Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-03-02
For tho Rutland Herald,
Royerie- OF - Christmas Evening.

outskirts ofthe city 9th, The day
had been passed, not as IN former years,
wheR the residence Of Mr, and Mrs. James
in their native village, and in close proX-
unity to the old homestead, had rendered
the Christmas dinner at Grand-papa's the
principal feature in the festivities, both TO
parents and children. Visions of those old
Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners still
foaled in the minds of the children viz
ions whore Grand-mama had presided as
Lady Bouuuiul at the feast, fearing lest the
full craving ofthe appetites, and especially
Of the chidren's wouldn't be satisfied, aud
Graud-papa had looked on with such meek
and quiet satisfaction, tasting meanwhile
his full share Of the dMnties, and telling the
old stories, which had always delighted
the ears Of childhood.
There was the turkey and chicken PIE
for Thanksgiving, the roast goose and plum
pudding for Christmas, followed by the
whole family OF pies, and Iapenng oil with
the usual ct ceteras Of desert not for
getting the nuts and raisns, always a sine
qua non to cmldren's feast. But abCut
those PIES, Was story connected with the
childish experience of one of the Uucles Of
the family, and always told every year at
the table for the entertainment ofthe guests,
OF these pies there We're six varieties, and
a slice of each being handed to him on one
plate, the pieces all pointing to ii centre, he
regarded the tempting display for awhile
with perpleXed countenance, and then lay
ing down his knife and fork, burst into
tears, and IN answer to the astontshed looks
and anxious inquiries of friends and rela-
ives as to what WAS the matter, exclaimed,
Il dom know where to begin" But am
wandering far from the scene Of my story.
The day in question had been passed quiz
city and pleasantly by this little family.
True, the luxurious dinner of former days
was wanting, and even old Santa Claus
mad been more chary OF his gifts, TO the ell
der children, than was his usual wont, and
only to little pet Nellie, the sunbeam ofthe
household, did his generous heart warm in
all its fullness. They had all gone together
to worship at the little chapel in the morn
ing, and at dinner, had eudeavored to make
love and kind words compensate for the
STALLED OK" Nellie had prattled and car.
oled her Christmas songs, and now was
fast asleep, her dolly clasped tightly in her
arms. Mary was gathering up the scatter
ed playthingS, and "setu1g the room to
rights" Mr.. James and Willie were both
engaged with books and newspapers, while
the Mother sat musing over the coal fire.
"A penny for your thoughts, wife ~ said
Mr. James, as he laid aside - LIS newspaner
Eyes Mother; " s ss.a Mary, 81 have watched
you ever since Nellie went to bed you have
looked sad and smiling alternately half
dozen times within the last fifteen minutes.
Pm sure YOU must be thinking either of
them all at Grand-papa's, or perhaps of
our dear old home, the house where | was
born come tell us all about it.
Yes wife, chlmed in Mr.. James, my
eyes are getting old, 50 cannot see 10 read
in the evening, and YOU know Pm going
to braveit out, and not wear spectacles, and
now yoU must either read aloud, or tell Us
what you We're thinking about Willie has
occupation enough, for the present, in look
ing over Goldsmith's Animated Nature.
that we brought from the old homestead.
| wish, though, we had good armhull Of
Green Mountain wood, 10 make cracking
and blaze
well Mary" SAID Mrs James. u was
thinking Of the dear old house, but not as
it looks now surrounded with maple and
mountain ash trees, and the fountain in the
yard, or even as it was when we occupied
it, ten Years ago was thinking of it as
1t locked in my childhood, with the tall
Lombardy popiars in front, and the old cell
lar top standing out in such bold relief on
the south side. You may we'll say looked
sad and smiling too, for whenever enter
in thought that wide old fashioned hall,
and rambe through the rooms rendered
dear by so many youthful associations. the
secret chambers of my heart are Enclosed,
aud scenes in which the living aud the dead
nayo borne part rise APP before me the
dead who are Gm6almed with many tears.
and whose dear names are impressed upon
my "hcarts remoteSt core.o
Just thirty five years ago this very
Christmas, | attended a children's party
IN that house, party rendered memorable
70 me, because my invitation was not civ
en- verbally. but was the first billet-doux
ever received. You needn't smile, hus-
band, fox you didn't write the note, and
although YOU We're at the party, wasn't
thinking at ell about YOU IN connection
with 1t, for You were just emerging from
Ooyish years, and felt yourself quite too
important to notice mo at all.
was thinking about your dear sister,
and two young girls, who were her constant
companions. l can never think of one Of
them alone, but as trio, for the three were
shadows of each other and scarcely ever
separated
GAS ifther hands, their sides, their voices and
Had BEEN incorporate. So they grew to.
gether-"
and as the families of each had always
been On terms of social intimacy, nothing
seemed to interrupt the peaceful harmony
Of their lives.
The day was mild and beautiful for the
season twas truly "Green Christmas,
such an one, as the old proverb saws,
"makes a fat kirk yard at Michaelmas."
and after having cxhar stel all their in