Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-01-03
REBEL SAINT NICHOLAS.

q Say I'm supersttiousI say that when 1 had fairly 20
into my teens, and when the family believing l shout
-, no longer think as a child" had gathered around m
i one Christmas morning and actually denied the existene
e Of Santa Claus 10 my face, that treated them with col
, derision aud juvenile ~credulity, considering the Who'll
affair OF presents under the breakfast plates and label
Of " From Papa" 81 From Nellie instead Of the magica
F, ones that had always come out Of the stocking wit
r From Santa Claus as a deeplylad scheme against tn
dear Old fellow and myself, ranttng and storming agains
all protestation 20 the contrary. Say that my faith il
Saint Nicholas has never Jagged, aud that even now as
sit by the great Yule log, and watch the purple fame
leap up the black-throated chimney, that / really seem T.
hear the hoofs of the reindeer paving on the shingles
and the wonderful old man preparing to descend with hi
still more wonderful bag aud merry twinkle Of the eye
say that 1 confess to all this, you can't cali me supersti
tious or credulOus-fOr don't you believe as fereely il
your own way and about your own fayorlte hobby
Don't you always defend the Progression of Races, il
the " Universal Literary against Jones, the cOnservatist
or the perpetufty Of republics against TOmkins, who il
a monarchy man, and weighs his sentences or the expe
diency of generals commanding a campaign against
Smith OF the Hue and Cry who believes in letting the
newspaper men do it for them l say, you have your
little opinion on all these matters, don't you Certainly
And Jones, and Tomkins, and Smith have theirs also
Now, which is the right onef You'll not beg the ques
ton in You own favor, l am sure, nor will l in mine, but
proceed 20 narration with this preliminary confession OF
faith in my story and in St. Nick, who never won my
heart over so completely before, as in a little play where
in he acted the role of making people happy this very
yea of our Lord, eighteen hundred and ~sixty-ene, the
very year Of the second American Revolution.
It was a wear Of care and trouble, a year that saw
great expectations leyeled and fond hopes withered a
year of sleeples5 nights and murky days, when the sun
shone less bright than in the old time, and order seemed
lost and brOtherly love fOrsaken when the student of
books, the watcher by sick beds, the crer in the courts,
or the preacher in the pulpit turned 10 the battle and the
death-hail Of the fight when mems hearts failed them
for fear OF the future, and pale women sat by lonely fires
and wept their murdered slain; when giant despair
bowed its shrouded head into the sky, and hung like some
hideous incubus above our once bright, happy homes.
ST. Nicholas was taken with many a lit Of tears during
those sad months, but a. his grand day came on, he
seemed 70 cheer up and grow more lively. The Saint
loves a good fire you know, and 50 feels rather lonely ID
the simmer time, when every one is merry-making at the
Springs, and drinking sulphur water, and never so much
as sitting down by a chimney corner during the whole
season, unless they are o~yertaken by a storm in the
mountains, and run TO a woodlands cabin TO dry their
feet. But "a the leaves grew red, ST Nick1s cheeks red
dened also; as they turned sere and fell TO the ground,
bis eye frightened and looked like It's old self again, and
when people actually began TO clap their hands and
make oak fires, be gave one leap in the ar, shook him
self well on his legs, and with q blow Of his whistle, was
into his sleigh and of after fun.
The sun was going down when he drew up on a high
hill. and looked r~Ogueishly over a village at its base.
The rolls Of blue smoke curling from the many chimneys
sent the warm blood tumb-ing over his little body. and
the bright freight beaming from the windows won
his ahecionate regard for the town Immediately. The
saint quietly waited the stars, and then DOMINIC his in
visib cap, whitfield into his sleigh, and glided down the
high street into the village.
Il so happened that Mrs. Kbberly, going out into the
dusk after an armful Of oak sticks, was re entering her
cottage just as Saint Nick rushed wildly by, who, catch
ing d glimpse Of her smart little figure as it stood in the
door all Redeemed by the glare Of the freight as well as
Of a coy parlor kitchen within, AMI & table all set out
with fr,sh milk and butter for tea, drew his deer around
with q smart jerk, and was mp OF the roof in a t~winkling.
He fastened his stee1s to the chimney, and frOwning al
the z ape yiues that clamberrd around il, by way Of pro-
hiCiiOu 10 the former, leaped down the broad chimney,
and was in the co tage BY Mrs. kihberfvs side lust a.
that good little body had seated herself BY the fireplace
and taken her fret stitch In the heel other stocking. Mrs.
Kimberly was attired in one Of the demurest Of worsteds,
and one Of the whitest of white kerchiefs, looking such a
perfect match 70 the great oak IRE before her, that the
latter would, I believe, have actually looked cold and
cherries without her As It was, the fire was in grsnd
spirits, and danced crafty mp the great tiled chimney, ma
king the room all golden within, and cracking al a rate
that seemed to indicate a determination never to 60 out.
but TO be the same great comfort and beauty Of a blaze
forever. |
Saint Nick was well pleased at the interior arrange
ments Of the little dwelling, and spent some time in les-
urely surveying the Kimberly collection Of paintings, con
sistng of a somewhat huriedly-e Olored print Of General
Washington farewell 10 the army. in which one soldiers |
tears are painted blue, and another a compromise be-
tween The same color ana pins probably owing 10 the
artists brush being then engaged on the epaulettes; Of a
vision of the prodigal son in the court costumes
OF Queen Anne reign; and, strange 20 say, of u small |
the act OF filing a long stocking with ali sorts Of good
things, eatabie and ornamental
"Ah e. thought the saint, these people know me, It
seems
"Doutthey though " shrieked a noise wildly in his
and accompanying the words with a great happing
Of wing, and reiteradons Of Stop h~ief-stop-stop-stop
him startled by reply SO aptly spoken the saint
wheeled around and discovered a huge parrot above his
head, between the pictures Of General Washington and
the prodigal son, and secretly aware, it would seem, Of
some hidden presence, for it continued the wellknown
exclamation at frequent intervals, and so shrilly that Mrs
Kibberly cried;
" Hush, Poll, do-thats n good bird
" Its a thiet-a thief-biae spots under his left eye"
shrieked Poll.
Where, PoIr' asked Mrs. Kimberly.
"Oh, where-tei NE where, has my highland Laddie
gone r. shrieked the bird in reply, by way of coming
as far short Of an Intelligent one as ii was possible
10 do.
Mercy, ~ cried Mrs. Kimberly, 3" we shall have tic find
him aud she rose 10 get him an apple.
Polly put the kettle on" screamed the bird, running
ms evening through the resource Of its entire rep
1rt0flH.
"why, 1 had actually forgotten it, cried Mrs. Kib-
berry, huuying 20 the cupboard and extracting thence
Indispensable article Of domestic economy. Z" have
thinking 50 much Of poor Sam this evening, that
| actually forgot his poor father will be coming home
soon, aud as tired a. hungry
&" Sam, Sam-pOOr Sam. shrieked the parrot.
" Hush, Poll, don't cried Mrs. Kimberly.
Gone to ViTginuy, continued the disagreeable bird
=" Poor boy, murnured thel little woman. How l
1 could see him this evening
" Gone to Virginny.. Sa1a, SAM say Sam, beat the
Yankees-beat beat, beat EN-
Why, Poll, what's got into you -
81 WHATS got into e-me-me-m echoed the bird. |
stretching It's wings and flying down on Mrs Kibbery's
and nearly knocking Saint Niek's cap OFF in the
u see, L shall have to tie you up
"Poor Polf croakedithe bird, looking ~waggishly down
Il the Lincolnish proposition.
Hush, Poll who's coming ~ asked Mrs. Kimberly,
her head toward the door, Is footsteps were
leard approaching.
d" The Campbeis are coming" suggested Poll, fying
TO his piece over the prodigai son, and ayerting the
ulhilnent of his promise.
" Why, John its you 2 " cried bis wife, as that worthy
Individual swung the door open and strobe in;o the
" Yes, Mary, its me-
VIVA 'stae news Kimberly Q" cried the parrot
e Great news, Poll Mary, Sans safe"
Thank Godl And Frank"
d" Poor lad, hes lost. / fear
Lost. John No, not killed."
so the paper has it, Nary
Oh, God his poor moth r I" cried Mrs. Kimberly.
HH almost Sl her, I'm a thinking"
I'm KIN her, it'll Kill her, mourned bis wife, burying
EE lace I'M her apron ami wiring her eyes " OIL. John. |
are awful times. Just think, only t week ago she
20. a letter from him, all hope and spirits, and now
libberly. the way of the world-world-wold"
but Mary" said John, after the impolite bird had
ent fit 70 observe the silence necessary for audible con
'ersstion, you're ungratefuL I fear me-when your own
safe, to be going On so about other peoples chill
we ought to be sorry for EN-, you know, but every {
ub on L. own bottom, YOU know" I
aThe way Of the world, the way Of the world shriesed
Poll, who for once struck in with effect. THE way Of
he world, Kimberly" /
" All, John, said MARY, " think If Il was our bOy-if
-oor Sam lay dead. and we poor people were all alone
n the world. how ii would be to feel that other people ]
for you; that other people gathered around !
heir warm tables and fires, and said, every man for him 1
off All, Johnl you're better hearted than YOU maEe
ourself oui-oniy like all men, you're better than you
Though the world might differ somewhat from Mrs. a
-b5erly on this point OF masculine ethics, her husband q
id not, aud immediately proved his wifes rule by pro 1
Osng thai she should 60 TO the NOrleys, and beg drs /
VOrley to let her have entire charge OF the house for the a
resent.
" They've got a lot OF young ones around, you know Z
aud you could Kind o keep 'em quiet, and hinder
m from asking their mother foolish questions, such as
always do when there a. a death in the house, :
nd might help on that way" .
" Yes, John, but then you'd be alone, you know, and
would be uucoufOrtahleEke."
b Oh, Poll and ! can Keep house very WE'LL
GO Kimberly Kimberly, mind your eye" cried the con
fowl John TOOK head and looked up at the =
ird for a moment And then if we want you, Mary, >
on eau come down q little while in tie day to look after y"
/.
g Yes, and now let's have tea e
The tea was made, and the rolls warmed, and the but Il
n spread, and the good people SAT down to as coy d re-
ast as ever was laid on an humble board. OF course,
be Saint supPed too, though, unlike some guests could
anne, he ate so sparingly Of the white rolls and bu ter
nat Mrs kl0berly could not discover the difference. -
Tut after that night, Saint MEX never SO much al once r.
I tied me, to tell me the sequel Of the Kibbsrly's CON
ersationi and consequently knew only from their lips ]
be rest Of this narrative in which you or any other per.
on Of penetration viii be able to see the Intervention Of
Mex as plainly as myself
Il was a dark rainy night that saw Mrs. Kimberly 0