Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-12-25

bestowed these aims upon them.
/ But, for eleven years this ha'
been Miss Blanchard's custom; thi
had been her inevitable employment
Of the day of the Christmas Eve
whose amusement, also inevitable
we have witnessed.
The motive for either ceremony
Miss Blanchard never communica
ted, even to her biographer anc
nearest friend. l r-.aaF
Fifteen minutes after ten, anC
Mrs. Bliss entered her MISTRESS
morning-room, leading the little cul
prit who had attempted to steal
Christmas tree from the presence o.
death.
You said you wished to see this
child, ma am" said the housekeepert
apologetically.
" Yes, 1 do You may leave hcl
here"
Mrs. Bliss courtesied and left the
room. Miss Blanchard looked
keenly at her protegee, standing
close beside the door, with the wary,
hunted look upon her face of a cor
nered mouse, or cat in strange
room, or a human being to whom
power means cruelty, and kindness
implies a hidden snare. And yet,
the little creature hid beauty enough
beneath her ragged clothes and
tangled hair, and smirches of dirt,
to give an artist visions of such
cherubs as never Corregio drew.
With a true artists eye, Miss
Blanchard, sitting a little languidly
this morning in her reading chair,
appreciated this beauty, curve by
curve, tint by tint, quite regardless
of the subject of silent scrutiny.
AT last she said:
"Well, child, | told you to come
at ten o'clock. 1t is nearly half
past now"
81 was here before ten, but 1
darsn't come III" faltered the child,
writing one foot out of its clumsy
shoe and in again.
"Oh, that was it. That was fool
ish, when it was | who bid You come.
Did you get your Christmas tree
"Yes'm. l gave two dollars for
it,"
"How much money did give
your
Three dollars"
"And what became of the other
dollar?
q bought some little candles and
some oranges to stick on. Twas
prime, ! tell you"
You wasted yOur money" said
Miss Blanchard, coldly, but admir-
inc the while the glow of enthusiasm
upon the pale little face, and in the
deep gray eyes.
The glow faded in look of pain
full perpleXity.
II guess ! did. Mother didn't
say so, but she looked as if she felt
bad, and she asked how many Gin
ders we'd got left"
Do you burn cinders for fuel
"Yes'm when | can find any,"
And what when you can't?'
Nothing. Mother gets into bed
and puts the chair-backs over her,
and / 90 down to the chestnutman's
stand at the corner. He's real clever
sometimes, and twiest lie give me
chestnuts if Id kiss him, only he
smells so Of rum, / don't like to.
A look of slight disgust crossed
Miss BIanchard's face, and she hast
lily asked:
How old are you -
"Twelve last night, ma am
Twelve! Why, how little You
arer
d" So mother says. She says I'm
little because ] don't have enough
to eat ever, or clothes enough to
keep me warm" said the little child,
TRANQUILITY.
And Christmas Eve is your
birth-night -
"Yes'm," said the child, and
waited further questioning; but the
mention of that date had changed
Miss Blanchards mood. Leaning
her forehead upon her hand, she re
manned plunged into gloomy rev.
serie so long, the little girl, per
ceiving herself forgotten, made one
or two furtive efforts to open the
door and escape, but not under
standing the mysteries of the latch,
was finally fain to remark:
a guess I'll be going now, il
You'll undo the door The lady
looked up hastily.
"Oh yes; 1 had forgotten you
Mrs. Bliss has basket for you and
some clothes; or, rather, she viii.
measure you for some, and you can
come again and get them. A merry
Christmas to you. and goodbye.
Goodbye, ma'am. l can't oper
the door"
Miss Blanchard rose with half /
smile and laid her hand upon thu
lock, looking down as she did so a
| the child, whose quiet, gray eye.
were fixed upon her face. Some
thing in those eyes startled Mis-
| Blanchard, aud resting upon the
handle without trying it, she said
| drearily;
Your name ought to be Aurelia
what is il =
That's it," said the child, turn
| inc her eyes to the white finger
clasping the handle.
" What! What is your name
child? Tell the truth at once
Ny names Aurelia Ainslie,
said the child, retreating a little
and wondering why she should h
suspected Of untruth in So simple
matter.
Miss Blanchard remained for
moment as motionless as if SUE
denly petrifed, then darling TO
ward. she seized the child by tn
arm and drew her to q window.
Yes, yes, yes" muttered sh
What a blind fool / am, aud a
WAYS have been, that l should tai
such pains to uourish the viper
brood! Oh, is there no cnd-r
f peace forever =
She dropped the slender arm, n
| l-.....;,,.. thnt shn Lnl .rrinnl II vii