The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1867-01-03
A CHRISTMAS STORY.
BY vILLETTE vILLARs.

Miss Denver was not given to sentiment
al moods. 1t was the exception, not the
rule, of her life, to forget every day reaIi-
ties, and wander in the winning paths of
romance; but she sat before the sparkling
fire, gazing into the leaping flames, and
dreamed her life over again. Yes, and
sighed.
1t was Christmas Eve. Judge Haven had
just received a letter from his adopted son.
saying that he would bring a friend with
him to spend the holidays. There were
shouts of glee from the little ones, and a
lambent love-light in Miss Louisa Haven's
dark eye at this intelligence. But mo-
ment after, they remembered that there
was no token of friendship for Harry's
friend. 1t was too late for fairy fingers to
weave or crotchet a pretty little watch
guard, or smoking-cap, or anything else
that they accomplished with such miracu-
lous skill. OF course it worried them to
think there was not only possibility, but
a decided probability, that the "Christmas
Tree" would be minus a gift for one of their
circle. Harry had been remembered, and
the letter had been delayed on the way, so
that the case was doubly aggravating.
Miss Denver left the perplexed family in
their sitting-room, for moment, and re-
turned with pair of elegantly embroider-
ed slippers. She was the children's gov
erness, IA favorite in the family, and seemed
their equal too, for they had right minds,
and noble hearts, and counted peoples ytr-
tues, not their dollars, when they gave them
station.
81 think, Mrs. Haven, these will supply
your need. embroidered them for
friend long ago, but he went to war Jefore
Christmas came, and they have lain away
ever since. l AIN glad we find use for
them"
There were cNclamations of surprise and
pleasure, for the pattern was a quaint de-
vice, and the work faultless.
Miss Denver stole away to her room, and
sat down where we found her. said she
gazed into the fire. She did at first, but ar
ter a little time she saw through and be-
yond it. She was a tiny child again, look
ing up into her mothers face as the tears
rained down it, and wondering why papa
had been taken away, to the cold grave, and
why he never came again. Years fed, and
one day her mother too, was laid beneath
the weeping willow. Her kind teacher
comforted the lone orphan. He gave her a
brothers care. They read, and studied,
and discussed authors, till the instructor
was forgotten in the lifelong friend.
Now memory fingers over the last scene
of her school-life. She had just awakened
to find that the meager fortune left her was
nearly spent, and she had staid from school
that day to devise some plan for the future.
She meant to teach, but where how p
and so she thought till her head ached and
her heart too. Her teacher rame, and ask
ed her the cause Of her absence.
"Only a slight headache, brought on by
mathematics" she answered, laughingly.
al wish could save you from even that,
he said. "But have strange news for you.
have len the civil walks of life, and to-
morrow go to join my Regiment"
She had heart full Of patriotism, but it
was hard to bid him "God-speed," t" for con
tending emotions.
He left her with kind wishes, and a warm
kiss upon her cheek, and then she wept-I
such tears as women weep only for their
hrst loves.
Soon after she sought and found hearty
Welcome at her friend Louisa Haven's
home. But hers was after all an dis9lstc