Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1869-12-04
JOHN ALIENS CnRIsrxAsr.
BY TRACY ST. JOHN, ESQ.

Goals before him. Outside the storm
was raging fiercely, and the shutters
creaked and groaned beneath thu
blasts of the wind. The wealthy
banker rose from his chair as the
storm grew louder, and going to the
window, raised the heavy damasR
curtain and looked out. All was
dark, and sleet and snow fell heavily
against the panes.
=" A dreadful night" muttered he,
resuming hisseat. "A dreadful night
/ pity the poor wretch WHO'S Obliged
to face this wind and rain. l wonder
IL Agatha--n half sigh fluttered
from his lips, and a look of pain ling.
cycd IN his eyes. Many people be-
lieved John Allen to be without q
heart, and supposed that whatever
affection he was capable of feeling
had been given years before to the
SHINING gold which lay piled in gilt.
tering heaps in his Golfers, and in sc
were nearer right than the
banker cared to have them.
Once--long agO-a falr-haired
daughter had filled the stately house
with sunshine and song. A merry
voice rang with laughter through thu
wide parlors, and the patter of dancing
feet re.echOed from stairway and hall.
Agatha Allen was the bankers only
child--his pride and his treasure. In
her he had centered all his hopes
and, when she married a poor book
keeper without his sanction, and even
against his express commands, his
rage knew no bounds, and he cast hel
That was long before, and he never
heard from her after; but often, a.
the months glided by and were linked
in the chain of years, memory rever-
ted to the happier past, and the re.
solve was half formed to search and
discover her whereabouts IL possible
And now, as he sat alone In his
study, there came great yearning To
have his daughter again with him.
All the long night John Allen sal
before the fire, and the
chimes of the Christmas bells
awoke him from the doze into which
he had fallen. Ut
Christmas morning." he unused
sadly. "Chrismas morning. / will
OCS Nv OttCCs " NIOu w ~ I'LL
now too latew
He opened the door and stepped out
out upon the piazza. The air wa.
clear and pirecing cold, while all oyel
the earth and the house-tops the snow
had fallen, wrapping the whole In a
garment of purest white. teil
The banker buttoned his coat more
closely around him as the keen, frosty
air penetrated to his person. 4 cos
A penny, please, sir" The voice
was half drowned in tears, and u lit
tie, blue, pinched hand was held out
entreatingly. c.fTage
Something in the tones startled
him, and, bending down, he peered
curiously into the large, sad eyes
which gave the little beggar weird
uncanny look.
"What is your name, little one p
asked he kindly.
Agatha, Agatha Allen Stewart
was the tremulous reply.
"May God forgive mew and
catching the child in his arms, ht
hurried into the study.
" And your mama, how Is she p
queired he, as he seated the wee mite
before the fire and ordered generous
meal to be prepared.
The brown eyes were filled with
tears to everflowing, and, between
the choking sobs, John Allen CLEANED
the facts that his once beautiful
daughter was starving by inches in a
hired tenement, while his hortled golt
lay unused in its hinding-places.
When the child warmed and fed
he ordered the dainty little sleigh ant
sleek ponies, packed a basket with
good substantial food and wine, and
drove in the direction of his daugh-
ter's Residences residence of spualol
and poverty hardly to be conceived
Up, up the creaking stairs, through
a narrow, dark passage-way, and
then pointing to door, the child
said simply:
ats in there, sir. We live here.''
He pushed open the door and went
in.
Upon a bed in one corner of the
room lay an attenuated figure. The
eyes were closed as If in sleep, and
one thin, transparent hand clasped
tightly the worn cOunterpane.
Wake, mamma, wake! See, the
gentleman has fetched us bread, q
basketful," and the girl laid her own
small palm upon the thinner one o.
pnt no sn,,d ANNA from ,ho moi,
,;ns no ,atwrninn o,ioroa hr;ni' J tdpnn ,t
lie Glazed eyes They were indaef
TOO iato for alone In tho Oh aa rre,
sbe had died and tha snirit had ono,
30 Gnd NP''' nav e'A'
W T NJ horlor rool.d and uo,,,d how,
e,iian had hn not cancht NJ the cho,,
S,and;n@ near him Wv ''' '''"''
m'Too late y, ha groaned. utoo,oto
III, nat6a, ~, da,,,,,, ~, -
Gm, Ns,"" my """s"'er' NY
sd for tho frst t;ro 4, roors and
veors John Allen knait In n raw rne
position he knew not; but. when hs
arose there reigned i'm his hear
a holy calm. With clearer ewes he
read iife's duty. and made resolves h
amend his deeds. The wealth anf
100000, ~ 800, oo,,o.ol 80. A. 1t.