, 1860-12-25

SANTA CLAUS'S VISIT.


from the Home Joura1.1
It was as still and co1d-on Christmas Ere
as 1t could well be; SO cold that the ycry NOON
beams, IS they came struggling against the
window-Innc seemed to congeaf, and lppe 1rcd
like lines Of silver wire drawn out into 1hc icy
cir. The trees were covered with coating Of
ice. which cleaned aud glittcrcd III tic moon
precious stones; iciclcR, like pointed spears,
hung fnnm the ewes Of the cottages; and tho
smuke which rose from the hundred ciiuncys
Of the village, passed, like pious incense, up
ward into inc still nr, bearing In Its quiet folds
kind thoughts and grateful words from tho
loving Ones clustered around their hcarth-
stones. The snow 1ay deep upon the ground,
bore up tho cLil1rcn when from the beaten-
track they turned aside chasirg tacl. other
over the frozen surface, as 1hey came homo
from school. Lights gltamcd from tue win
dows Of every cot III tlc single street Of tho
rill7gc, aud voice, Of young and old mingled
will. song and laughter.
At one end Of tic village, within u cottage.
a little apart from the Others, arr seated III old
man Of seventy uintcIs, his wife aud his grand
daughter, Mary. The room ID one OF those
antique rooms which answer nike for the par
lor aud kitchen; the floor Is Of OIL, aud sanded
with clean white sautl, which Was sprinklcd by
Mary's own hands. Pictures adoru the walls,
descriptive Of Tho Prodigal Son." IN fur
distinct illustrations-his goi1g, his folly, h;s
ranged pewter p1attcrs aud numerous plates !;
while mugs OF goody dimensions hang from
the Pegs, and reflect the damc Of the tire.
Curtains uf Willie, IS p1lre us tie SNOW il the
meadow, are drawn nt the windows and fall In
graceful proportions on one side Of tho watn-
scot, little away from tic dresser, lanss
cayc Of woven willow and wire wo,k; within
1t i robin-that bird of the homcstead-4,lad-
dcns the house with its music. On ali ancient
carved table, drawn out in the middle Of the
roon,, lies the Bible, unclasped aud wide open,
and the eyes OF the l1atron urc liked GU the
passage before her, +" We have seen his Star in
the East, and arc come to worship him."
The old man is seated within lis armchair,
with lis fe:t to tho fire, where tue yule log ID
burning. aud he watches the flame and tho
smoke as they dance aud play with cacA o1ler,
while Lis thoughts are wandering back to the
time Of Ills youth, when lie DANCED aud joycd
with tue maidens.. on doth his eye seek tho
face Of his graudthild beside him, with look
oi the kiudett inquiry. Sud, sud il the heart
Of tic maiden; though her lips wear the smile
Of happiness. Jet oft doth she start aud sigh as
. footstcp gIides on past the doorway. thus
6lt they III silence, c1ch wishing get 1carlpg to
utter the Thoughts TINT hare birth In their
lOsolns, till the clock In the corner, grown
bold by the Stiffness, chimes loudly the hour
Of seven. Then the cut by the tfresidc, dozins,
awakened by the sound, answers by purring,
the chirp OF tue cricket, aud the dog, with d
wag Of Ills tail, looks up into the filce OF his
master. Then rises the old man, and PAGES tho
floor Of the kitchen; his f4cc las look OF
trouble, and the eyes of the maiden are down.
cast; while the Matron wipes the mist from
her glasscs and lays them within tho book, on
tue page that tells Of the birth Of onr Saviour.
Still PAGES the old man backward and forward,
,1.,1
he stops At the window, aud drawing tie cur
thin aside, looks out On The village; The street
Is deserted, aud he hears not the sound Of .
football. Then he turns to his grand daughter
Mary, and says:
Wig is ii, my child, that Nicholas comes
not hitLcr to WOO the on this holicst Of crea =?
Surely thou ca1st not have driven him from
Then sighed tho maiden, and answered Us
follows:
"Truly, my father know not the reason
that Keeps him away-'t1s now three days since
have scen him, though liz hath not been out
Of the village There arc maidens more bca,l-
titui, father, than !, and richer by iar. Mans
hcart is q chanscabtc thing, and perhaps my
Then paced the old man backward and for
ward, while dark grew bis brow, and the feel
Ing Of wrath was upon him. At last he lifted
his hand aud said;
"Ncycr sh0u Nirho1as-"
Suddenly paused the old man, and his hand
fell down On the hctable--wh:lc the matron look.
cd over her .11ssce, and opt ned her mouthu rs Il
astouishcd-while the maiden rosc from her
chair fixed like statue-thc dog covered in
the corner, and the cat crcpt nndcr the dresser,
while the clock ceased its tickin. and held up
its lands In amazen1ent. But the cricket kcpt
up its chirpIng, aud sang louder and louder;
brighter grew lle irc, aud tue brands cracked
mud snapped, Is giving wclronlc, while tho
flame aud the sml,ke r0se higher aud higher,
and wrca:hcd together Enthusiastically.
Tic door stood open and there Un fhc piled
snow, was sleigh carved from IN oak OF the
iures1. Coureers were there with stately
horns, tliat rckcmbled the rcindcers of Lats
Land. They paved tue snow with their hoois
and scattering it high in tho heavens: icicles
hung from thelr aullsrs, and their backs were
covered with SNOW lakts: they were fastened
to the sleigh with links cut from tue iccberes
and their saddles were carved out of ebony
lulaid with hail stones; lhcir reIns wcru o.
crysialized n1oonbeams. The sleigh WIS filled
w.tll prcscnts Of ali kiuds-toys for the chll
dren, and candies and books in rrufusion
Then from out the elcig there arose 4 being
Ut jo,ial appearance. lie wlnkcd 10 bis steeds
and then rnteTt the cottage, His face Hn.
the lace Of the moon as seen through tho mis-
ri October, Lis eyes wcrc tlr etars OF night, ant
his mouth WIS made for fasting and drinking
lis hair was white as the SHOW and bis bsard liz
The hour ireet; Its looks were qulzzical, ant
jolity shonc tn each feature: lie was shcrt il
stature, though broad gisth, while lis wall
uas roll and capcr; hls coat WIS the skin Q
aiao l'ular 1.ar, aud hung around his body
| alas, ere the lllsrnlng, 1t would be black witt
| tic SCOT Hf tue chimncys; 1cathcrn brccche
| adorned his limbs. and lifted his person trnrtt
| moec sns coyt RI d Lis fl ct aud he bore In hi
lnnd thrte-cornrrcd hat, and In the other
fason Of home-brewcd. Closing the door, b
sat down In chair aud placed The dason b.
mus from tl1e table, he filed it, and hande
the same to the old man. Trembling, b
drank, but when he had finished, lie snlackc
lis nis, and vowed it was as good ak the be.
| even that which his old wife had made hin
Loudly old Santa Claus laughed, [for 1t wa
he), till nc shook ."like bowl full Of jelly.
Then he sung an old song, till tho raftcrs r.
sounded, aud the old man Joined in tue chosu4
| Both back and Side 60 hare, 20 bare,
both foot and hand 60 cold
Bot on Christmas give Us good old ale enou:
| Whether It be new or old"
At Last Santa Claus rose, but no word did b
speak, as he pointed to the nsgon; and thcr,
tagc, aud heard the music Of yo.ces-youn
men and maidens were gathered together, IN
linked hand in hand in the dance But Mar
SAW not In the group the one shc 80 lopxed
behold, md her heart grew light rs ehc gazc,
Slowly the Picture faded from sight, and no
they looked on another aud heard the fa11
mur1nur Of bol.. '''
Kapioly over tho frozen ground camc pari
In scighs and as each passed along, tho ligi
Of the moon shouo upon them Aa1J's heal
beat faster and iastcr; many amoug them sh
knew, but nowhere saw she her lover. ..6lowl
the picture faded from sight; and now TIT
J looked on another, and heard mems volces
anger
in the village inn, In tho har-roou, wc1
grouped together party Of men drinking m
gaulng, Mar5 hid ter face In her bands, #
hcr womans heart darc1 not to look on Ii
| picture. But she thought OF her loscr, aud b
| goodness and kindness unto her; aud st
: T. knew he coull not be among them aud 81