Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-12-28

Salver. by the solemnest Of the two footmen
the Baronet and bis gucs.s-with the excep
ton Of four who sat down TO play whist fo
halfcrown points in corner. dimly ligbteC
by two tall yellow-looking wax-candes-
went to sleep. was not sleepy. Ny din
ner had not warmed nv blood bit. nor ad
ded thrOb to my pulse, and sat uncom.
fortably awake IN the midst Of the sleeners
afraid to move, lest should make noise
and wake them. would have given any.
thing to sneak away hut was bound Ia
wait and bid my host 90 i night | found
an opportunity at last
Good night, sir I'm m- very-I
have
could not slv il. aai the Blronet did
not care whether said il or not, He gave
me, witrou rising, the same three fngers.
still cold, and said
- Good night to you. jane. = w Mr.
lie fell asleep again here
James showed me thC-d door, in fact. and
| went forth into the keen 'rosty night with
3 sc that the free air, at least, was sea-
fr' lc. Going home through the chilly
slI :, seeing the brigt ttly-lightcd windows,
and hearing the s1und Of merry voices with
in, | felt, even aft, = my sumptuous dinner.
as if were homel,e' iricndless, and hun
gry, on that Christina night
The scene changes once more. bringing
back to me a Christmas day bIg with nv
fate. was nervous, excited, aud had no
appetite. Was | III, or was | going to he
married Neither. Wasslil. flowed in
abundance, bnt not for me Pretty girls
stood under the mstlctoe and tempted me
not. In the midst Of the irth and i1llity.
| was moody. thoughtful, aaI nnxious.-
Something was going 20 harucn on tie NOR
row. IL wes not Chris'H1s dtv tina.
thought about, but the tay alter Was
reckoning what should gal 30 Christin-s
boxes? Not exactly that ci.t.r. but was
reck0nus with fear and trembling what |
might expect from Christmas tlxc-. rit
and gallery | isi written a. Christmas
piece Tor a tbeatr,. and to-muri lw would
hTIug boxing night, and success o- inilurr
| rtmember, while boxing 0gt ,f che win
dow tummIng, DO. Christmas carols, but 10Y
own comic songs, that crow dow by Was
that ~ omen? ALi was one crow good
omen? The wish Icing ilthof go a @ ti1lzht.
| cUmi0rtcd nysell with the c1ur,1si1u that
IL was good omen. Prcseu;lv q -cclrd
crow flew by. No, Was wrong. TwJ Grows
were a good omen. By and by Third crow
llcw past. Al now I remember. il is
three crows that constitute a good OMEN
No more crows came, and | was quite surc
Of j.. Three crows bad appeared to me. aud
the piece would hc a success. But r.ili !
Gm anxious and doubtful, and my heart Is IN
a huttcr. am realizing once morl go mci1-
ory a sensation which | am afraid shall
never re-hz. again ia ac,ga.i-s t.r ! lave
come O. estimate applause a. a. t-uc value
| have come 10 know tha; that which b, ar-
i!auded the most is geuerfliy taa-U icl de-
serves IL the lcas5.
! was bowling TO che puiiie iu n.w-s 81,
tie enthusiastic call which m1j- mc thlt
night the haTpiest man in L1ui %. Wien
tie sound Of tie knockcr di-Te.ltd the vision,
and announced that my Tcofle Lad come
a1mt from their Christmas l,sti,ilI,s T1cy
lp-l .zed for being 50 late, aud expressed
great concern that bad b en- condemned %
.oue!Iatss and cruel Oh Chri-.m.> day.
Had thought tie time long? " Nota,
ili, said. Hayc ycu, rcad.12 lr u9-.
llauaife % raIsfs.