The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1863-01-30
Wv from the hear. to the lips Of Benjamin

Then his memory rose up slowly and
walled over the long bridge Of years to the
east land, the land of his youth, and he saw
The old brown homestead where his boy hood
grew up into youth. The old picture touch
ed his heart--one by one the old days came
up, and smiled on him, and in each one, as
in mirror, was a face that smiled too,
small. sweet child's face, with russell cmls,
which the sun stroked into golden yellow,
and eyes which brimmed over into smiles,
smiles which were ready to ripen into laugh
ter, on the dimpled lips red as mountain
berries.
) The face of his young sister follows ed the
thoughts of the iron-gray haired man.
Now it went bobbing and dancing before
him through the sprouting corn, now he
was guiding il over the stones set in the
heart of the little brook under the mountain,
and now it was huttering in and out of the
old farm doors, and again it was nesting
down on his knee aud looking with its shy,
loving brown eyes in his face
Matte, pretty little sister Matte y muir
INJURED the old man softly, and for amomeDt
he forgot how many autumns the winds had
combed the faded grass over the face which
shown down OH him.
And as he sat there his right hand NOV
ed unconsciously amid the rare and costly
articles which were scattered on the table.
There were delicate vases of Sevres' china,
and rare patterns in Bohemian glass. and
agate vases, and amid all these there was
plain old fashioned china cup in singular con-
trast with its costly surroundings, an old
fashioned white china cup, with deep gold
rim, and a small wreath Of leaves in the
centre.
And as the old mans hand strayed un
consciously over the table it brushed the
china cup. and it fell over on the carpet at
his feet
He bent down and picked it up. and in
The midst of the small wreath of flowers,
he read the gilt letters there, Merry Christ
mas -
1t was Mattie's present TO him more than
half century ago How wildly he re-
called it all, the low, old-fasbioned kitchen,
the white fannels Of snow that hid the old ,
fences, and lay heavy on the steep roofs of
the farm houses. and the great fire in the
wide chimney, and the little girl with russell
curls and shining eyes that stole up to his
side and put her soft lips down to his cheek
and whispered Merry Christmas. It's tor
you. Benny" and the pretty white mug lay
in his hand.
1t lay in the hand of Benjamin Humphreys
looked if it had been Of the gold he loved so
well. and bis fingers smoothed it lovingly,
and the cold gray eyes were dim with some
thing which had not bedimmed them for
years, he said:
Poor little Mattie--poor little Matte +!
1t was her merry Christmas p
And then there came over the old mans
heart a strange hunger for the sound of
some loving voices. for the clasp of some
tender fingers. Yes, they had told the
truth, sitting alone 10 his desolate home,
Benjamin Humphreys felt that there was
not one heart in the whole world 10 wish
him 9 Merry Christmas - and in that hour
of solemn, selfrevelaton. the gold lie bad
heaped and the lands lie had gained, seem
ed to the soul of Benz amin Humphreys what
they did to the monarch Of Judeah, when
here walled out from his great soul that
awful commentary on all riches and gran
leur. and earthly glory--that commentary
which all the ages rise up, and repeat. call
ng down solemnly to one another" Vani-
y, all is vanity
A, last the old man rose up. the solitude
oppressed him strangely, he looked about
him with a vague longing for some human
counsel or companionship. but there was
Christmas morning. Benjamin Humphreys
felt that he had any right or claim. But as
he went out into his hall, cheerful voices
reached him from the kitchen below, and
drew him on toward them.
The cook started as her master entered
the kitchen, and the chamber maid hustled
about in embarrassment, and the broad, sun
burnt face of the milkman, who stood at the
back door. with his pail and measure in his
hand, grew a little more rubicund than ev-
err. for the rich old man carried with him, as
some days do. an atmosphere of chill and
gloom. And this morning, by the side OF
the milkman. stood a small shrinking figure,
and a small, pale, wondering face, with
great. shy eyes, in which dwelt some great
lear and sorrow.
The little girls face was hardly pretty
oue it was too pale and thin for that; yet
here was pathetic pathos and charm 10 it
which would have touched a sympathetic 5
nature at once and as the sunbeams touch
ID into yellow gold the rings of bright
brown hair, they reminded the old man of
he sweet dead sister of his youth. The
nlkman made hns.y obeisance to his rich
customer, the little child shrank little I
closer to his side, and as they turned 10 !
20 away, Mr.. Humphreys said !
+" Good morning. my little girl =!
The soft kindly voice, the pleasant smile
was one that nobody recognized. and the 9
,hild stood still, half frightened, half pleas J
3D..
Go and say Merry Christmas to the |
gentleman. said the rubicuud milkman. |
The child looked up aud searched the |
I'D mans face with her great, truthful eyes.
moment: then she came forward and said
n her pretty, timid way. Merry Christ
mas, sir - and the sweet words fell like !,
precious pearls into the hears of Benjsmn
He thrust his hand into his
'ocket and drew out couple of shining :
ollars, and laid them in the small brown
aim of the astorished child.
What is your name. little girl p and
he cook and the chambermaid and the milk
ian held their bresths. and looked on, and
yer all the angels looked on too, and smil- :