Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-12-25
M / SCELL A N Y +.
= A CHRISTMAS STORY.
Santa Claus's Visit.

| 1t was as still and cold-on Christmas Eve
as it could we'll be- so cold that the very moon
beams, as they came struggling against the win
dow-pane, seemed to CONCEAL, and appeared like
lines of silver wire drawn out into the icy air.
The trees were covered with coating of ice,
which cleaned and glittered in the moonlight,
as If their branches were studded with precious
stones; icicles, like pointed spears, hung from
the caves Of the cottages; and the smoke which
rose from the hundred chimneys of the village,
passed, like pous incense, upward into the still
air, bearing in its quiet folds kind thoughts and
greatful words from the loving ones clustered
around their hearth-stones. The snow lay deep
upon the ground, and was covered with thick
crust, which bore up the children when from
the beaten track they turned aside, chasing each
other over the frozen surface, as they came home
from school. Lights cleaned from the windows
of every cot in the single street of the village,
and voices of young and old mingled with song
and laughter. At one end of the village, within
q cottage, little apart from the others, are
seated an old man OF seventy winters, his wife,
and bis granddaughter, Mary. The room is
one OF those antique rooms which answer alike
for the parlor and kitchen; the floor is Of oak, ,
and sanded with clean white sand, which was
sprinkled by Mary's own hands. Pictures adorn
the walls, descriptive of .The Prodigal Son, !"
in four distinct lustrations-hs going, his folly,
his poverty, and bis return. On the dresser are
ranged pewter platters and numerous plates !;
while mugs of goodly dimensions hang from the
pegs, and reflect the fame OF the FIRE. Curtains
of white, as pure as the snow in the meadow,
are drawn at the windows and fall in graceful
proportions; on one side of the wainscot little
away from the dresser, hangs cage of woven
willow and wire work. within it robin-that
bird of the homestead-gladde the house with
its music. On an ancient carved table, drawn
out il the middle of the room, lies the Bible,
unclasped, and wide open, and the eyes of the
matron are fixed on the passage before her, Nv g
have seen his star in the east, and are come to
worship him."
The old man is seated within his armchair,
with his feet to the fire, where the yule log is
burning, and he watches the fame and the
smoke as they dance and play with each other,
while his thoughts are wandering back to the
time OF his youth, when he danced and joyed
with the maidens. Oft doth his eye seek the
face of his grandchild beside him, with look of
the kindest inquiry. Sad, sad is the heart OF
the maiden, though her lips wear the smile of
happiness yet oft doth she start and sigh as
footstep glides on past the doorway. Thus sit
they in silence each wishing, yet fearing, to
utter the thoughts that have birth in their
bosoms, till the clock in the corner, grown bold
by the stiffness, chimes loudly the hour of seven
Then the cat by the freside doing, awakened
by the sound, answers by purriDg, the chirp OF
the cricket, and the dog, with a wave of bis tail,
looks up into the face of bis master. Then rises
the old man, and PAGES the floor of the kitchen !;
bis face has look Of trouble and the eyes OF
the maiden are downcast; whilst the matron
wipes the mist from her glasses and lays them
within the book, on the page that tells of the
birth of our Saviour. Still PAGES the old man
backward and forward, like pendulum weary
with going; but, anon, he stops at the window
and drawing the curtain aside, looks out on the
village; the street is deserted, and he hears not
the sound of football. Then he turns to his
granddaughter Mary, and says:
"Why is it, my child, that Nicholas comes
not hither to WOO thee on this holiest of ewes q
Surely thon canst not have driven him from thee
in anger 2"
Then sighed the maiden, and answered as
follows
"Truly, my father, know not the reason
that keeps him away-'tis now three days since
have seen him, though he hath not been out
OF the village. There are maidens more beauti-
fuL, father, than l, and richer by far. Mans
heart is changeable thing, and perhaps my
love is forgotten"
Then paced the old man backward and for
ward, while dark grew his brow, and the feeling
of wrath was upon him. At last he lifted his
hand and said
''Never shall Nicholas "
Suddenly paused the old man, and his hand
fell down on the table-while the matron looked
over her glasses. and opened her mouth as aston
ished-while the maiden rose from her chair
and was fixed like a statue-the dog covered in
the corner, and the Cat crept under the dresser,
while the clock ceased its ticking, and held up
Its hands in amazement. But the cricket kept
up its ohirping and sang louder and louder !;
brighter grew the fire, and the burning brands
cracked and snapped, as if giving a welcome,