Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-12-25
a. COLUMBUS. O.. WEDNESDAY MORNING,

strange, but beautiful'fgure. n 1t seemed
like an angel, for its face was radiant
with purity and beauty, and its garments
were ofspotless white. 1t was scarcely
foot high and its eyes were SO small
that they seemed like diamond points,
Yet they looked straight into the mer
chants soul, and read all that was passing
there. and the proud man knew it, and
shuddered. II q ass is'.t;,-- ~ '-'''iIi E
s'a Gideon Grindem,' said the voice
again,s "are you glad that Christmas has
come Z" 'si7. ii go faF'-J 5s syn.
This time the tone was SO reproach.
full that the tears started to Gideon Grin
dem's eyes, and he bowed his head and
replied :a73 e .sS7 W q = Z -. s'' =. 'o'l'i, +
"Alas OF all the world, Ialone have
nothing to rjoics forto-night." /
5s Listen to me- said the little figure,
softly" am Conscience, and 1 have
come to speak with you We have been
strangers for a long time. but have
come back to- you again. You must hear
me tonight, for you cannot drive me
away until morning; and O, if you are
wise, Gideon .Grindem, do not drive me
away then ~ 5s = 10 ,,'-i os:7gfs "a 5jdH
The merchant sat silent and trem-
bling. He knew he was powerless. and
he could not take his eyes from the little
figure on the hearth. But it was little
no longer, for it grew in size every mo
ment, until it assumed a gigantic form,
and mien so stern and terrible thatthe
merchant almost shrieked with terror as
he gazed tit. Yet he could not turn
his eyes away. One thing only re-
mained ounchanged; the voice of the
figure was as sweet and solemn as ever
The merchant felt that he would give
all his wealth to escape fromits presence,
but he could not move limb. ss-e,3
20 '.What do you want with me2" he
gasped. " "a 81 ' . ',' p. :, ssgl zee s.s. .as =
ad' II will show yeu," said the. figure,
solemnly. e"Come with me- -eJ,-51,.S
Tie merchant felt strong hand grasp
him by the shoulder, and the next mo-
ment he was borne through space with
a speed SO rapid that it deprived him Of
the ability to cry ont. Suddenly, there
was a pause, and he opened his. eyes,
He started with astonishment at the
scene before him. - e .... a, ..5..s2t iss7a} T
1t was little, plainly furnished room
Everything betokened lcontentment
though, at the same time, an absence OF
riches. A bright fire burned in the open
CRATE, and the soft light of a pleasant
lamp lit up the room. A woman, nei-
thrr old. nor young. sat by the fire, and
at her feet knelt a child, with his hands
folded in prayer. There was look Of
quiet happiness in the pale face of. the
woman, and her soft eyes were bent ten.
derby upon the child at her feet, as he
whispered his. prayer so low that only
she and the angels heard it. The mer-
chant gazed at the Scene in utter bewil-
derment. Then his eyes grew misty
and great sob swelled up from his heart
He had recognized the two-the boy
was himself and the woman-was- his
mother.
"Do you ever pray now, Gideon
Grindem ?'' asked the voice of the fig
urei; and the merchant knew that Con.
science was still with him. ,,-.zrs. --
6sstt tPrayl" he shrieked. "Prayl o my
The woman turned to him slowly ,4and
he stretched out his hands imploringly
80 mother, motherl" he sobbed. "Let
me be your innocent boy again p 80
But the sweet face clouded with look
of mingled sternness and horror, and the
? hand that had rested. SO tenderly upon
the boys. head was raised with a repel-
liant gesture ~ The merchant shrank
back with groan, and the vision faded.
ls3" Itais a terrible thing. Gideon Grin
dem,"' said the voice Of Conscience, .tor
a parent to turn away from a child."oe
"a The merchant shuddered. He was
thinking of his own child, and how he
had turned from her prayer of mercy
The figure laid its hand upon him, and
drew him away He knew they were
now in New York again, and that they
were hurrying through the city, in the
midst of the storm; for he could feel the
snow driving furionsly in his face,S ceSiamn and
the keen wind chilled him through and
through. : They passed into one of the
lowest quarters Of the city, and entered
a miserable dwelling. sThe figure led
him up.iang flights Of stairs, until finally
they entered a chamber, so wretched and
mean, that the merchant shrank back
with disgust. .o,f ,,y5 ''sa's ssa1 sI'i fil'
A Aickering tallow dip shed a feeble
light through the room, adding to the
misery an hundred fold. On low bed
man lay, wan and emaciated. A wo-
man sat by the candle, sewing busily,
her pale, wan face seeming even more
ghastly by the uncertain light; and on
low pallet two children lay asleep
for the while unconscious of the suffer
ing around them.-The fire in the stove
was dying away. and the room was grow
ing colder every moment. Gideon Grin
dem gazed with horror at the scene, and
turned to fly from it, but the figure laid
is hand heavily upon him, and drew him
up close beside the sorrowful woman, as
she sat sewing her life away; and as
he gazed, the merchant saw that, in spite
ofethe marks of carsand suffering which
it bore, 1.-THE woman's face was wonderful
ly like that of his dead wife. No won
der, for the woman was his daughter. A
cold sweat stood on his brow, and his
heart seemed to stop still. 1t was fear.
full to stand thus and gaze on such .
dreadful sccne.lfz f9g -IsE lAEzIAi
""A slight movement of the man in the
bed caused the woman to look up.
/ care you awake, George she asked
81 have not been asleep, darling" re-
piled the man, sadly. 81 cannot res,
for thinking and the knowledge that
am so helpless makes me wretched.-
Our fuel is out, and wescane get no more
until the day after tomorrow, and We
shall freeze in this weather, and or
Christmas day too. / could hea = IL fo,