Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1869-01-28
SeGetf 6are.
From the Baltimore Home Journal.
G H r / S T NJ As We.
ny s. A. F.

1t was Christmas Eve, From many q
church tower the belts were Ginning with
musical monotone, bearing far away into
the echoes the iidings of the anniversary.
The moon was clear and bright the snow
lay in white hard masses over roads and
walks. Large houses. Illuminated in every
room, were filed with jewellers shops
were crowded with busy customers; trees
laden with the wonderful fruit that grows
only once ayear upon them, were delight
ing merry eyes everywhere were mirlh
and glaFncss.
Mrs Ford's large lodging house was
brilliantly lighted. 4 large gathering Of
iiiends filed the drawing room in the
dining room long table invited all 10
Christmas cheer; each room had its cor-
course of happy faces every occupant
seemed keeping festive the holiday save
one.
One large, handsome room was closed
against intrusive gaiety, and the occupaD,
Sat by the fire thinking. lie was man a
little past the prime of life, hough not vet
forty years old. 4 vols, weak man,
who had aged fast. though his life had
drifie1 AWAY in a sort of dream.
Ii is not easy To describe this mans ex>
isience. A dreaming boy, full of ambi,
tious desire and high hope. with No phys
ical energy to meet the mental craving
youth, poer and talented, writing q lit
tie, studying more, now earning a scanty
living as u clerk; then teaching languages;
one year trying TO live by his pen, the
next discouraged and despairiug, taking a
business position again. An aimless, wan
dcring life, while in the BRAIN, so untitled
to cope with tie practical necessities OF
this world, dwell: ali the lofty aspirations
Uf genius.
For thirty-ive years this man had lived
and dreamed always pure and aprish.
with almost chIld>like innocence of mind
and heart, yet always poor and weak
Then two great eras Of happiness came to
him. He loved, where warm love am
swcred his own, and while he was anx,
iously questioning as to his future, leg,
scy fell to him that raised him above want
lie married; and for one year was con.
tent to love and dream happy as child
is happy in tue sunlight, letting the past
die and the future rest in halo of love-
tinted, rosy clouds. His Mary, fair, del
icate woman, understood, as no one else
on earth did, The sensitive, beautiful sou
in his shy nature, and drew forth the trea,
sures of his gifted mind by the magic
power of her sympathy and love. On,
year Of happiness! Well, there are many
lives that cannot count even that brIe
term of joy:
Then wee babe was born to Murray
Warren, and he became restless His little
fortune placed two above want; that was
all. But for his child he became covel,
Gus. He must make money; work, grow
rich and famous. So he left the auic
study, the peaceful compa nionship of hi
books, and invested his money in bust
ness. Friends shock their heads; and on,
friend of long standing, John Hancock
petiiioned for the posiilon Of adviser>in
chief, being q practical business man o
high standing; the enterprise succeeded
The little fortune began to increase, t6i
dreamy student awoke to new life bah,
fourished, and stimulated the father to re
Dewed efforts, and so another year passe,
away.
Summer was just fading into autumn
when Mary Warren called her husband I,
her side one evening. The year>old Sat.i
was sleeping, and the mother lay upon
sofa in the freight Very fair and yer!
frail she looked in the ruddy glow east b.
the open grat5.
Murray, she said, as he sat beside heI
and drew her into his arms, Murray, the
the doctor left message for yoi fo>day.'
You are not worse, darling p be said
with quick spasm of fear
Not worse IN any pain or suffering
Murray ; but the winter is coming on, an
the doctor is afraid l cannot bear the col
this year. He thinks l had better g
abroad for few months. Can you tax
M Mrray p
Mary, he does not tliink-he did nc
say fs n
She elasped his hand in her little thi
one.
Not yet, I think, Murray. 1 think
shall stay little longer. dearest Bot 20
. knew never Cared hope for very lon
life, Murray. We have talked Of Il bs