The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1865-12-21
Tvilioht shadows deepen; shivering, / draw

Sinking into an easy CHAIR, nead DoWeo, hahus
clasped-gazing into the gloomy depths whichform
fantastic figures and cast grotesque shadows on the
WALL dream. The shadows gather around me,
some weird and mocking, peer into my facc-then
dance back and screen themselves among the pic
lures and flowing curtains. Others lean upon my
chair and whisper OF the days of early girhood, OF
brilliantly Lit halls, gaily dressed maidens and
handsome youths, sweet strains of music and toasts
to bright eyes, and the hearty response to 'mnny
returns Of merry Christmas! Their voices sound
like mockery as they say-"Come be gay, hear
how merrily the bells are ringing-list to the mu-
sic,s how it fills the very air with melody-see the
fireworks, how beautiful and hear the shouts of
happy children Come, join in our revelry
Ahl there 10 responsein my heart to this, and
impaticntly turn from thems to listen to one sad
eyed-which hovers over me, caresses my hair, and
nestle near it, as to dear friend, long since gone
before. OF what does it whisper A lon, brown
house on hillside far away, where in winter the
winds swept down from their erie-homes on the
mountain tops and scattered the leaves from the
old oaks which over-hung the homestead; made
strange music in and out the caves where, in
spring-time the swallows built their nests, and
causing the time-worn shutters to creak and moan
on their hinges. How vivid the contrast within !!
The cozy sitting-room, with its tri-colorcd carpet
and bright chintz curtain. How the blazing fire
cracked and roared in the old fashioned fire place,
around whcha merry group gathered on Christmas
Eve, drinking mulled cider, parching pnders and
telling many improbable stories of the past, or
forming plans for the future-the all-glorious To
Come OF times more recent, when the children
had merged to youths and madens, the fathers
once erect figure slightly bent, and silver threads
mingled With mothers raven tresses. A peerless
bride sits near the manly form Of the frst-born,
her noble husband, who fondles with her brown
curls and looks lovingly into dreamy depths of her
blue eyes. The mother sits quietly knitting, half
signing that her children ore too old now to lie
awake op Christmas Eve and listen for :" Kris
Kringle. "S There is dark-cycd girl who sitswith
her lover, apart from the rest. How fondly he
gazes in her upturned face, eagerly she listens
to the beautiful legends he relates, for she is on
ideaist, dreamer from her birth, living in world
created by hor own fancy, pcoplcd with beings
pure and noble; and he the lover, is the embodi-
ment of all she deems worthy. He speaks Of his
home in the gay world, and wonderful indeed it
seems to the girl, who oil her life has been shut in
among the hills of her mountain home. Her eyes
grow moist as'he refers to earlier days-of an ivy
grown church where so often he had sat, listening
to the sweet organ notes until his soul was filled
with melody, watching the dim, holy light as it
stole ,thro stained glass, diamond-shapcd panes,
and rested upon the grey-locks of the pastor, like
n smile from God. The pastor whose 'tremulous
voice told Of the Star of Bethlehem which guided
the wise men of the East years ago, when the in
FAINT Jesus Was born, T" Glad idings Of great joy
we're brought Saviour rcigncd.
+of another Christmas Eve, and now change
had come notsonly over this group, but mighty
one had swept oil over our sunny land. More
than year ago secession was proclaimed. Flags
launted gaily, bells rang cheerily, and from the
sea side to the mountain there came voice saying,
"We will be q seperate and independent people"
But this must cost q struggle, and for months war
had ragged with an intensity scarcely equaled in
the annals of history. Sad indeed was the change
in that mountain honle The father had been laid
down to sleep in the old church yard, where his
fathers for generations back werc laid before him.
The mothers locks were silver white now, and care
and borrow marked every feature; tears steal 81
lently thro' the wrinkled fingers which her face
is pressed She had heroically bucklcd on the ar
mour of her first born, her hearts pride; the
trembling wife, so frail, SO young, had forced a
smlo as he kissed her goodbye, and thus they sent
him forth to fight his Country's battles LAUREL
crowned, he felIr There's nameless grave on The
battle field and desolate home far away in Caro-
lima half-open door reveals figure dreped in
black kneeling near a trundlebed, in which sleeps
little child. A mass Of shining curls arc tossed
carelessly on the snowy pillow, and the fair face
rests upon half naked, dimpled arm; long lashcs
droop on the flushed cheek, and now and then o
smile plays around the sweet mouth; she is dream
ing of the wonderful chariot drawn by ,,eindeers,
with dingling bells, which will bring her such
beautiful things ere tomorrow. Tho young girl
again sits apart she is aiono now, reading let
ter and she tuois smiling, for herloEed one writes
peace ;teoon victory shall crown our arms-then
he Will hasten Home 10 claiin MS Driue. "ih HpS
parted and eyes flashing, she thinks of her coun-
try's honor, her hero's return. Fond fancy paints
him as on thafparting eve heavy snow had fall
len the night previous and now lay one unbrokcn
mass on the hill-sides and over the vast meadow
lands which stretched far away in the distance. A
single star shonc in the quiet evening sky. How
serenely beautiful the scene! With hands clasped,
they stood and drank in the beauty, while each
bitterly thought of the morrow, when he would
leave, cit might be for years and it might be for
ever" How noble, how handsome he looked. The
closely fitting suit of grey long black plnmea fall
ing gracefully over the left shoulder, and crimson
scarf tied carclcssly around his waist half play