Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-12-04
From Godey's Lady's Book for Deeember.I
THE CHRISTMAS LETTER
fCoNTIHUED I


"a London bookseller has said its wortl
is as many guiness. To me and Eleanor il
far exceeds that sum; for on the second
volume our fathers head lay; when he wa:
{, found dead IN his house, within these very
preciuets.'
sth, it is long time ago! | think re-
member something of the circumstance
sYoumay, readily, Canon Mosley-oul
father, ,Prebend Butler,wa friend ofyours
She is reused 10 say as much as this-mee' L
lady.as she is-for the mans ingratitude i.
fragrant, as her father reared him, educated
!. him--led to his being what ho is.
There, please cease: never indulge in
"reminiscences. Now go-my time is valu-
she: it is dedicated to His service, and must
not be irespassed on. If your poverty be
extreme, w ills or the footmaE can give you
a shilling Saying this, he waves his hand
) authoritalively towards the door.
Margaret does not trust herself TO speak
only, as she lifts the books, she clasps
her wasted hands: 20 Lord, in Thy good
time lift up the desolats, even for To-MoR-
ROWS sake So praying, she goes without
further word.
Willis meets her, sees her tears, leads
her into his little room, offers her wine, bids
her take seat.
NO, the wine would choke me-nor cans
| stay momen, in his house, Then she
tells the old butler what his master said.
1T is like him. Though i say it. he is
the most selfish and unfeeling of men. But
keep up your heart, dear lady: Providence
watches over ALL
He had need,' says the poor lady, sfof
there is little to trust TO in mems charity or
gratitude
She then takes her way TO a small book
ssller's-shcp in a street near the market
place. The owner, like herself, has seen
better days; but he receives her with as
much respect as he did years before, when
she and her sister drove up to his door in
their carriage; and tteir father, Prebend
Butler, was amongst his best customers.
She states her business: it is to ask him
to sell the books.
Il fear my chance is bu. small. ma'am, |
have Sc few wealthy people for my custo-
mers nowadays. Have you tried Canon
Mosley! He loves a book of the kind,
especially when he can get it cheap
She shakes her head, then tells him what
has just occurred. Even he, an old man,
sets his teeth, anG lifts his withered hand
Il remember the day when Canon Moslev
was charity lad in Brownies School. He
owes all to your fathers noble nature-yet
such is your reward. But | suppose he
doesn't forget or forgive his wife-Squire
Wooton's sister that was-so tying up her
money before she died, that at his death it
must come to her nephew Charles. or, as
should now say, Captain. He knows, too,
the Captain has great liking for you and
Miss Eleanor. Well, ma am, never mind
Leave the books, and may be able to part
with them. A clergyman has lately come
to WoOton Rectory, who is one of the
kindest of Christians and gentlemen. He
- 10 Call hare some time this afternoon, and
| will do the best can
sThank you. You can gay whose books
these were. And, in case that the poor
ladies can re-purchase them at some future
time, ask if he will permit them to do SO.
Il will. l hear that he is one whose
heart is full ,f loving kindness
Thanking the old man for mis- courtesy
she goes her way, leaving ths books in his
care.
She has thus to retrace her steps 2enni-
less as she came. She is too depressed to
seek further, to ask other aid. All she seems
to care for is to be once more by ..Eleanor's
side, and there. kneeling, die. Depression,
misery, exhaustion can go no further. She
prays God to hold the bitter cup no longer
to her lips.
Avoiding the glttering shops and now
lighted streets, she retraces her steps again
past the cathedral. The service, is over,
but the ehorsters sre practising, the organ
playing. Something irresistible leads her
in; and, as she can pass out by door at the
further end, she goes down one of the side
aisles towards the magnificent choir. There
she stays, leaning by pillar; for her senses
are drowsy, and her exhaustion extreme
The chsristers are practising one of Boyce'a