The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1861-01-04
Ucder the Gas-Light Club.
A LOVE STORY OF CHRISTMAS EVE.
BY DAEnr GRAY.

BT pAEnr GRAY.
"Mv dear" said It. Mrs. Gray. as will
the children nestled around rs. we scale,
ourselves near the center talne, n The II
brarv, are -ou aware that Chr,A'm - !
almost here, and we arc rot provided Wit :
u Christmas tree. or anv pre.ents to han
on it. for the little folks y
| Here the parties interested opened wide
their eyes aud mouths. as it 10 see and
swallow every thing, in the wgr Of TOYS
and candies that the occasion could posi-
bly bring forth.
"Yes." she replied; but I hare hem
waiting for aunt Jennie who has promised
t" assist me in getting up Christmas
tree. Her little ones have been .sknd 10
spend the dav with ours. and great prena
r..li"ns are being made BY them, in view
of the circumstance
"Whv we shall have qnire party Of
little folks" | said. and it will be m,
!uty TO rec that Az many juvenile books
are provided AS will ena,e each of th,
children to have one. Let me think
which Of my frle'i'is. the publishers, shall
| call upon. on this grea, occasion.
Why" interp"sed Mrs. GRAY. there
are the Martin and Nelly Stories for the
Younger ones and the Oliver Optic Series
for the boys
"True, my love-" I rerIiel "nor can
any be better than these
Except some fairy books" exclaimed
Ern. - "nd a doll AMI skipping rope.
And oranges, and n rocking horse"
chimed in the boy in boots
"Aad Inc wants 'tandie-,'" !ispcd the
baby
To be snre." I answered. "all these
matters are important. and shall be ri
ended I" IN dine time. 1t ia pleasant
nrca>jon, my dear. this. which SO delira,>
The little ones. a~i''e from lis hi~torlr.l in
'-rest a> the Christians most solemn f,.S-
iival. | do not know " hat we should do
without Chri>tmas. and It's a;ten,an,
saint, good old Santa tlar~'
"Ana this reminds me. my dear" !
continued. " OF story have written. and
ty"u will permit me. will read it to the
club, this evening-even the little one,
may take pleasure in hearing il; and so.
If they will be very quie, they may re-
main up hsvon! their usual bedtime, While
! read il
Mamma consenting, and the cliIlren
promising to be good" read the iol-
lowing, entitled;
SANTA CLAUS VISIT.
1t was as still AMI cod-on Christmas
Eve-as it could well be so cold that the
very moon beams, rs ,hev came strur
cling against the window pane seemed TO
'."ngeal, and appeared Ike lines Of silver
wire drawn ont into the lev air. The
trees were covered with n coating Of ice
which cleaned and glirterel in the moon,
I,ght rs if their branches were stmIde,!
Nth precious stones ic!cles, like pointed
spears, hung from the caves Of the cot
tages; and the smoke which rose from
the hundred clIiInnevs of the village. pass
ed like pious incense towards the still air,
bearing in its quiei folds kind words AMI
grateful thoughts from the loving ones
clustered around The hearth stones. The
now lay deep upon the ground, which
WAS covered with = thick crust whic,
bore up the children, when from the beat
ell track they turned aside. chasing each
other over the frozen surface, "a they
came home from school. Lights cleaned
from the windows Of every cot in Tie .in.
gle street Of the village, and VOICES ot
Young An! old there mingled with song
and laughter.
AT one end Of the village. within a cot
'age little apart from the others, are
seated an OLD man of seventy winters, his
wife, and his grand daughter, Mary. The
room is one of those antique rooms which
answer alike for the parlor aud kitchen
the floors Of oak and sanded with clean.
white sand. which WAS sprinkled hy Marv's
own han'is. Pictures adorn The walls de
scriptive Of The Proligal SON in four
distinct illustrations going, his folly,
his poverty. and his return. On the dre>
ser are ranged pewter pattens and nuiner
"uS plates; while a few mugs Of good Iii
rnensions hang from the pegs, and refec,
the flame Of the fire. Curtains nf white,
AS pnre as the snow in the meadow, are
drawn at the windows. and fall in grace
tai proportions; on one side of the wains.
cot, 4 ItIle away from the dresser hangs
a cage Of woven willow and wire woik
within II a robin-that bird Of the home
stead--g tddeLs the house With its music.
On sn ancient carved table. drawn ont in
;he middle of the room, lies the Bible.
unclasped and wide open and the eyes Of
the matron are tixed on The passage before
her. We have seen his star in the east,
and are come to worship hun"
The old man Is seate,. within his arm
chair. with hIs feet to the fire. where he
ynIe log il burning. and he watches the
flame AMI the smoke as they dance and
play With each other. while his thoughts
are wandering to the tim. of his vou,h.
when he danced and joved with The maid
ems. Oft 10th his eyes seek the face Of
his grand child beside him. with look Of
the kladest inquiry. Sal. sad is the heart
Of the mtilen, though her lips wear the
smile of happiness, yet %, doth she star,
and sigh as footstep glides on past the
doorway. Thus 81, they in silence, each
wishing. vet fearing to utter the thoughts
that have birth in their bosons. till the
clock in the corner. grows bold by the
stiffness. chimes loudly the hour Of seven.
Then the eat by the freside, awakened by