The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-12-13
Before Mrs. DRYDEN could answer. An,


come down our chimney?
''There is no such creature, Allisonl
You are too old to believe in that ridic-
ulous fable"
"But, mamma, he came to Aunt Mary's
last year!' cried both Children in breath
''And we all hung uBSour. stockings in
the parlor!" added Nettis
"And Aunt Mary let the fire go down
on purpose, SO that the old chap might
not be scorched," shouted Ally, excited
lily. awe wanted to have. the chimney
swept, but she said Be wouldn mind
little dirt
"For you know
'His clothes were all tarnished with ashes and
sootp" *
quoted Nettie, "and yetshe was in good
humor
and filed all the stockings'"
s'Then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger a1olgside his nose,
And giving nod, up the Chimney he rosel' "
chanted Ally "Ohl what times we had
repeating that, after we went to bed that
night.
bow, @
And the beard on his chin was as white as
the snow.
He had broad face andsa little round"
| You children will be the death of mep'
cried Mrs. Dryden, distractedly, putting
her hands o her ears. "I shall certainly
never let you spend another Christmas
at your Aunt Mary'sl Your heads were
so crammed with nonsense last year, that
I am afraid you will never get rid Of it.
| Finish your suppers and be off to bedl
You are as Christmas mad as if you had
never been trained TO more sensible
thingsf'
''I cannot imagine, 2 said Mr. Dryden,
severely, how they have contriyed to re-
member the senseless doggerel your sister
was SO injudicious as to teach them.
"That is the deprayity of human ma
turel" sighed the wife.
Very sober little faces were uplifted to
father and mother for good night kiss,
and very slow footsteps went up stairs to
the chamber which the brother and sister
shared in common. There was a pathos
in the sound, so unlike the brisk patter Of
4 other small feet upon other floors anl
staircases on that jubilee eve.
4 The father, albeit he was not an imag
4 inative man, noticed this, and went off t.
the parlor with panied and yearnins
heart-saddened, he knew not by what
i longing for something he could not name
The children had interrupted his evening
reading, at supper, by their chatter, ant
IL !, IN ohair h,
the center table, to finish the perusal o
his newspaper. His seat was comfortable
the light clear and soft; the evening new
interesting: the room still; yet he coul'
not fix his mind upon his occupation
! Through the quiet apartment came an
went the echoes of the four little feet, il
slow detection, going on up to the repos
that was to be visited by no happy dream
! of the glories of Christmas morning. H
saw between him and the printed column
the sadly serious countenances,t that were
by this time, laid upon their pillows. H
a wondered if the pair would cry themselve
to sleep. lie purposely waxed aner
I with his sister n-law, for putting thes
silly notions into the children's heads
They were content enough until that UT
e fortunate visit. Now, there was no tell
d ing where this mischief would stop. ]
: was too provoking to have two such FIN
! natures soured by repinings and FOOLS
/ longings; two minds so intelligent file
b with superstitious fancies. Yesl the
d were fine childrenl if he did say tan
t; as dutiful as could be found in day
IS ride. His wife had an excellent metho
s of discipline, and deserved much cred
$ for her success in training her offsprin,
n She was good woman-industrious an
a conscientious-but he could have wishe
e that her spirits were more equable. q
L did not relish the idea that his bloomin
% Nettie, might, one day, become toi
It worn, pains-taking wife and mother; h,
le smooth forehead be plowed in two dee
d burrows, like those that crossed her mot
d er's, from temple to temple; her poutiI
r lips grew colorless and drawn down at Il
,e corners; her bird-like voice sharpen in
d the shrill peevishness of the tones th'
ot had ordered the BARNS off to bed +
IT ould like to keep life fresh and brig
ID fer his darling SO long as he could. 81
d would find cut, soon, enough, what DR.
dusty. .detestable cheat the world was.
&c ne might nave MS WISH, BIG SH0ulO Dc
O. child always;a merry. laughing, singh
Or fairy, to gladden. his old age; simpl
US hearted, trusting child, in whose love a
k, purity he could find refreshment VIII
m disheartened by the faithlessness of
IS fellow-men. She was very fond of him
En grave and undemonstrative as he w
w With the unerring perception of chill
IN hood, she had discovered that she was
ly favorite, and repaid his partiality in t
IN coin he liked best. The. sound of
IT, latch-key in the door,wa the signal, mo
s and night, for her to bound down sta
ge to meet him; to kiss him, and offer, in !
ed pretty ,@rwomanly way, to relieve him
he his overcoat, to hang up his hat and bri
him his slippers. Such nimble feet
las hers were! Blithe, willing little fe
&c. how they twiukled to and fro, to perfo
Is. whatever errands he would suffer her
all undertake for his comfort! Merry, d,
it. cling little feetl
Id But the echoes persisted in contr adj
ut, ing his recollection of their lively mus
Up and down-sad and slow-they W