The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-12-25
A CHRISTMAS STORY,

~>~s~ SSsS
a CHRLSTMAS STORY.
LITTLE rEEc1E.
RELATED BY MRS. sLIRR1pER's LOGGER
The evening was raw, and there was snow
On the streets, genuine London snow, half
thawed and trodden and deflled with mud.
remembered 1t well, that snow, though it was
nfteen years since had last seen its cherries.
spreading the same old snares on the the sid. ai.
pains. Only few hours arrived from South
America cia Southampton, sat in NV room
a. MS5iey,s Hotel, Charing Cross, and looked
down the noor discontentediy, and fiercel,
tried my best to feel glad that I was a wan
oeI Sst no more and that had indeed got HON,
poked up my fye, and took a long loo,
backward upon my past life, through the EN-
beers. remembered how my Childhood haf
been embittered by dependence, how my ricl
was vain glory, had looked ON nv existence ms .
nuisance, not so much because he was Obliged Il
open his purse to pay for my clothing and edu
cStion, as because that, when a man, h.
thought I could reflect no credit upon hi,
name. remembered how, in those DAYS.
had soul for the beautiful, and certain. nj
most womanish, tenderness of heart, which
fully extracted from me. I remembered m,
uncle unconcealed relief at my determinntioY
70 60 abroad and seek my fortune, the colo
good bye OF my only cousin, the lonely, bitter
1areweu TO England, hardly sweetened by
the impatient hopes that consumed rathel
than cheered me-the hopes of name and gold
won by my own exertions, with which I should
y es Mfang from those who despised me the
Sitting there at the fire, rang the bell, and
the waiter came to me: an old man, whose
lace I remembered. asked him some ques-
tions. Yes, he knew Mr.. George Rutland
recolected that many years ago he used to stay
Mt Morley's when he came to London The
Old gentleman had always stayed there. But
The family always came to town in the spring,
hut, at this season, Rutland Hail, Kent:
would be pretty sure to be their address.
Having obtained all the information de-
sired, began forthwith to write letter:
Dear George,-I dare say you will be rs
much surprised to see my handwriting as you
would to behold an apparitfOn from the dead
however, you know was always a ne'er-do-
well, and have not had the grace toidie yet. 1
am ashamed not to be able to announce myself
as having returned home with my fortune
made but mishaps will follow the most hard
working and well-meaning. I am still young
: life may have been lost and am willing to
devote myself to any worthy Occnpation.-
meantime, am anxious to see you and yours.
A long absence from home and kindred makes
one value the grasp of a friendly hand. I
snail not wait for your reply to this, but go
down to Kent the day after tomorrow, ar
irving, believe, about dinner time. You see
am making myself assured Of your welcome
Tor few weeks, till have time to loo about
me. 1remain, dear George,
"Your old friend and cousin,
"GUY RUTLAND
folded this missive and placed it in it's en-
velope: II shall find out, once for all, what
they are made off, said, complacentiy, as
wrote the address, "George Rutland, Esq,
Rutland Hall, Kent
It was about seven on frosty evening when
1 arrived Al the imposing entrance Of Rutland
Hall. No Cousin George came rushing out to
meet me. "Of course not thought; ~
am unused to their formal manners in this
country. He is lying in wait for me on the
mat inside" I was admitted by a solemn per-
son as quietly and mechanically as though my
restoration to home and kindred were thing
that had happened regularly in his presence
into grand hall, but no mat supported the
impatient feet of the dignified master of the
house. " All - said !, "even this, perhaps,
chatting on the drawing room hearth.rug, and
have little enough time to make myself pre-
sentable before dinner" So, resigning my
self to circumstances, I meekly followed a
chamber assigned to my especial use. had
to travel considerable distance before
reached it.: Dear me - remarked to my
self when I did reach it, 81 had expected to
hnd the rooms in such house more elegantly
appointed than thiS!"
made my toilette, and again submitting
myself to my guide, was conveyed to the
drawing room door. All the way down stairs
/ had been coming pleasant speeches with
which to greet my kinsfolk. am not a bril-
liant person, but sometimes succeed in pleas
Ing when try, and on this occasion had the
desire to do my best.
The drawing room door was at the distant
end OF the hall, and my arrival had been SO
very quiet thatl conceived my expectant en-
tertainers could hardly be aware of my pre-
sence in the house. I thought I should give
them q surprise. The door opened and closed
upon me, leaving me within. the room I
looked around me, and saw-darkness there,
and nothing more.
All, yes, but there was something more
There was blazing fire which sent eddying
swirls Of light through the shadows, and right
IN the blush of its warmth a little figure was
lounging In an easy chair. The little figure
was girl Of apparently about fifteen or six
teen years OF age, dressed in a short shabby
black frock, who was evidently spelling her
eyes BY reading by the hre-hght. Size lay with
hair being thus tossed over the velvet cushion
on which 1t rested, while she held her book
al0ft TO catch the light. She was luxuriating
In her solitude. and little dreaming Of inter-
ruption.
She was so absorbed in her book the door
had opened and closed 30 noiselessly, and the
room was 20 large that was obliged to make
sound TO engage her attention. She started
fsarfulness in her face. She dropped her
book, sat upright, and put out her hand,
fore, and which leaned against the chair.-a
crutch. She then got up, leaning on it, and
stood before me. The poor little thing was
1amc, and had two crutches by her.
1lnsrodneed myself, and her fear seemed to
. .us ,s.., Sne asked me to sit down, with
FL rct - sumption Of at-home- ness which
ner oo OK and laid II ON her lap; she produced
hSs m me recssses Of her chair, and, with
into tts meshes Then she sat quiet c hnt t na
re-. nan. al upon nsr clutches, she was
across the carpet, and leave me to INV own nv" o..
Thomson thought there was nobody in thu
room" she said, as II anxious to acconnt ra
ner own presence there. ~ ALWAYS sfnv sn
sne nursery, except sometimes when thev All |
~ ~ ~, ana get this room TO myself. Then
:. Il. Rutland n not At home ?" I said.
10; they are all ont dining"
VNprv