The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1867-12-28
A Christmas Child.

A Christmas Chiid.
Luke Norris bone was not an attractive
one. And yet the large old house stood
among bread fields and far-extending orch
ards and The great barns told Of abundant
baryests which must have been gathered in.
The stalls were filed with sleek, wel!-fed
cattle, and everything spoke Of the pres
psrity Of the owner. You could not help
thinking bow delightful it would be % see q
merry hnsking party filing the great grana-
~, on some bright October evening, and
what rare sport for laughing children to toss
and tumble on the fragrant hsy in the ample
mows. But look at the house would con-
vince YOU thai children were never seen
there, and no young people would ever think
of making IL their place Of meeting. Ii @ss
dark and gloomy and years ago it's weather
beaten walls had les. their coat.Ig Of paint.
Ia the bright summer davs the doors never
stood invitingly opep, and no vines twined
about the low porch and waited their rich
stores Of fragrance into the house. III the
long winter evenings no bright light stream
ed frum the windows to greet the passers-
by, and cal up pleasant pictures Of happy
group clustered about its glow. The whole
place wore fcrbldding look, and the very
beygars irstinctively Stunned il. The doors
were slvays closed--the windows were very
heavily suffered. No hsht was ever seen,
except the faint gleam from IA distant kitch-
en-, where tonight Luke Norris sat bcrds9s
over the embers on the hearth.
lie was not unsuited in hin aspect to the
house. A tall, spare-made man, some sixty
years old, it might be, with hard, strongly
marked features, and grizzled, shaggy hair.
A man from whom you would expect no
pleasant smile or cordial greetings If you
met him-a slight nod at most, 10 show that
be Was conscious of another's presence. His
housekeeper, an old woman, with bent form,
and a face that told Of life of toll and
many hardships, went silently about, busted
with some little fasK. People some dtlhaas
wondered that be retained her, for she was,
erowiug feeble now, aud Luke Norris, hard
worker himself, was Eot man TO De indul-
gent to his servants-but old Huldah suited
him. She bal lived with him for years, and
be was used to her. She knew bis ways,
and never troubled hun with attempts to
make him talk-a thing he was not fond o!
doing.
Day after day she plodded on uncom-
plaiuiogly in her monotonous round OF toll;
and at night he rather liked TO hear the
click of her needles, as she sat beside the
Hre. with her unfalling knitting. That was
the only sound that broke the ST.
lence; .or neighboIs never dropped in to sit
and chat ap hour, and the woTkmen on the
Mace chose to seek more genial homes. So
he and old Huldah had tue great house to
and year after year, had sat ST.
lcntly together through the evenings.
Luke bad always led lonely life. More
than fifty years ago be had been brought to
the village an orphan child. Perhaps be
fore that time he might have known some
thing Of boys light-hearted mirth, but If il
had ever been 50, il was crushed out years
ago. He bad found home with stern,
hard, grasping man, who kept the boy at
distance. With no softening influence about
him. be too. had grown up hard and stern,
with no ambition but to heap up wealth; Re
dream of the future hEs g !!J0k forward to
the time when Is might count his broad
acres, and gaIR place among the seaithiest
men Of tie village. And be had realized
mis- dream. By unremitting toll and rigid
frugality, year after year, be had addet TO
his store, till he was now the owner OF the
finest farm in the county; and men hinted
lnysteriously at large sums OF money snugly
But that was only conjecture, for
Luke was q man who kept bis own counsel.
He had gained his ends-and yet he was not
q happy man.
Il was Christmas eve, but be was not In
pleasant mood. In all the gladDess Of The
season be had no part. 1t vexed him always
to hare holiday come. lie did not see the
use of it. And now his men would waBt 70
idle away the day, and throw away their
money on foolish amusements. That was
all such days were good for. Everywhere
~. went ne must be reminded OF the season.
The children who passed him in the street
were laughing and prattling gaily, talking Of
Santa Claus, and wondering what was 10
starc for the morrow. Men and women bur-
RED bv. wish eager, intent faces, carrying
ali sorts Of parcels. Even the little village
shop wore holiday look; the counter pre-
sen.ed unusual attractions, and the vipdoss
were flied with toys that drew the longing
Kaxe Of little groups OF children And when
be vent into bis house, and took up hts
weekly paper, even there be was met by ad-
yertisements Of all sorts OF novelties Tor the
helidays- s+
IL had tried his temper, too, that ar ap-
peal had been made 10 him for charity. he
hated to be asked to give. He maee his
wsy m the world himself, he said, and asked
aid from no ONE; why could not others 90
the samsf IL was not often that any one
applied to hun, be was SO well kuown, but
today ons Of bis neighbors had come 90 ssl
his sid for John Leslie, man who once had
worked for hin, but had afterwards lsit him
to take up another oca u patton. Now be
was III, and would hardly be able 10 work
for months, IL -Has Christmas time, th'
man had said, and il was only rlght that they
should help him and bis family to struegl'
through the winter. Christmas again. MhA
vas Christmas to Lukes He had siway'
told Leslie be was fool 10 60 into the nes
works, but he had not taken hisadvice; u,
sboald he expect anything OF him noHs BY
that was the way with men. They woult
not listen 70 their more sensible neighbore
and then when they got into treubls theI
looked - thsm fbr help. A nan might vese
ali hia ,sarninss Il he would listen % then
s. he had tufned away. - Y Z.
And yet he liked Leslie. scoSsflsr hls owl
6ahI6s1 I; and be codld ma forget zoo -
hs ~ sssa hrs ohildrsu gong past - -
- xsd how Qinehe1 iaa9 biue ,tbeir 14ce
y1Eps snd how scanty their eiothing -
lotksd Thar httle rod handS were 6le
VA Syrgssns. sud b hsd hssSd ~ y