Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-12-11
From Gndey's Lady's Rook for December
THE CHRISTMAS LETTER.

: t'iS "oy tiic S!oltTo Ttlliin Il long IllI
conJecturiag and fall of surpr se, in come de
gree rexed that Rose did not consult thcr
but Otherwise very pround and pleased.
The search into the hamper is present.
renew d. 1t contains an acceptable stoc
o! grore les inclusige Of tea su- -,anI 9th
er things; then come great plum padding
2r!y. fartisliv q be boil TO be clite perfeci
- goose to stuff end roast; a pran1 piece O
sirioin already cooked; pigeon-p pie; a boil
ed Eam, tartets. mnce-pies, f-uit for des
se-ts, four bottles of wine, and something
little stronger for punch.
Pm sure says Eleanor, 'if had not hin,
else to tell me, l should know that thesC
fine hlberts and golden pippins came out o
the cid orchard at Wooton.'
'And recognize the old cooks hand il
this delicious pastry and plum-cake.' a fd
Margaret.
When the nice things are stored careful
iy cway, Margaret makes herself and Ele
amor some tea, and, after partaking of thi:
and other refreshment. they retire to rest
1t is late whea Margaret awakes nex,
morning, and then she finds the good wo.
man from the village standing, with a very
cheerful countenance, by her bedside.
"A happy Christmas morning to you
ma'am. If you please, Miss Eleanor saws
am to make the tea, and briug YOU youI
breakfast, for ycu are not to get up vet
By. have been here good while, ma'am
and SO has my husband, sweeping the broad
walk across the lawn. have made the
n%lors neat, ssd lighted fire in the Lest
one, and taken off the soIa and chair covers
for felt sure you would like it in holiday
fa1hion. as you'd be sitting in il tc-day:'-
She says this so me- aningly, SO kindly, 50
smilingly, that Margaret feels sure she
knows something.
Mary asks Margaret eagerly, sdo you
know anything of Miss Rose!'
Well, ma'am, believed it wur to be
Kept secret from you, out as I've been
thinking you're guessed it, why you may
just as we'll know what news old JOHNNY
Broom brought WI him from town last night.
Why, that Mss Rose was married yester-
day morning at Wooton Church, and this
by the new parson, that not be come there
.Iong-Mr. Hopton -
: Hotpoint repeats Margaret, with intense
surprise, as the blood mantIes to her face.
Ay, ma'am reckon you'd know the
name. BY mister's old mother, that lust
iackily become to US for day or tive, and
30 can cook th' biz o. dinner for the children
and leave me to be here, says it be the same
Mr.. Hopton as used to come I'D and down
10 the prebendary- house when thee and Miss
Eleanor wur young ladies', aud she sur cock
hserer Well, for some reason or another.
folks never exactly know'd, he went, as
chaplain, to foreign country, and vas away
many years. But We see, old Squire Woot-
On, whose friend he'd been. hao his eve on
klm, and when the parson O. Wooton died
va see he didn't do till he was
Fast ninety--why the squire sent for Mr.
HoPton, who wur right glad to come to his
oSn country land 10 such nice re ectorv-hou>e
ana lot q money as there be at Wooton.-l
Wen, hlr. Hopton had only Just begun to
settle down, when there comes the GRAND
Erws abaut the stormlug o. that great place
In the Crimes & ;he young squire:s mighty
which has been made CAPITA.
-. 50, hearing this, and of the yoann
squlre's wounds, why the old mans heart
ssur melted to the bigges. pity, and deal
D regret wur his, that he'd been SO testy
and oil-hhnded like. Why says he, sam
- be such an Old grhmpus and fool, as stand
1T from brave lad like this, as has done
'ach honor to the old name, and all because
Re loves pretty girl, q deal younger than
himself, and without money, but who, OF her
use, has power O. riches in good heart,
, good aame, and much beau,yp SO off he
set at once, with Mrs. Rdmb e, the house.
ieePer, to Southampton, and there, for some
weeks, they nursed the poor captain, for he
sur very bad. But as soon as his dreadful
IperatIon wur over, and he could be moved
What operationp asks Margaret, breath
essly, as well as Eleanor, who listens from
Ter bed in thu adjacent reom
why, his right arm was shattered bv
.annon-ball. At first the doctors thought
hey could save it, but they couldn't, SO off
had to C me. right high by the shoulder
gor is that ali, for he'd sword-eut in the
eg. Well, about fortnight ago, down
hey brought him to Wooton. few davs
go, when he wur deal better and could
ak bit cheeriuliy, he says merrily-when
lis uncle, and the fousekeeper, and the
octor, were all he lpng to dress his wounds
IA pretty fellow shall be, | fear, need
ag nurse all nv life You shall have
ne, my dear boy says the old squire, right
ravely; 'l'il See about one Tomorrow
No one thought he was serious: but he
FUR; for the day before yesterday he weht
y IN HE carriage to the village where Miss
lose wur, asked to speak to uld Miss Grim
en-. the governess, and then telIed her he
'ur come for her teacher
''She can't CO. says the ole missiS, right
ross y. mot tell tomorrow or Christmas
bay; | thought Miss Butler knew as much:
pr the girl has the china closet TO dust, my
est cap to trim, and other equally import
ut work to do
I've some little more important for her,
Ia 'am,' Says the squire, drily--':o nurse
lex and wounded soldier
''Nonsense.' says old Miss Grimpen-for
he pre- tended to be very shocked--a highly ,
nproper thing for a child TO do
''Not for Il wife, adds the old squire. ,
"Wite!' screams Miss Grimpen. a child
Ike Rose wife! Pray who are You, sir,
nd by what authority DO you comet
BY my own, ma'am. My naIae is r
Vooton, and I live at Wooton Hall. Rose
utlcr has got to marry my nephew in the ,
'orning--a brave soldier whom his queen !
as honored; aud Rose from that hour is ,
distress at Wooton HALL
'Bess me.' And Miss Grimpen pro-
aeds to ask LOT of questions.
There, ma am, l've no time TO make an
vers to Your catechism. Pat the dear
hid's things in box. and let her come ,
so Mis- Grimpen takes it on her to be as ,
milling as just before she was cross, and
clps Rose WI her things; Sc that the dear /
ouuU laiy soon IN hpr UNIV The OldI