Weekly Trinity journal., 1861-12-21

me to insist upon your having rest and refresh
mcnt. Nothing can be done before to morrow,
and after tea l.promse you all the information
which it is in my power to give You Mrs. Cur.
lis is in the drawjng-room viii you allow me
to present you" and, rising, he offered his arm
to the lady.
Mrs, Curtis, a TALL handsome lady, received her
husbands little guest with pleasure, one sight
Of the childish face with its sad setting, cnlis ting
all her womanly sympathies. The name. howey
cr, added to the warmth of her welcome.
Mrs. Hastings feel like an old friend, for
you were my sisters cassmate in the Italian class
at DIR. Manara's. Do you not remember Lottie
Banks ~
"Aud you are Sara. / shall have thousand
questions to ask, but first must trouble Mr.. Cur
It's to speak to the hackman, aud tell him to call
for me later in the evening"
"Where are your trunks ~
at the c. House,
Mr.. Curtis" said his lady, laughingly, " do
you, on pain of my dispeasurc instantly send for
Mrs. Hastings trunks. No words you are our
guest while you are in the city"
~ shall be lifelong innate them was the
reply " for Intend to reside here in future
accept your invitation with pleasure. for | have
to Gud house. Mr.. Curtis when you send for
the trunks, will you please send for my baby |'
"ll there is SO precious package as that to
be delivered said Mr.. Carts, " Will go my
self for The baggage"
Room l39, and you viii Gnd Meta, the nurse,
there. You speak German"
"Nes."
"Becausc She is profoundly ignorant of Eng
lish. My baby is German, born there sixteen
months ago, AMI brought a nurse from Gcrma-
ny when We lett there
Mr. Curtis departed upou his mission, and Mrs
Hastings, having dolled b0uuet and cloak, was
soon chatting with her hostess.
Tea over the baby put to bed aud the lawyer
disengaged, the sad story Of Mrs Barclays troub.
les came up again. 1t was brief A relative of
her late husbands had made claim against the
estate, and after long lawsuit the court had
given the case to the Widows opponent.
She left the house Immediately after the claim
was made" said Mr.. Curtis, "and was only per
suaded after very long course Of urging, TO re.
sist the demand"
Where is she now?'
:" Bat how does she live? Was nothing left p"
"Nohing From luxury she was deprived of
all She is now teaching French in young Ia
dies seminary. 1t will be Il year in January
since she has been there
Claire's tears were flowing fast but, after a
moments pause, she said, brightly All the
events of my life excepting the lost'' and she
glanced at her black drcss--" have happened on
Christmas | was born on that day, orphaned
married. all on Christmas day, and should like
70 associate one great pleasure more with the
time it is only month. viii you help me in
plan for the next CHRISTMAS ?"
"I will" said both Mr.. and Mrs. Curtis. and
Mrs Hastings told them her project.
"No letter from Claire this is the first steam.
er she has missed ; hope She is not sick again.
And an anxious cloud came over the Speakers
face. She was an elderly lady, whose soft gray
hair shaded face where every gentle feeling
had left trace the mild blue eyes the full
mouth, the soft, creamy complexion, all seemed
to speak Of the serene spirit within, which gave
It's charm to the delicate features. She was pac-
ing slowly up and down in long room, where
globes, books and desks told Of little students {;
in her hand she held an unopened lottor, but it
was not directed in the pretty, lAdylike hand for
which she looked, aud she let it stay sealed in her
hand as she walked up aud down. fair, child
like form and face, with Il wrcathing wealth Of
sunny hair, was before her as she mused, now in
the coarse dress and thin bonnet in which it had
first come to her, then in the full white lace and
bridal wreath and veil in which it had last greet
ed her. She tried to picture it in the sad dress
which now sorrow had made its own, and she
whispered softly " Not yet, not next time |
will write as before until she isa little more ac-
customed to her own grief ] cannot add TO my
darling's care. Perhaps at Christmas, the time
when met her irst can write.'
1t was getting dark, and the entrance Of the
children and light reminded her OF the letter.
Opening it She read -
M derr Nadaia: Gaa Tint your signature is
aJsotuteg necessary 10 same P4Pers wttch IhOIt and
iphlch cannot trust 10 The Hiaii ItiU you come 10
The city on he 2iA, lrten / icW meet Y0u anil be
reqdy jar He signpiure2 ms. curtis bcgs that gnu
wA be her guest turing yol~ Stly "a torn.
Yours, perg JeP~yWIy, ~ CuRrls.
&" lie is imperative" thought the lady but
will go. Any relief from this trcadmill exist
ence will do me good
1t was Christmas eve IA slil, starry evoning
bad succeeded a clear day, and as The cars dash
ed into the depot AZ nine o'clock, Mrs. Barclay
was almost sorry her ride was over.
- could not come earlier" she sad as Mr.
Curtis met her. " My holiday does not commence
until to morrow, and the principal is exacting.-
Now | have IA week Of quiet rest
"And | trust Of great happiness" said the
lawyer.
81 wonder what he means ?" thou ght the lady,
as they drove away from the depot. Z" lie smil-
ed very significantly. The suit is lost, that IS
certain. Has he saved anything from The wreck
We are driving away from his part of the city,
and--and the carriage stopped. :" My old
home !" said Mrs. Barclay.
II will explain presently" said Mr. Cntls Of
lering his arm.
Up the steps, into the wide hall. lighted and
warmed, and up the stairs to the bedroom Here
Mrs. Curtis met the bewildercd laiy, whose eyes
filled as they rested upon the furniture ana orna-
ments which were just as she bad lett them
You will fad all the rooms unchanged, said
Mrs Curtis gently. "rhc man who took 1t did
not disturb anything, and /! was purchased as you
left it, win you COM down, now =
The parlor was lighted aud in the adjoining
room a supper table was spread for the traveller
Upon the mantle piece lay folded letter direct
ed to Mrs Barclay. In it she read only these
words" A Christmas gift from Clairc's baby"
"Claire ~ she cried and, In answer to the CALL
the little figure appeared in the door, holding a
babv In a festive dress Of white. There was
sob6ng cry of Claire, my darling :" and some
how the baby was transferred to Mrs Curtis, and
Claire was folded in her adopted mothers arms
Such happy Christmas was not spent under
many roofs, aud the earnest it gave Of II life of
grateful care to repay that Claire had met in her
sorrow WAS not Disappointed.