
lasted | scarcely know, but ! was sudden
ly aroused from it by seeing the cd oak
,iooa-that door which had been closed
for many a year, that passed into the
chamber where my mother died-sloWly
open and tirnidIy and noiselessiy come
forth my two little ones, Mary and Fan
NJ. Bv what means they had obtained
ingress into that long-deserted room. the
key Of which | keep in the private draw
or of my secretary, | never thought to
ask. SO | seated them, one on either
knee, while they twined their little arms
carcssingly about my neck, and, kissing
me with their red lips, said they had come
for papa to them some Christmas stories
/ felt that God had been very kind III be-
slowing upon me two such precious gifts.
Mary. my elder child. has the dan hair
and the sparkling black eyes Of her moth
or, and the very look which III ny early
manhood had such power to draw me to
that mothers side. Fanny, my babygirl,
mas light hair and mild, blae eyes, and re-
semblcs-lor so think whenin musing
mood-a fair dream of my boyhood which
faded into the shadow land long before
knew how to distinguish between love
and sisterly affection. Mary is all yivac-
ity and life; Fanny is reserved and quiet;
Mary laughs aloud, Fanny only smiiC
Mary moves about our home like a sing
bird. Fanny ike a CLEAN Of sunshine.
And what" asked |, shall papa tel
to his little daughters" .
"Oh," said Mary, quickly, first of al
tell It's those funny verses about Santa
CLAUSE coming down the chimney, dres-
sed in flrS. carrying 4 big pack on bis
back and with pipe in his teeth, to I'll
,lir stockings -
And then, said Fanny please repeat
papa, that pretty hymn Of the shepherds
sitting on the ground watching then
docks by night, when the angel appeared
and told them Of Christ's coming
And SO, while repeated good Bishop
Aioore's weu-known Chris tmas verses
they listened quietly, and when | ended
Mary exclaimed, ciappag her hands with
childish glcc:
"Oh. how / should like to see Santa
7au5 and the rcindeers! And don'tyor
,s.nIl ,ara, th1tifI should sit up tonight
t,t ~ai-t Nick ana ask him to give me 8
-ltzEc wax laii, with eyes that open anC
INIT iast hike the one Cousin Nina has
4e ,,ou.d do it}' a r..-.,rt.
sand me book, full Of pictures and
preatv stories" chimed IN Fanny.
had not the heart to tell tkcm that
Santa Claus was but an imaginary being
for ! cunSjderthat these mysteries of oul
cAjllhood- his belief in fairies and good
spu;ts--ate OF too poetical and beautiful
nature - be rudely disenchantel of a;
All early age. The ideals of orr child
hood disappear t,st enough before the
actnaEties of life. So promiscdm lit
tie ones that would s,eak to the oil
saint in their behalf, while they. nestled
snuglv in bed. should be 1rcsm,cg Of doll;
and books, and doubted not but theil
wishes weuld be gratitied: Here MNy
kissed my check and called me her goot
papa. while Fanny laid her head. upon
any shoulder and looked up into my face
hex mild eyes beaming with gratitude.
They were both very quiet and atten
tive while repeated the hymn
and when had finished it they asked
me Tor another and then another, till
had quite exhausted my stock of hymns
and carols. and had to bring my inven
five powers to the task in conWring slds
able stores for the Christmas-eyc. re
member | told them tales wherein tht
words plum-pudding and mince- pcs roast
turkey and flagons of ale, the yule log
and wassail bowl had prominent places
But | found that they both loved best t.
hearlne tell of things that happened many
long years before to myself, when | wa:
little boy, and hung up my stocking o
Chr.stmas-eyeS; and. among other storle;
/ told them how. when was very small
lad. not bigger than Fanny | had gone
with their great-grandmother Gray t.
the house Of an old friend of hers, who
lived in the country, to spend the holidays
1t was Christmas-eve when we arrived
and ne we had ridden long distance, in
an open sleigh. Twas yery tired and sleepy
aud so soon after supper, | asked to be
put to he'd. Here Mary interrupted me
&C. say that must have been very, very