The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1867-12-25
GIDEON GRINDEM's CHRIST
.-- .-.2 ..'.,'. .'... "a MAS. sgg.@i .s1s'a5
BY JAMES D. M'cABE, JR.

The Whitehead clock on the City
Hall stared grimly out into the night,
and its truthful hands informed the pso-
pie in the neigborhood that it was eleven
O'Clock on Christmas eve. 1t was gen.
uine old fashioned Christmas eve, at that,
and the streets Of New York were white
with snow, and the wind was whirling
the drifts about fantastically, to the evi.
dent discomfort of the old apple and bot-
corn women by the Park railing, who
fingered at their posts in spite of the
lateness of the hour, hoping to turn an
other honest penny from some passer-by
before midnight. The old balIad-ven.
der had packed up his stock in trade and
betaken himself homeward long ago, and
most Of the New Workers had followed
his example, so that the streets were al
most deserted. ,- "' ..-.'l
One man, at least, was abroad 10 the
storm, and as he turned into gate Of the
Park to make a short cut over to Broad.
way, where the stages were still running,
the old apple woman, thinking that she
might find in him another customer, be.
gan pitiful petition to him to buy her
wares, when he turned to her sharply,
and the lamp-light fell full upon his
face. A glance satisfied the womau, and
it needed not his cold rebuff to cause her
to shrink back from him with fright
ened look. The man passed over TO
Broadway, and rausng moment for
stage to come up, entered the clattering
vehicle, and settled himself in his seut as
if totally unconscious Of the presence of
the other passengers. His entrance ap.
peared to cast gloom over them, for
soon they grew silent, and wrapping their
coats and shawls closer around them,
wondered if it was not growing colder.
At last the stage paused, and the man
descended from it. Turning into cross
street, and walking slowing as if careless
of The storm, he reached a large brown
stone mansion, where he rang the BELL.
The door was opened by fine looking
servant in livery /; but as soon as he saw
the man, the domestic shrank back Tim
idly, and made room for HIM to enter
Throwing off his overcoat and hat and di
vesting himself of his wet boots, the man
gave them to the servant.
"a cup of tea, David, in the Library"
he said coldly, as he passed into luxu
riously furnished apartment opening from
hall. ''...
1t was a beautiful room, and great
taste had teen displayed in its adOrn-
ment The bookcases and furniture
we're of the choicest kinds, an open fire
burned in the handsome CRATE, and even
to.the minutest article, everything was
in its place. Perfect order reigned
throughout, but there was in everything
that coldness aud sterDness that marked
the owner of so much discomfort
The man drew large armchair be-
fore the CRATE, and sinking into it, raised
bis feet to the fire. He never looked
about him, but kept his gaze fixed stead
lily before him, Only once he raised his
eyes to glance at portrait which hung
over the mantle. 1t was woman's face
"a face so pure and tender in its lowell
ness, that one could but wonder if it was
really that of a human being. Only
once the man gazed at it, and as he did
so his eyes filled with tears, and his cold,
hard mouth wore an expression of in
tense pain. Then he sank back into his
chair and his eyes fell upon the fire.
The domestic entered and placed the re.
freshments his master had ordered on a
small stand at his side, and seeing the
man so wrapped in thought, withdrew
roiselesly without disturbing him, and
still with that frightened, timid look he
had first worn. f2-.A."
He was very lonely man, this Gideon
Grindem, in spite Of all his wealth. He
was a proud, cold man, and his unhappi.
ness was chiefly of his own making
Years ago, he had married woman
much younger than himself, but such a
woman as one meets but once in life
time, and having seen, never forget
Had she lived, he might have been hap
pier and better, but she had been dead
twelve years, and no other living being
had flied her place in tho merchants
heart. She had left him one child, and,
despite his GOODNESS, he had lavished up.
on this little one love only less strong
than that he had borne for her mother.
At eighteen this girl had married,
against his will, poor clerk that ho had
taken into his employ, He had cast her
off forever and now her name was never
mentioned in bis house. For four years
he had not seen her face save once, when
she came one cold winter night 10 beg
for aid and forgiveness. He crushed the
yearning of his heart for her, and turned
her into the street, as he would have done
to q dog that had strayed into his house.
1t was cruel act, and since that time he
had been harder and sterner than ever,
Ho had no friends. His acquaintance
Stunned him, and sought his presence
only when business made it necessary
No visitor ever crossed bis Threshold ;
no happy sounds or lights wero ever
heard or seen within the walls Of his house,
Even his servants feared and avoided
HIM. He was alone in tho wide world,
and he kDewit. He knew he must live
alone, and that when he came to die he
must go to the grave with not one loving
or plying heart to ocheer his last moments
or miss him when be was goue. 1t was
o sad, sad thought to him, and some
how it came to him tonight with redoub.
led force, This was why his eyes cloud