Smyrna times., 1857-12-24
A Touching Story.
THE RISTMAS GIFTS
BY VIRGINIA F. TOWNSEND.


"Oh, such a merry, merry Christmas as
shall haye," murmured little Eva Leeds to her.
self, as she tied small, but exquisitely FASH
ioned glass bird-cage to the Christmas tree,
whose every bougb bent under its wealth of
sparkling toys-toys of all sizes, shapes and
cOlors There were wax dolls, with soft blue
eyes, and the rosiest cheeks and lips; there
were daintily carved boxes ofpearl, and of ivory;
there were little nests of cottages, with women
in the foreground no larger than baby's fore
finger, scattering earn to flock eff chickens;
there was a great Santa Claus in the centre,
with large bag strung over his shoulder, and
a most grotesquely benevolent expression OF
cUuntenance; there were horns of plenty, gaily
decorated with blue ribbons; there were sugar
churches, and glass palaces; but, my dear chill
dren, it would be utterly useless for me to at
tempt to enumerate the many beautiful things
with which every cedar bough ofthat Christmas
tree was Dropping, aud must leave the rest to
your maginatlUnS.
Z" How good Grandpa is,' continued the little
girl, as she stepped back and surveyed admi-
rngIy the glitterins object before her, "to let me
have all my cass-na tes here to- morro W, and ha vc
this nice Christmas tree for them. Won't thew
stare, though, when they see all these pretty
things ?'
"Ah, Miss Eva, you's happy chile" said
Nan, the old black cook, who had lived with
Eva's grandfather more than score of years,
as she came into tie sitting-rooms to light the
gas, for the short December day was fading into
night.
81 know l am, Nan. wish all little chill
dren were just as happy"
"And to think how many on 'em will go 10
bed without any supper, and get up tomorrow
mornIn' and not SO much as a crust to eat''
"You don't mean so, you don't really mean
what you say, Man," cried Eva, turning round
sharply, aud there was a startled look on her
bright face.
But the bell rang at that moment, and Nan
hurried off without replying TO Eva's question.
So the little girl walked up and DOWN the
room with her hands behind her, while the night
shadows dropped softly into the corners, anC
there was a new and strangely thoughtful ex.
preston on the fair face Of Eva Leeds. She
was thinking Of her own bright, happy life, a:
free from care and sorrow as the merriest birds
that ever sang a welcome TO the summer from
amid boughs white with the blossoms of Nav
She was falheress, and molheress, this little
Eva Leeds, whose life counted eleven Christ.
masses, and she was the one idol of her grand
father, widower, childless old man, who wal
stern and cold to everybody but his little grand
child, upon whom all the tenderness and affec
tion of his nature seemed to concentrate.
1t was touching to see how his face woul,
kindle, and his tones soften, when she came an,
laid her little plump cheek against his, or woun,
her arms about his neck.
have said Mr.. Hughes, for this was tn
name of Eva's grandfather, was chidess, bu
old Nan knew that when the lips of his oldes
daughter ceased TO call him " father" it wa
not because death had sienced them, but be
cause he had sworn in hls blind wrath that sh
should never speak to him. never enter his hous
again. 81
Mary Hughes had married clandestinely th
con of her fathers gardener, worthy, INTEL
gent young man but he was poor, and his sti
GiOn in life was, of course, far below hers, an
for this, deed her father had taken a solem
VOW never TO forgive her. She had remove
to the West with her husband, and neither ha
since been heard from. Little Eva knew somt
thing of this, for two years before, when he
fair young mother lay on her death-bed, st
had overheard part of conversation betwee
her and her grandfather.
Tie old mans face was very white as
walked up and down the room, SO excited tn
Eva had fairly shuddered to look at him.
"Anything but that, Ellen," he said, in
thick hoarse voice HAsk anything but tht
and will grant it. Remember my oath.7
"But if they have children, Father" mu
INJURED the faint voice of the woman, who W
dying, though they did not guess it then.
The old man went to the bedside. t" Yes,
ttt- r. #.5nI5 ...-....t.