The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-10-17


felicity. oi
u was Ohristmss-day, and . more msian-
choly-looking sun never rose on the 18th d
December. One vast. sable cloud, like Z
universal pail, overspread the heavens. f0I
weeks, the ground had been covered win
clear, dazzling snow and ~, throughout
the day, the rain continued its unwearied
and monotonous drixzle, the earth assumed
q character and appearance melancholy and
troubled as the heavens. Like . mastiff that
has lost its owner. the wind howled dole
fully down the glens, and was re-echoed
from the caves of the mountains, as the 10.
mentAtiops Of q legion oi invisible spirits.
The frowning, snow clad pEecipices we're in,
sunct with motion, 40 avalanche upon avail.
anche, the larger burying the lees, crowded
downward IN their tremendous journey "a
the plain. Tie simple mountain riils had
assumed the majesty Of rivers; the broader
streams were swollen into the wild torrent,
and. gushing forth as cataracts, in fury and
in foam, enveloped the valleys in an angry
food. But, at Aarehlaw, the fire blaxsd
blithely the kitchen groaned beneath the
load Of preparations for q joyful feast; and
glad faces glided from room to room.
Peter Elliot kept Christmas, not so mucn
because il was Christmas, ss in honor OF its
being the birthday Of Thomas, his frst-born,
who, that dsy. catered his nIneteenth year
With falSer's love, his heart yeaIced for
all his children; out Thomas was the pride
Of his eyes. Cards Of apology had not then
found their way among eur Border hills
and As all knew that, although Peter admit
ted no spirits within his threshold, nor =
drunkard at bis table, he was, nevertheless,
no niggsrd in his hospitality, his invitations
were accepted without ceremony. The guests
we're assembled; and the kitchen being the
only>spsrtment in the building large enough
60 contain them, the cloth was spread upon
a long, clear, oaken table, stretching from
Eng and into Scotland. On the Englis end
of the bosrd were placed ponderous plum
pudding, studded with temptation, and q
smoking sirloin on Scotlsnd, q ssvory and
well-seasOHed haggis, With q sheep s-head
and tTotIeTs while the Intermediate space
was filed with the good things Of this life,
common TO both klpcdoms and to the sea-
son.
The guesis from the north and from the
south were arranged promiscuously. Every
seat was flled--save one. The CHAR by
Peters right hand remained unoccup;ed
He had raised bis hands before his eyes, and
besought blessing On what was placed be-
lore them, and was preparing to carve for
his visitors, when his eyes fell on the vacant
chair. The knife dropped upon the table.
Anxiety flashed scross bis countenance, like
an arrow from an unseen hand.
"JAnet, where is Tomas 7" he inquired !;
s'hae name o ye seen HIM 7" ard, without
it possible that he can be absent a time Ike
me a minute, friends, TIL just step out and
see Il | can find hlm. Since ever kept this
dey, as mony o ye ken, be has always been
at my right hand, Ia that very chair and |
Gamma think O beginning our dinner while
see il empty"
''If the filling Of the chair be all" said q
pert young sheep-farmer, named johnson,
Il will step into it till Master Thomas ar
rve."
"Ye're not Q father, young man." said
Peter, and walked out Of the room.
Minute succeeded minute, but Peter Te-
turned not. The guests became hungry.
peevish, and gloomy, while an excellent din-
ner continued spoIllng before them. Mrs.
Z hot, whose good nature vas the most pro-
mlnent feature in her character, strove, by
every possible effort, to begulle the unpleas-
ant Impressions she perceived gata ering no
on their counteDances.
"PeteT is Just as bad as him." she remark.
ed, ITO hae game to seek him when he
kenned the dinner wouldna keep. AID Pun
sure Thomas kenned it would be ready at
one O'Clock to q minute. It's sac unthink-
ing and unfriendly like to keep folk wait
ing" And, endeavoring to smile upon q
black haired girl Of seventeen, who
sat bv her elbow, she continued in IN anxi-
Gus whisper-"Did ye see naething o. bin,
h,nny ~
The maiden blushei deeply the question
evidently gave freedom to q tear, which had,
for some time, been an unwilling prisoner in
"No," that trembled FROM ber
lips, was audible only to the ear OF the in
quirer. In vain Mrs. Elliot despatched one
Of her children after another, in quest Of
their father and brother; they came and
went, but brought no tidings more cheering
than the moaning Of the hollow wind.
Minutes rolled into hours, yet neither came
She perceived the prouder OF hsr guests
preparing TO Withdraw, and, observing that
'.Tnomss's abseDce was 30 s.agular and un-
accountable, aud 90 unlike either bin or his
father, she didna ken what apology to make
10 her friends for such treatment; but l.
was needless waiting, and Begged they would
use no ceremony. but just begin"
No second invitation was necessary. Good
humor appeared n be restored, and sirloins,
pies, pasties, and ..Ioor-iowl began to disap-
pear like the lost sun. For . moment, Mrs.
Elliot apparently partook in the restoration
Of cheerfulness but low sigh ct her elbow
again drove the color from hsr rosy cheeks
Her eye wandered to the farther enu Of the
table, and rested ON The unOccupied seat o. Mt E
husband, and the vacant chair of her first-
born. Her heart fell heavily within her ell
the mother gushed into her bosom aod,
rising from the table, "What in the world
san be the meaning o this ~ said she, As
she hurried, with Q troubled countsaance,
towards the door. Her husband met her Oh
the threshold.
"Where hae ye been, Peter !" said she,
eagerly s'has ye seen naethlhg o. him :"
s.Nsething naething r replied be IL be
mo cast up yet 7o And, with melancholy
glance, his eyes sought IN answer in the de-
serted chair. His lips quivered, his tongue
fa:tered.
sGude forgie me !' aid he; "snd such q
day for even an enemy TO be out in | Eve
bssn up and doun every way tbsh en- think
oG, bat not . living GESTURE has seen o.
heard tsn O, him. Yell sxcuss ne, nee
bors, = he added, leaving the mouse ~ must
swa again, for Gamma rest {"
( 81 ken BY myself, friends. said AdA1l
Bell, dscentlooking Northumbriss, '-thsl
faithsr's heart il = ssnsitivs = the sppls
o his 90; and think vs would show want
o natural synpathy and rsspsct for our
worthy neighboF, II ws dsdaa every one ess
his foot inso the ssirrup without loss y time,
and assist him 10 his ssnrch. For, In my
rough. ocusery vay . shiokIsg. \ nass b
somsthing psFtisolarly cus q he conmou
thas vculd tsurt Thonas " b sniusing'
Indeed, I nsed6a ~ tsssp< tor ibsrs oesld
bs no inclination in ~ wsy. And our hills. =
hs cenclnded. j. lower tope, s'ars net evsz
ohancy IN osher rsspscss. bssides the hrnak-
- .El.