, 1860-12-21
sTELACooM WASHINGTON TERRITORY FRIDAY, DECEMBER

Au0teS clOJne3, WHICH udu 1unoteO tor CaIo
while Willie was m, and the thought continually
tofmented her that she was going blind.
The bundles which used to be placed upon her
table were no longer found. She did not know
the reason, but Norah and her husband did.
They knew that Mr.. Russell and biz family were
gone abroad, and would not return until Decem-
Der. r., -. "a ,.. .s.J Al
necessaries Of life. She had even taken away
the andirons that supported her wood 6re, 10
order to buy with them few sticks Of wood.
The few pieces Of crockery followed, and half
the straw from her miserable bed. She took n
little washing, but her own irons were gonelong
ago. and the washboilef. to1 and she had 70 bor-
row both from NoFah. .1n .ia mii !
4, ECome and wash in my room, Misthress Rum
min. said Norah. = There Is plinty Of FIRE here
70 bate your wather, and yees may look after
little Maggie's spelling 10 pay tcr T." @
There was delicacy in the Irishwoman's mode
Of giving lavoFs She would always make It ap-
pear that " Misthreas Rummin" had obliged her
in some way, and that her services went only 70
pay for something she was receiving.
~ II was thus with poor Catherine on the even
ing and morning Of that terrible Christmas in
which we found her and her helpless little ones
The scars had faded from, ,Willies face leaving il
pale and haggard, and bis eyes had that unnat-
ufal brightness 50 painful in . child. He suf
,lered more from priVation than Addie, who was
strong and healthy. las syy lssils.i. q .r.A.
We left her watching the aEaking Of her chill
dren. She bent over them, and dAw Wilels PAL
ia look with dismay. tinaS 7isleAaa9st iHss
4 Must I lose him after allls she exclaimed.
Hwas he saved from that cruel disease, only y
waste away with hungerfp So. -.
2 At hat moment loud knock was heard q
the door. and she hastily dried her tears and an
swered the summons. No one was there, but
as she opened the door, large bag fen inysrd,
marked with her own name IN large letters A.
she drew L ID. and was about % close the door,
she saw the shadow Of Nofah's husband fit,
ting around the corner Of the honse.ie She knew
It BY the ragged hat, Of which one half the hriul
was gone. She called after him, % know Il be
saw any one leave the bag.
: .aFaith, and how could I, ,whin I've jist come
ont Of the houseY But IN be althss asking
Norah-peThaps she saw the thale himsglfinai
Catherine opened the bag, and found every
thing for Christmas revel, hs she said 70 Nofah,
when she wanted 10 share with her But NOrah
had had a'bae, too, inscribed. ID che same writ.
ing a. GATHERINGS, ttTo MFA Moran DolaD y
and her husband told her that Mr, Russell had
arrived in the steamer, but did not ten her that
he and Nj. Russel's man bad brought up the
haea I9nIi5 3tf q iall11p srh ~ sdeipd eds
sSure, !, he told her, z, h mnss be ST Nicholas
himself, who could not get the great bags down
! Great vas the as.Ouishnsns and JOY of cathl
crimes children when they opened their eyes
upon the table loaded with chickens, boiled and
roasted, great loavesof bread. and piles Of small
brown paper parcels. marked, each with ne
name Of some useful article. In the parcel oI
sugar was piece ofgold as large as halt dollar.
1 There was JOY and deep thankiulness u the
heart Of Mrs Romaine as she saw the children
devonr the abundant Christmss breakfast Poor
Willie had II stop from weakness and bis
mother warned him 70 be moderate, and he might
have little and eat olleuer As for Addie. she
was deep IN the mysteries Of . vast plum pud'
ding, and threatened to eat herself into fever
but for the careful checking Of her mother.
Catherine borrowed the wood unhesitatingly
Of Norah. today, for she knew she could repay
itto-morfow, and redeemed her ,andirons als-.
Her poor room shone BY two o'clock IN the afleii
noon, from the effects Of her rubbing and black.
ing and polishing; and then the three sat round
the nice Christmas flre, and the mother told them
stories which they had never heard before nor
indeed had she. The aflarnoon sun ahono IN,
too, lighting up the poor, mean furniture with
the same glow Il was bestOWing IN rich apart
uients: and the snow, which vas blnckenod and
dirtF around the other doors in The small court
lay spotless and uhsulllud round NrE Romaine's.
aikear sleigt ,-5ells, " said Willie starting ur,
+" and they are coming right up the court And
zee, mother, see, Addie, what : 3ine horse !
Ana q gentleman all wrapped up b furp
And true enough. there Was the een.lemlH
holding The long reins and knocking a theirpwH
door. Willie opeps the door and presents hll
poor little, pale and scaFred Aee % The strangers
anxious and earnest gaze. He does not recos
nize ne boy. and yet Il Is the very child be Is
seeking f6r Herbert Romainc has come home,
and IA trying 70 Hnd his lost mother and her
-I;iS-.,, : 2 d 777l7is7ll flls lefat fhl tstt
- And isit here, IN this poor place. thatI end
you, dear motheris said Herbert, ailer Mrs. Re-
maine had cried and laughed dozen times in
the Alterations Of Der nervous excitement
q Not another day nor hour shall you stay here !
Come 10 the hotel where am stopping. viii
find YOU beautiful rooms, and you and the chil1
dfeh shall spend happy Christmas ~
\ a Z want none other than your return gives
me, Herbert !; and must not forget that onI
coarse and shabby, clothing would NOT CORES.
pond with any other room than this"
/" You shall have better clothing, II win g
myself to procure itfor you al
= But you can't" said While, who had sat
quietly on bis brothers knee, without speaking
" the shops are all shut up, Christmas days. and
you can't buy any cloth % make them q VI And
While renewed his study Of bis brothers hce.
Herbert was Obliged to be content until to-
morrow. then--but ho At and related the story
Of his wandeFings since he leit her. l'pa
g One object which bad IN yiou, dcarmqtheF,
lie said, /" was the restoration Of some property
which knew bad belonged to the firm, and
which lay in the West India Islands, heard
fabulous accounts Of lis value, although | knew
that my iather had always considered i Of no
account I will not trouble you 10 relate an the
tedious processes by whicfl uciIcumSented The
agent, one Of the greatest swindlers IeyeFkneE,
aud brother to that raseally lawyer whom my
Gsthef trusted 80 much. You vii Be satisfied
that wrested The whole from his grasp. and