The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-12-02

opened to a small room, little better i
fact than passage, which, in its turr
opened to the vestry. The folding-door
opposite the entrance led at once into tn
church. 1t was an old-fashioned, 10,
, church, with high windows, and a smel
of damp.
/ They were not long over their work
The boughs had been prepared before
hand, ouly small branches, fit for strew
ing on the floor, having been broush
: into the church
q wish we might decorate it elabora
tely, as we do for Christmas" earnestl,
exclaimed Mary Balme.
MIR. Dudley said he would not agre
to it" returned Georgina. II asked
; al know. He calls this nonsense tina
We are doing now. Annis, what a mic,
lady that is in your drawing-rooml''
at is Miss Bellassys, mamma s cousin
You have heard me talk ofmy Aun
Ruth?"
,"Is she your auntl''
"No. But l learned to call her Aun
Ruth when [ was little girl, and shall
never leave it off now, She is SO good
so kind Her days are spent nursing 9
relative, who is a confined invalid. In
deed. Aunt Ruth is little better than an
invalid herself She suffers from some
chronic complaint, which causes her to
walk lame"
''Oid John, shall we put some laurusti.
nus round your desk?"
"Better not, Miss Georgina; I should
only have to take it off afore the rector
saw it, hae te-see-
Geergina Balme laughed. They rather
liked to tease old John. But he was
used to them.
Il wonder if we may go up into the
organ7loft and play psalm?"
Cant, responded John. "It's lock
ed, and l haven't brought the key"
'Just like you, old John!'' said Mary
Bal.:e. 81 cannot think, for nv part,
why you keep the places inside of the
church locked up sol Are you afraid of
thieves getting in?''
"There'd not be much to steal if they
did getin, was old Johns reply Its
my habit to keep the places locked, Miss;
it's better that they should be kept so.
When [ am gone, and the recor gets a
new clerk in my place, he may do as he
likes-the new one may; but L am not
going to leave them open. suppose
| can take out the barrow now?"
AS the work was finished, there was no
reason why he should not take it out
Throwing into it few stray evergree Is
that remained over, be wheeled it outside,
and left it at the churchyard gate. Then
he returned TO the church, and waited
their departure
But they were in no hurry to depart;
and old John got tired, and sat down
on a chair in the side aisle. Full of light.
hearted happiness, this night visit to the
church bore charms for them from its
very novelty, and they forgo, old John.
ave must 60, said Annis at length,
"Remember we have friends with us
to night
They turned to depart. Georgina
Balme was the first to go through the
green baize doors. But she turned speed
lily back again; she had remem bered old
ohm. ''Oh, there he isl" she said. IL
thought perhaps he had gone to sleep"
Old John was putting out the lights,
and when he came forth, they were stan
ding in cluster In the space have called
the vestibule, between the belfry and the
vestry doors. One of the young ladies
was proposing, amid some laughter that
they should hang a chain of evergreens
from one door to the other. Of course
she spoke it only in loke, but it served to
detain them again. Old John went for
ward, and stood with the outer door in his
hand, ready to lock it as soon as they
should come forth, which they speedily
did in body; and he turned the keys,
and took them out Of the lock.
II will carry them home for you, John,
said Annis, as they fastened down the
path. "You need not come on purpose
to the rectory." 'sl
"The master told me I was to stop fol
supper tonight, Miss Annis, when
took in the keys"
"Oh, that is all right, them" returned
Annis, gladly. And they made the best
of their way to the rectory, while old
ohm threw the keys into the truck and
followed them, wheeling it along.
Annis cast her glance round the draw
ing g-room when they ehtered it; but she
did notsee MIR. OLIVER. In point of fact,
she had scarcely expected to see him; for,
had he returned, he ewould be sure to have
come to the church to m eet her; but, new
ertheless, the not seeing him called up a
feeling Of disappointment. Col. Balme
was talking to the rector; Mrs. Balme sat
near Miss Bellassys; and Lady Katherine
stood apart reading note which had
just been delivered to her. The note
contained an apology, from family who
were to have joined them for the evening;
very old friends; the Lawrensons. One
of the daughters had been poorly all day
with cold and fever, and appeared to be
growing SO much worse that they did not
like tosquit her. A line of request was
added that Mrs. OLIVER would call to see
her at once; they evidently took it fol
granted that he was at. the rectory.
81 wondered what caused them to be SC
late" exclaimed Lady Kathurine, as she
turned to the room, and made known the
news. ais not Mr.. OLIVER back p
"Not yet" said the rector. 81 thought
| he would have been here before this. He
has not been with you, suppose p he
added, turning to the group just arrived