Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-12-28

desire TO sat on one Of the high stools, and
cross has legs in imitation Of Mr. Dorner: but
being so round and plump, had SO many falls,
contusions, and cries therefrom, as TO render
hs exile from the counting room necessary 10
Mr. DOraer's piece Of mind-to Bobbie, still
rounder and plumper, not yet attempting tO
walk, but black balling himself through the
world bya perpetual rotundity, into the ashes
over the coal tub, under the chairs, tables,
| everywhere but where he should be.
But the greatest charm TO Mr.. Dorner ex-
| isted in the person Of a young girl with most
attractive face. There was a fragility in her
pensiye feature, betOkening a brief life. A
kind OF weary, sad forebOding rested on the
| tender mouth shadow that whispered of
some sad fate in years to come. Her eyes
were SO very bright and cloudless, that il was
| long ere Mr.. Dorner could reconcile himself TO
| the belief that she was blind.
And now, too, for the first time, he saw tha,
the hearth was literally covered with minia-
| ture people-little fre-spirits in crimson robes
and silver wings, and long locks Of golden hair
| falling about them, sending a radiance over
the little room. One old man, with a crown
Of glittering sr arkles upon his head, and his
| dark visagc edged with an ashen beard,
| seemed 10 direct their movements. Often they
saved BObbie from a scorching or burning
| fate and as the Goals blackened they turned
and returned them, ever leaving the bright
| side visible. Some, in a scarlet glow, how
/ ered ABOUT the mother rather anxiOusly and
| gently. But the purest and youngest clus-
| tered, with the little flock about the blind
| girl They nestled in her hair, hung about
her white neck, played with her slender En-
gers, drew faint shadows of her graceful figure
| upon the wall, and beamed and fingered and
radiated over her, until the entire light of the
room seemed to emanate from her.
The little ones were pouring into Cherry's
listening ears their hopes of Kriskringle's ad-
| cans and Indians; and the Americans shall
whip, said Tommy, boastingly. Mark must
have horse and whip; one a ''roly-b holy, like
| Bobbie; another, a tea-set and doll and
when all had finished there was a general cry
| of, CHERRY; what will Cherry wish 9' And
Cherry placed her hands over eyes and said,
earnestly, as though it were more a prayer
than a wish, Money"
Poor Flip looked up, quickly the mother
stopped 10 kiss Robbie: the children stood dis
appointed; even the fire spirits were shocked
aghast at such wish from so pure a soul.
Yes, money" continued Cherry; then we
could have a cheerful Christmas and father
would not be so quiet, nor mother sigh so often,
and you could all have such pretty things, and
Bobbie gum-rattle.
Then Flip raised his head, and tried to tell
his children that he was poor this year and no
kriskringle would come to their chimney -.
Here poor Flip broke down, and his wife took
Papa has been sick Tommy. a long while.
you know, and he couId't expect Mr.. Dorner
10 trust him no more, and so, -
Here Fips wife broke down; and amid Tom
my's bitter CALCULATIONS of Mr. Dorner's
meanneSs and hardness" Flip's daughter.
Cherry, spoke-spOke like herself-brig6t and
cherry.
. Don't cry, dearest mother don't despsir.
dear father. Thank God that we are all here.
aud well, and happy. Tommy is a man, and
can do without his soldiers; Mark can drive
the bakers horse aud snap his whip wehaye
much to be thankful for, and those that are
thankful for the little they have, are never
left long in need -
And Flip's wife said Cherry was right and
Flip put one hand around his wife, and the
other around his daughter. and said Cherry
was right, too; they had many blessings for
which 10 be grateful. And BObbie rolled in q
circumference of glee and the children re-
Joiced IN the prospect of gingerbread horses
the bakers boy had promised Cherry; and
the fire snapped, and glowed, as though il had
gone mad, and though the family madder:
and SO many fre-spirits filled the air, round
about Cherry, that she seemed piller of light
l-glOrOusly beautifed.
Then Mr.. Dorner saw that it was Christmas
| morning; and Flip's house was in great state
of commotion. A grand fire burned on the
hearth, and pies and puddings smoked in the
z.
| table set in the middle Of the room; and Films
wife, with her face all aglow with pride, salts
faction, and the kitchen fire. hustled in and
out OF the room. Flip was quite young look
ing, helping Tommy to arrange hiJsoldiers on
rlckety stand. Each child reioiced in its
| wlshed-for plaything-even Bobbis, in his
great desire to eat bis rattle, forgot 70 roll
Mr.. DOrner heard a slight rap upon the
door; all sprsng up, as if in expectation Of
something; the door opened, and a lady stood
in the room As she threw back her bonnet,
Mr.. Dorner started and said, JEAN" for the
cOquetish face and sunny curls stood con-
fessed. And Flip and his wife blessed her;
and the children vociferously displayed their
toys, and kissed the hem of her robe calling
her their good angel; and all the fre-spirits
clustered upon her brow, crowning her with
supernatural glory. And a voice said softly.
sadly to Mr.. Dorner, " Not for vou are these
praises and thanks, this intense gratitude
causing your heart 10 thrill with intenser 10Y;
not for goa the reward of weIl-doing-that
happiness in good action that brings man
nearer to the angels: but, wrapped in self and
selfshness, remain thou alone -
And Mr.. DOrner, arousing himself saw the
last sparks hy upward from his hearth-stone
leaving that hearthstOne in ashes and DESC
latiOn.
The Christmas morning really come to Flip's
dwelling with sunshiny joys. And the roast,
and the table, and Flip's wife were there.
And the martial Tommy and horse iocky Mark
realized their heart wishes; and the little one
bis roly- holy, and Bobby his rattle And
fliP's daughter, Cherry was there-only she
was not blind, but as good, bright and pretty
girl as any father would be proud of. Mr.
Dorner found himself the donor of all this;
and as he stood in the centre Of the room,
Flip rung his hand and said, - Col bless you
sir; but for you this day would have been q
sad one"
And Flip's wife could not thank him at all
for laughing and crying-all in breath. And
then, as the fre-spirits had pictured, the door
opened, and lady entered, throwing back
her veil; and Mr.. Dorner started and said,
jean; and the lady walked calmly, proud.
ly to the window. Then Mr. Dorner took
by the hand, and led her to the lady. saving:
''Oh! you who are pure in heart and loving
IN spirlt-nearest to the angels-tell her how
truly love her, how deeply have repented,
and beg her to forgive me d"
An1l Il