Litchfield enquirer., 1863-12-31

Dy taxing hlm nome With nef Anu "hae uo the mother mean by saying that she had no friends? If she had only entertained him with 8 plausible story, he would have understood at once that the whole thing was palpably g trap.
 While Uncle Charlie walks and wonders we. will slip on before him to the house where he would have been long before, if the little enig- ma had not beguiled him ou: of his way. HOW THE RIDDLE WAS SOLVED. NEW SURPRISES.
 Here too were the evidences that the in- mates had seen more cheerful days. But none of the thousands who passed the modest man. sion. scrupulously neat could have guessed that anything but prosperity was within. The we'll washed marble steps, were kept so by $ com promise with the single woman of all work. That functionary took turn at street sweep ing, window washing, and passenger gazing while her mistress supplied, for time, her place within doors. And thus the house was managed, as many such are, in the Quaker City,
 It is a paradise for people of limited income and for the poor and respectable, where by de- cent fictions in housekeeping, ard laudable hypocrisy, a good appearance may still be made and honest self-respect may be preserv- ed. after the wealth which once made all things easy has slipped away.
 In that house, cheerful voice had broken everybody's slumbers betimes, s,-with 1" Happy New Year Happy New Yearv' Of course it was chiId's voice. Children are the last to learn that it is proper and sensible to mar our present by regrets over the past. And t was boys voice for little gIrls, like our strange friend Edith, will sometimes acquire a precoc- ious and unchild-like knowledge of the worlds cares and perple1ities. Girls are more dis corning in many tbings-more wise, more pru' dent, than boys. They are admitted behind the scenes in the little drama of domestic act ing, in which the family "weep as though they wept not" Boys know less than girls. And SO do men than women, I think. But then am q woman.
 Uncle Charlie called this little boy his moth CTS ..sunshineu And so he was. All children in some degree, deserve the name, but it was littles Geordie's pre-eminently. God, in his wisdom, has.made these little olies angels in the.house. They will see ouly the bright side Little sorrows afaict them, but their tears pass over like April showers, and they will not be defrauded of the happiness that is left, and are willing to be pleased still, after all reverses and disarpointments.
 If little Geordie was "sunshine" te his uncle, Uncle Charlie was the whole solar system to his nephew. The boy lived in his uncle's light. His mother was dear to him, very dear But then mother was with him always and Un cle Charlie came in like the wonder in fairy story, just when he was most wanted and most welcome. Mother was sad, and often pcrplex ed, and though always kind, sometimes slow to answer the thousand questions of childhood But Uncle Charlie was always light and cheery He never looked perplexed, for nothing could puzzle him. Oh no ! And as to questions. he always answered them, even the most difficult though candor compels the confession that hil replies would not always bear verifcation un der oath or affirmation.
 Mother, Geordie was compelled to believe was somewhat helpless, like himself, but Uncle Charlie could do everything. Geordie had on ly to hint his wishes, and if his uncle could moi quite accomplish them, he could suggest some. thing else which he maintained, and the child believed, was a great deal better. Geordie longed, Oh how much. for live pony. Uncle Charlie bought him rocking horse, which would neither kick nor run away. Besides it would eat nothing, and Geordie was easily convinced that the wooden ponys moderate appetite was great recommendation. He could make believe feed it, you know, and horse that only makes believe eat, is very profta ble animal.
 Will Uncle Charlie come today ?
 The mother sighed, as she said, hope so Geordie.'
 0, mother, I know he will, for he always came on New Years, wheD father was at home.'
 Mrs. Merrill could DO longer stay her tears It was sad New Years day to her for she had no assurance-scarce hope-that the husband and father, who, year ago, was the light of the household, was longer among the Irving. Early in the year just closed he had left her for Fl Dorado, the wonderful land which once carried away all our restless popu- lation the land fruitful in gold to few. in anx. ieties and tears to all the friends who were left behind Months had passed, and no ti- dings were received of him. It ws sad win. try day to the hearts of those who sighed for the absent. And yet the streets were full oi promenaders, people of light heart and cheerful demeanor, who passed the window where the deserted wife and mother sat. The thought was forced upon her, whether through the year just opened, she should strive to keep together 1.- | f. kn~