The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1869-03-22

2
| My story is a tedious one, but, nevertlie.
less, I'D you huye:requcstcd mo. | will give
il you, Blu, first, wrap closer your furs,
nInii your hands, for it is a bite, cold
night, and come and follow me. Pause
before this stately edi6co at our left. See,
here is blind partly drawn, and for once
we will 50 far trespafs ss to look in. The
room is richly furnished, q bright wood
Gre is burpigg3inl the crate, while before
II sit two persons. One is a resolu,e-
looking man, whose age is apparently for.
sy. lie is richly clad, and is gazing into
the fire as if calling up some bright vision
Of the past. The other is "a fair girl,
whose age does not EXCEED twenty. Soft
curls cluster around her neck. Her as
pect is somewhat haugAty, and ever and
anon her eyes Wander from the book she
IS reading, to her fathers5 face, as il she
would read tisvery, thought, Hark she
speaks lie! me draw closer that | may
hear no. .ul,,
IT'S bitter cold tonight, father, and |
aml thinking il it continues thus a week
longer, thcpoor Of our.ci,y willlhaye no
merry Christmas 's 5,-Triierhse
swell said, Oracle, how thankful
We should DO tonight for this warm, conn
Portable home Of ours, Speaking Of
Christmas, Grace. reminds me Of the
present | ordered 10 be made for you to-.
day" .,.--..,.,.
Dear papa, how thoughtful! Do
please 6; b. be 50 kind as 70 tell me what It
ono, Grace, beg to De excused, j
would rather have, the pleasure Of u sur.
prize. I can only tell you that upon the
present will be these words in large char.
acters. Of geld.:.
TO Ny onEp,ESr DAUGHTER, GRlcItl1orE-
WILL
ooh, that will be capital. papa Do
tell the how,he person lookcdathut you
engaged to make it!"
+ ale j. handsome. Grace, terry hand.
some, and | do not hesitate to say that his
Us noble nature. He, would scorn to
speak or act an untruth. All, yes, |
know from his bearing he is ono of natures
|nob!emen; one who, if occupying social
position equal to our own, would be wor.
Thy to possess the heart and hand of my
daughter; hutas the gods will hasc'it,
he is poor ,.,.... y s.-o
"Gh, dear how enthusiastic, papa.
Pity hc was not rich.- is it not? But
then my heart ], proof against all Of Gu
pid's arrows" q ! g v u "
Grace IIop.well, speak not so conf.
IDENTIFY. Ere the bright, glowing light
Of another winters Ere rests upon those
glorious curls Of thine, thon sl,al, drink
deeply Of the cup oflovc. To thy hearts
sorrow thou shalt fud that if love, brings
its joys il also brings its sorrows. IN ~
Treasure up what you have seen and
heard. children. and again, come and fol-
low me. All !! pity that noble man whom
We have left behind us, should, in lis cs-
timation, let gold obtain the ascendancy
over worth Of mind aud heart. Turn.nov
up this rickety stairway, and be careful.
Here is A,dcor partly 5ajar, % that ~r
may lt6k 10. Ono may soon Sc that, pby.
cr,y aCides here from the, scanty fiirni-
ture offthe room. bn. may soc. too, that
here some strong heart that will not'suc-
curb to Its iron pressure. still lives and
loves. A pale, consumptiyc.l looking NO.
man is the only occupant. She lies upon
u bed, the curtains of-wllcli ALMOST rival
tho snow in whitencssa 1t is evident she
is expecting some one. for ever and anon
she rises upon her elbow, looks through
an opposite window, Nanl sigh. deeply.
Now door is softly opened, and = youth
beautiful as some sweet dream enters. a
calm, holy-light rests upon his open couu-
tcnancc. He is one. | wecn, who has n
soul rcsolule to shuhS evil and DO good
He gcntly approachcsthc bed and cjacu-
latcs: =
"Nlothcr y
"Nlark.! my son !" exclaimed the in
valid, II AIN so glad you have come.
Ills lonesome staying here with no one
TO keep my thoughts from rcvcr,ing to
the timc- when we were wealthy, and
courtcd by all. Bat. alas! We are
poverty schildrcn, and entirely forgotten
by our former friends. Any orders for
work to-day, my son?'
eyes, .mothcr; the fates have favored
inc to-day. A rich gentleman c,lled up
on the this morning, and babe me have
ready for him by Cllrist'nas.cve rich arm
chair, costing thirty guineas = So, you
see, nm in hopes ofmaking your Christ
mas more merry than we we're anticipa-
ting"
"Can you tell mo who, the gentleman
was, Mark y @ ,,fs 'o1
''lNould that r could. mother ;ibut
would rather have Tie honor Of knowing
his dauglitcrnr n y fT-Ft
"ll,s daughter 9'adiiR rs 2gI
"Yes." ...,.-. s.,1s.,I,5,,. ,a
And how do you know, Mark, that le
has one Z" ." al 'N't'"f, '''iSh'TA
"Bccau,e Upon the chair hcprdcrel
the o'put tlitse words. in letters Of gold,
10 my obedicht daughter, Grace Hope.
WE'LL Yes, moilicr, / had rather know