The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1857-12-23
s. Cbrl5tlros Stnru.
t"RirsES FOR THE LANCASTER LEDGE r."
LITTLE HELEN
AeheVoicncc has its Reward.
BY DOE WHITE.

there stood many years ago, the mansion
Of Thomas Danvers, a very wealthy. very
sens bic aud III every way very good
man. Ibe house WAS iarge-of the ba.
ronical cast-and the grounds in front
were tastefully laid out and decorated with
shrubbety of the two hemisphcres. Every
thing about the place bore evidence Of
an enlightened libcralty aud refined
taste. But at the especial moment, Of the
commencement cf my story, that which
was. most calculated, to arrest and detaip
the eye oi the PaSser on the highway,
was group near the gate on the gravel
ed walk, composed of two most lovely
children, and large water spaniel dog.
The former were brother ard sister, the
elder Tommy and the youngnr little Hell
en-. Tommy was very busy trying to &,
sma!! hoop in the mouth of his stock
ing, to hang up ut night So that Santa
Claus might tive more easily slip therein
his store Of good things. Lutte Helen,
Was seated Oh tie warm so!t body of the
pr"s'rate spaniel and though no, spe-
cla!iy occupied, Was watching with ab!
sorting interest, The work of her broth
er.
1t was Christmas eve. Tommy and
little Helen knew it right we'll For sew.
eral weeks they hnd been looking forward
= for this day aud although, to them, the
wheels ot time had moved more slowly
,hnn ever before /; 1t had come, aud their
htte hearts wer, full Of high anticipa-
lom> uf ihe good thiugs old Santa Claus
would bnug along at night, in baskets
iu!I, for All the good children III the land.
NJ hcar ,earus for the good old time,
~hcn Christmas WAS n holiday indeed
When the utilitarian spirit Of this age,
snd the thirst for money il has bcgotten,
had not driven al enjoyment from the
land. When sociability WAS known 10y
exrerioace, and not 10y tradition aione.--
When people lived TO eujoy life, and not
solely, to grow rich. Ny heart sighs for
this guod o,d time agnim; but fear me
much, it Is gone forever. The hear; Of
man seems to Ee less adapted 10 entertain
the k'ndIIer passions Of humanity, than
formerly; and continually becomes more
contracted IN It's daily pecuIatIons and in
utgues for place and peIE. Alas that il
shouli be So ! But At the tlme Of the
opening "f my story it was worth while
10 live I'LL christmas CONE. II Was time
when Old people and young, bond and
free, enjoyed themselves 10 the full; md
'H hen bliss was every hearts employ"
Aud then all was innocence. Tie black
catalogue Of crime, has been mostly filled
up since that Gay. Oh, that it had pleas
ed kind Heaven to have let ms live in
the good time Of ms fathers
But my space forbids longer indul-
gence in these truitless reveres and al.
though fancy pleads "a moment lon.
ger;' will! resume the thread Of my
story.
While Tommy and little Helen were
busy AS ! have represented, a covered
cart drawn by single horse passed by
A man was leading the horse and wo.
mantle mans wife-was walking be-
hiLd the cart. Sailor. the spaniel have
mentioned, heard the passing noise. al
though he waS asleep, and forgetting his
little mistress was seated on him. jump.
ed up to bark, aud tumbled her over in
the drt. Little Helen. without being at
AL angry, got up, just in time to see two
bright eyes looking at her through the
gate. Old Sailor looked ifst at the bright
eyes and then at bis little mistress. and
when he saw that she looked kindly, he
wagged his great shaggy tail and looked
kindly too. The two bright eyes wersnn
the head Of a ragged little boy some ten
or twelve years old, who was the son of
the man leading the horse. When pass.
log, he saw Tommy and little Helen, and
they and the pretty yard attracted his
attention, and caused him to stop aud
look in.
Good morning little boy! won't you
come in,' said Tommy. with that spirit Of
true hospitality Of the low country gen.
tlsman, that seems TO descend from sire
TO sor. along With the name.
No, thank you SIR said the ltlls rag
ged boy and he looked sad. Heihought
how happy must Tommy and little Helen
be. so well clothed. and With such beau.
tifal home. aud With 50 many pretty and
comfortable things aronnd them; and