, 1863-01-01

Christmas was fast approaching, and all seemed
preparing for the festive day. The store.keeperH
in the city were busy in buying and arranging
their goods; and the farmers in the country,
they too were busy, while their industrious
housewives were actively engaged in making
sundry pies, custards and plum-puddngs, or
fattening up the finest chicken or turkey to be
killed and eaten, upon the approaching holiday.
All seemed busily engaged, and indeed that must
be very poor home that could not upon that
day garnish its tables with stuffed chicken or
other delicate luxuries.
Christmas morning dawned, bright, cold day.
The snow had fallen the night before, and the
ground and housetOps were all whitened with
the seasonable article which added much to ths
beautiful day.
Early in the morning preparations were made
by busy wivesRnd mothers for the Christmas
dinner. Long rows Of mince, apple, plumb or
custard pies were placed upon many u kitchen
table so temptingly that one could almost devour
them with wide-Open eyes. But, dear reader,
while the Christmas dinner preparations are 60
ing on, will you go with me (in imagination) away
from the noisy city to . little country cottage,
buried far among the green wild.woods. The
dwelling is two stories in height yet it is beau
tilully situated little home, and within the little
cottage there dwells one Of the prettiest little
women you ever saw. The house had been built
in old times, and stood somewhat back from the
dusty road A small graveled path led up from
the garden gate to the front door, on which was
a small silver plate, which bore the name Of the
owner Of the little home. A large flower garden
was stretched in front Of the cottage, while around
the doorway was placed an arbor, which, during
the summer, was oveTrun with creeping vines
and, although il is still winter few choice how-
aro htnnRnina NJ tho INtla narlOP WinhOW
Let us now, il you please, readers-as we know
all concerning the situation Of the house and its
outside peculiarties-let us 60 in and see how
things go on in there. The door yields readily
to our touch, and we find ourselves within small
narrow entry. Step lightly to the low door on
our right, and if you should peep within you
will perceive prim, old lashionedly furnished
room, which is known better by its owner as her
'parlor.' The rooms up stairs we have nothing
to do with, and Of course shall say nothing con.
cerning them, at least for the present, while the
room below, next to the parlor, to which we now
introduce our reader, is the small kitchen. Great
logs Of wood burn brightly within the old-fash'
iOned stove, aud the room seems as comfortable
as the lazy cat that stretches herself before the
kitchen FIRE.
Lilly Weston, the owner Of the cottage, sat
short distance from the red hot stove, busily sew
ing upon some coarse garment. She bad COM
pleted her culinary affairs. She had just taken
a delicate plumb pudding from the stove, and
then placed her turkey in the oven. And seat.
ing herself near the stove, her fingers rapidly
piled the shining needle.
Lilly Weston, Of whom the reader has learned
but little, was, # we may be permitted to call
her SO, an Ossifed old maid. Yet with all her
queer ways and plainly attired person, she bore
unmistakable marks Of beauty and loVeliness
Har - hath Io0A Her mOthnF had
died while Lilly was 4 babe, while her father
had been dead some three years. Not having
any near relative after her fathers death, she,
being the rightful owner Of the little property,
resolved to make 1t her own permanent home
Her friends were few, as her refined manners
were so unlike those Of her rude neighbors; so
she scarcely ever met them, exceptin her walks
Lilly, as you may suppose, sometimes felt rather
lonesome on cold winter evenings, when she
drew her chair up close to the fire, and listened
to the bowling Of the cold wind without D, yes,
Lilly did often feel just so. And many a weary
night has she sat and listened 10 the storm with
out, and thought Of the time when she was .
young, bashfIl maiden; and often has she sighed
when rvcollections Of old times returned, when
she and her friends used to have such merry
times. o, yes, she often remembers 1t, and she
remembers a fair-haired lover, who loved her
with the greatest affection. But she spurned
him from her presence in 4 fit Of jealousy, and
forbid him ever to love her again-to consider
her as one dead. Yes, often she remembers him
to whom she gave her heart and hand, but broke
her own with jealousy. Yet Lilly loved him as
warmly as one can love, yet her angry passions
overruled her, and no longer she allowed herself
to think of him though of times, when sne re-
calls the past, her eyes are overrun with tears
when she thinks Of that heart she so unkindly
crushed.
Twas like q death.blow to James Barnard
when he heard that his suit was uniavOrable,
bic love rejected. And there are none that can
tell Of the sor oW and anguish Of rejected lover.
James sent his renewed promises to his lady love,
and bis letters we're btirnt or returned unopened.
Day ahet day, week after week, be still sent bis
protestatl6ns Of his love; but she Needed them
not; and treated him with cold unfriendly man
ner. When the rejected lover saw that there
was no hope Of ever reganing her ia4or, he tried
to forget her, and to Danish her from his mind !
but still that fond hope fingered upon his mind
that perhaps she would soon become recouciled.
lie waited one year, when he saw that there was
no hope, and then lei her for parts unknown, full
Of sorrow and grief A..
Afterwards Lilly had many suitors for her hand,
vet she truly loved james and would have asked
his forgiveness, the dark night he left the little
village Of P, but her own pride forbade her.
As years rolled by, she felt sure that James
would come again and claim her as his bride
but still he came not, and she ioTsOOk all her
gay companions and resolved to live the quiet
lilS of-an old maid.
Lilly Weston, or Miss Weston, as she was
more generally called, lived ell alone, without
any companions, or even intimate friends Ths
solitary lie which she led caused her to grow
Hfm and ozceedingly particular, while her littlS
/ house utna kent a. clean as Q new pin, and u
would have been quite rare thing 70 have found
any disorder about her premises
Miss Westou AT within her comfortable room
| -. a.. ,Ia,.-,.,, a.. the rlork hnnda moved