The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1865-12-22
g Christmas Storp.
From Pcterson's Magazine for Deccmbcr.l
NARY LEIGHS CHRISTMAS-EVE.
ny CLARA Il. HEATH.

1t was Christmas eve, and Mary Leigh sat
by the window, in the suburbs OF a great
city. The fire burned low and the room
grew cold and clIeerless. The outdoor
prospect was still more gloomy. y cold
December wind came in ftful gusts against
the windows. tossing the dead leaves across
the gravel-walks, aud sghiug nournlully
through the lealiess branches of the trees.
But Mary Leigh was not at all affected t'y
it. indie, d she scarcely glanced ont except
t. note, at intervals, how low the sun was
getting, aud calculate how long "a time in
t,rvened before the supper-hour.
There was a shade of anxiety and caro-
resting on her pale features, changing some
times to a look of veXatien. 1t was the
eve of holiday; but life had no holiday
for her. The table before her was heaped
with pieces aud patterns. A coat, much
worn, but ripped in pieces, and pressed
carefully, was laid before her for consider
alton. She thought it would make a winter
jacket for Johnny, her youngest boy, who
needed it sadly, But it would not do. She
had turned it every way, and the patterns
were laid on, again and again, to no purpose.
There was a thin place here, and spot
there at is no use" sighed poor Mrs.
Leigh "it is too scant a pattern"
She leaned her head heavily on her hand,
and the tears gathered in her eyes. ="
have been all my life she said, " at least
ever since can remember, trying TO make
one dollar do the duty of tliree-trying to
mako something ont of nothing" Her
thoughts went back to her earliest recol-
lee ions of her childhood to the patient
widowed mother toiliug, day after day, far
beyond her strength uncOmPlalnlng, ac-
complislnng so much, and yet receiving so
little credit from the lard.iudging world.
She thought of the school-roOm where she
lad sat, oh so YEARLY, trying to learn les
sons far beyond her comprehension, with
no guide save the textbook, which she
could not understand, and the, Indifferent
teacher, who kept school because she must
do something for living. She thought OF
all the long, weary struggle to ut herselt tor
the word--to become an ornament to soci-
ety of the yearninS and thirsting for more
knowledge, aud the half promise of assist.
ance from friends, She thought Of her fond
au,icipations as she had lacked forward To-
the joyous day, when her bright dreams
should be realized when school life should
really begin and countless books unlock Tor
her their hidden treasures. She thought
too, Of the sudden death OF that beloved
mother, that had put all pleasant anticipa-
tions far away from her thOnshts.
She had been left alone. None cared to
aid her now she was net theirs, and bit
terly the orphan felt it. Going to school
was out of the question now, with no home,
and her limited means. She must teach for
her living, tIey said. She did not choose
her vocatiou-there was no choice left her
Naturally delicate, with feeble strength, and
an ambitious mind, she could think Of noth-
ing else lqnsng 10 DO something for 9TH
ers, yet not aLle to help herself
Fortunately, or unfortunately who shall
jndge 2 her place In the teachers desk was
soon vacant. Mr.. Leigh, one of tho com-
m.ttee, thought Mary Morton would be an
! ornament TO his cottage home, left desolate