The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-12-13

ever dissimilar was our lot in the bygone
world, each and all enjoyed an equal mea-
sure of happiness. Applying to this doc
trine the tombstone of my own fortunes,
am convinced it is sound and rational. The
jewel-headed toad remained for many cen
turtles the dominant type of good involved
in evil but physical science gave US bet
ter illustration of the goodness which may
be impact in filth, when it extracted mar
vellously brilliant dyes, and refreshing per-
fumes from the dregs and sediment of the
gas house. Dare believe that my neigh
Dor opposite, who reclines daily at ban
quet, and picks his teeth with q diamond
stiletto, is whit happier than ], who must
needs be content with a steak for dinner,
and turn in the park by way of dessert
On the contrary, 60 SO far as to fancy that
the man in thick shoes and tattered coat,
who pumps from morning until night at the
square corner, is as happy as either. l am
fully satisfied that pain and pleasure have
their compromising balances-that If my
neighbor dimes sumptuOusly, am not
afflicted with his dyspepsia-that if my
friend in the thick shoes works hard and
lives frugally, his wants are below reproach,
and he may smile at the taxman. In this
way I develop the serenity with which
can afford to remember my two Christmases.
MY FIRST CHRISTMAS.
John and William, and Edward and I,
Richard, were bound apprentices in great
house at the end of a great dingy street,
about the centre of q great city. None OF
us had rich parents or wealthy friends to
| care for US. We were very poor, and what
is worse, very hopeless. Three of US were
orphans; and William, who, because he was
habitually addicted to playing pantomimic
tunes on the Kitchen bellows, with the
kitchen poker for bow, we had affection
ately named Fiddler, afterwards contracted
to Fid, had a dying mother. He was very
small, and some ore, with whom he had a
Mite" Of his father, who had emigrated
to Canada when Fid was n baby at breast,
nothing was known, though good deal was
surmised. John was quiet, large-headed
boy, of whom, as our mistress, Mrs. Miilet,
! used to say, "nobody knew nothing" but we
was natural, tender-heartcd fellow, very
fond of sleep when he could get it, who
| looked on every kind-faced man as his ia
I ther, and on every genteel woman as MS
mother. Thomas was u fair-haired, ner-
vOus little fellow, very consumptlye III look,
very playful, very atfectionate. Our friend
! Edward-we always called him Ned--was
| a merry hearted lad, who, although. he ne
yer said queer word, much less to venture
on q Joke, was a famous singer OF comic
| songs. We four, by some process which is
not satisfactorily explained even by the
theory of Elective Aftinities, somehow hap
pened to come together as poor apprentices
under that cold roof in the great house in
| that great city. We were hard-wOrked
ill-fed, sparely clothed. We received nc
wages our status in the establishment be-
ing considerably below that of the house
| keepers cat and our masters pet cockatoo
From seven o'clock, daily, until ten O'Clock
at night, we worked in n vast, disseminated
close.smelling shop, shouldering our way
as best we could through bales of goods and
swarms of customers under the cold, crue
eye of our master, Mr.. Millet. 1t was Q
very narrowing occupation, you may bt
sure; tor we were expected to please every
body, and to spare no lying, no cozening IN
foisting on our customers a store full OF
dozed goods, which had been years upon
years on hands, and was rapidly losing al
| value. I remember Mr.. Millet distinctly
He was tall, well-buiit, broad chested
man; his face was fat oblong, bordered
! with faint indications of whiskers, apd
lighted up by the most malignant and
| watchful of eyes. There was q terrible sa-
yageness in his thick compressed lips and
massive chin, which none of us, for certain
rational reasons, much liked. AS have
said he was very fat and this was most
perceptible in the region of the eyes, which
presents thick sprays of multiplied wrinkles
4 which, starting from the corner of his lids
zigzaCged back under his hair. 1t was his
custom during business hours to walk hur.
riedly up and down the shop, jingling gold
and silver,pieces in his breeclies pockets
and stopping, when the humour seized him