Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-11-27
Gboite m(isteuanpg,
From Godey,s Lady's Book for Decemoer.I
THE CHRISTMAS LETTER.

A KETTLE sings upon the glistsning hob;
the fire, though small burns very brightly;
the wind blows cold and wild about the
solitary hodse.
In this fair sized, old-fashioned parlor
with its quaint spider-legged furniture, its
faded CARPET, its scrupulous neatness, are
two elderly gentlewomen: one is an invalid
for she lies, covered up with shawls, upon
the spider-,egged sofa; the other sits beside
a email rounl able, on which burns the very
thinnest AMI bluest of dip-candles. This
latter has been reading a newspaper TO the
invalid; but the listener having fallen into
a doze, she has ceased now for some min
utes, and sits gazing abstractedly upon the
cheerful blaze. In the look is suffering
it gives expression to some hidden cause OF
great perPle sity.
AS this is thought over, the look deepens
into one of agony. But the sleeper awaken
ing-as :ustling of the pillow, low
cough, noving of the head show-il is in
an instant changed into an assumed look of
cheerfulness, thst proves an habitual and
extraordinary power of self-command. In
another instant, the careworn lady is kneel
ing beside the pillow, her spare hands press
the shadowy ones of the invalid.
81 haye been asleep, Margaret" says the
latter, and now feel better than have done
for days. Only think, dear, | have been
dreaming of that Ann who once lived with
ss!"
what, that girl that robbed US of all
our ready money, and SO many other things,
when we first came here!"
"Yes. ] dreamed she was kneeling here
before u.s. and asking to be forgiven
"Well, Nelly, that she has been, long
ago You and /, [ think, have not proved
thai we nurse up the memory of ~rongs.-
But ,sme, dear, the clock has gone nine,
sno you must have your supper"
"stay, you haven't heard all. After we
had .o.given her, dreamed that she sent us
I've p,unds of the stolen money in letter =
81 wish she would adds Margaret, with
as.gh. s'It would be most acceptable this
Christmas time. But come, dream must
not lead me to forget YOU" Thus saying
she takes the candle. goes forth into very
large adjacent fitchen, in which the fire,
for thrift, has long died out, sets neatly on
a rayIthe materials of a very frugal supper
some bread and glass of milk for her.
self; some beef-tea, which has been stew.
ing in jar in the oven, for the invalid
This last she warns as she now comes back
into the parlor, anG gives it to Eleanor w itt
siypets of toasted bread. Supper thus over
and the invalid still more revived, she clear.
away. and comes back to her post beside the
Spider-legged sofa.
"Dear Nelly, as you are stronger tonight
fhave something to tell you. l do thi:
most reluctantly, as it will give you pain
Indeed would conceal it longer, but that
nee your concurrence in step fear
must take. Dear Nell, the last penny wen
to-day"
"I half suspected it, Margaret" weep'
the Invalid, "though for my sake you hav'
been hiding eli with such a cheerful coun
tenanee. But what can he done! Canno
we manage till the quarters income be due
or we get paid for the last needle-work W,
sent away"
"Recollect, dear, the first is but sever
pounds ten, and is in part forestalled, on &C
count Of our difficulty about Roses music
master; the other we may have to wait fol
= ss we did the last. No, dear, have II ough
over everything-till-till my brain fee
sore-my heart is broken. No. it has com
to this at last: our fathers beautiful cop,
of Sophocles's plays must CO."
"What, to the Canon, at the miserabl
price he offered when you mentioned it t
him three years ago! This, when it
worth four times the sum-for the edition
of extraordinary NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
than all to us. that papa's dear head Jay o
it when they found him dead"
Il know it, know it. .sobs Margaret; an
the aged sisters weep in each others arm'