The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-12-25
A CHRISTMAS EVE.

It was Christmas Eve, and til snow lsy
deep in the streets of Seeburp-a small
mining town in Germany; but the neighbor-
ing peasants came down from tleir noun
tain homes, and sought to forge the rigor
Of the season in innocent festivity Family
groups assemble together, the vsce Of song
and Of childish merriment resornds from
many an humble home, and preparations
are being made for general illumination.
Christmas Eve in Germany is welcomed
as a season of rejoicing by the poorest peas
ant, as we'll as by the wealthiest, noble of
the land. But amidst all these happy
homes, there was one lowly dwelling, at
least, where no feast had been prepared;
where no sounds of merriment were heard.
Veronica Madal had, for some time past,
supported her blind father and little brother
by lace making. Once they had experienced
better days. The father had been slater,
an industrious man, but had lost his eyesight
from the effects of conHagrationewhich he
had bravely helped to e1tinguish. His wife
did not long survive this calamity, but died,
purely of grief, partly of over exertion, COM
mitting her blind husband and her infant boy
to the care of her daughter, Veronica, her
self still child.
Veronica's mind, however, had heen pre-
maturely ripened by the care and sorrow
which had so early fallen to her lot; and she
we'll fulfilled the charge committed to her
by her dying parent. -,
ON the Christmas eve of which we now
speak, the young girl had been seated be-
fore her lace pillow, working without inter-
mission from early morning till night closed
in, then, poor child, she was forced to pause
in her labors, for she could not afford n
light. She, however, made good fire in
the stove to warm her blind father, and
having placed him in his easy chair close by
its side, she yielded to her little brothers
en.reaties that she would take him to see
the illumination.
The two children accordingly set forth
together. Already the whole town was
astir. Miners in their characteristic CO.'S
tune marched along in groups, with bands
of music preceding them; and ever and anon
thev paused before the door of some wealthy
citizen, and carolled forth their Christmas
greeting. Then the door Of the house so
honored might be seen to open, and the
master himself would generally step forth
and reward the leader Of the serenade
by presenting to him some small gratuity.
Children followed the example, of their el-
ders, and wandered also from door to door,
singing their Christina, carols; and seldom
were the Young singers dismissed without
some trifins present, accompanied by a
kindly word.
As'Veronica passed on her way, holding
her little brother by the hand, and gazing
on these varied groups, new thought sud
denly suggested itself to her mind: 'Why
should she not seek to win some trihing
Christmas gift for her poor blind father?'
Timidly and with beating heart the poor
child bent her steps towards part of the
town where she was but little known. The
character she was about to play was very
new to her, when it came to the point; but
love to her father nerved her to the task,
and drawing her hood closely around her,
she stepped close under the window of
house of lowly aspect, and sang in clear
though subdued tones the following verse !: