St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1864-07-21
STORY OF THE SNOWY CHRISTMAS.
GCONCLupED FROM LAST WEEK.

CONCLUDED FROM LAST WEEK. :
One day Elsie, having been down >on
the beach, came in with glorious light Or
her face and told her mother story, over
which the pale lady cried, as women some.
times do when very happy. But Elsie
could only look out upon the. mountains
with traps6gured countenaace, and whis-
per triumphantly, "What can come now, un-
less death s',' The glory vanished from
her face, and she crept away to pray for
that which God saw not right to give.
Philip North bought THE House," and
th;ther Elsie's mother was to return in the
spring, when Elsie had become its mis-
tress. So, being mcrcifully blinded, they
planned in the gladness Of their hearts
And Elsie went with Philip one evening to
view the old place and arrange about alter
ing and furnishing. She went in her
pretty simple dress and straw hat, walk
ing by Philips side over the moors, and
through the wood, and across the thresh-
old into the deserted house, Ainging back
shutters, and letting in the light, and ma
king the silent old rooms ring Back the
echoes of her quick feet and merry voice.
And so they agreed how this room. and
that should be appointed, and Philip made
notes Of all, for he was going back TO the
world to make many arrangements before
Christmas Day, which was to see their we'd.
ding. ,.. -, ..,.
November came and philip vent, and in
the joy CT receiving his first letter Elsie
forgot the pain of parting. One week
went by, wet and dreary, and the next Sc,
in with heavy SHOWS; falling, falling,
vh,:ling and drifting hight and day, till
dykes were filed up, and roads were
blocked. and all landmarks were lost. On
the first white morning Elsie stood at The
Window. with some daisty necdlework in
her hand, watching and smiling at the
edlying fakes, thinking little Of show soon
their cruel white sting would freeze up he.
young life, how soon the pitiless drift
would seal her dead eyes, *.-
There were no more letters the mail
were stopped. Thick and unceasing tA.
snow fell. The valleys, like oyertlowine
seas, rose to the knees of the mountains
Dwellers in the lowlands fed for. shelte,
to. their friends on the hills and forgo'
where their homes had been. Stream:
and rivers lay CONCEALED like blood III the
veins of the dead.
Every morning the day stared in at Elsie
with its white blank face where she sa
holding her mothers hand-her mo. hel
whom the long piercing cold of that crue
snow was killing, whilst with daily suller
denial it forbade all aid to approach her
Day aftec day she sat so, holding the thii
hand while weeks went OH and Decembe,
was half spent, gazing out at the implorinl
hills ana the mourning trees, trying t,
pray with patient courage while her eye
searched tho relentless sky in vain fo
mercy.
Downstairs lamp burned constant,
IN the garnished parlor.> Christmas deco
rstions' had been made; and white curtain
were loopcd with the red and green Of III
holly. Bah kept the fire burning and tn
lamp trimmed, and Elsi ie stole down no,
and again to see that oil was Leat an
bright, for the: thaw might come any day
and Philip might arrive, and her mothe
recover.
y And the pale lady who lay upstairs
knowing herself to be dying, spoke brigl,
words to the child whom she feared +
leave lonely, urging her to. omit no ppreta
ration, to have all things brightly in readl
ness, so that when the 1haw should com
and Philip arrive, her own wasting lif
might yet have little time to burn, eve,
until she beheld that which her heart crav
ed to see accomplished. t7... ~.
T. "Christmas Day will be bright, love,
she would murmur, stroking the faithfu
little hand that held hers so strongly, as
it would not give up its grasp to death
81 dreamed this. morning thst the. do:
had come, and the sun was shining, an
you and were both. dressed in white
and was quite well again. l know
will be bright day." 49,. ~+.:s-
And then the pale: lady would turn he
;fast-changing face to where she could Sc
the chimneys of her old home, and, think
ing who knows what thoughts Of the happ.
days passed under its roof tree, she woul
gaze away above the white hills beyon
with the eyes Of one whose soul goes wit
them, trying to learn the track, trying t
grow accustomed to the path BY which
soon must 60 on its lonely Journey 10 tn,
unknown land. -, r,,; - 4;a4.tno3 4;
And 50 the hearth vas swept ana th
walls we're garnished and the lamp AM
/ FIRE burned brightly down stairs an,
above, Elsie's white dress lay in her room
like a, wreath from the Iitiless snow out
l : - , -