Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-12-28
CHRISTMAS EVE IN A BELFRY,
BY LITCHFIELD MoSFIY.

" IlBAAAA iCatilAlt VI MI a. y" beueWS
We were merry party at Merton
Grange, Somersetshire, on Christmas
Eve,-I forget the date, but it must be
twenty years ago, at the very least. Un.
Gle Goodman-or Uncle George, as we
always called him-was a thorough
specimen of an English gentleman oi
the old school-gerial, warm-hearted,
and hospitable. Indeed, the greatest
pleasure of his life seemed to consist in
making other people happy.
On that Christmas Eve, the oakef
parlor at the Grange presented its usual
festive appearance. A huge wood fire
blazed on the hearth-not that it was
wanted for the weather was almost as
warm as June, but simply because the
season demanded it; the spacious room
was festooned with holly and evergreen
from massive beam in the centre
drooped mighty bough of mist1etoe /:
and the rlchly-carved walnut wood side
board actually creaked beneath the
weight of good cheer it bore. For
Christmas was almost always kept by
Uncle George in iovial English fashion.
L may as well say at once that my
name IS Willis Trotman and at that
time [ was rising young barrister,
vegetating in grimy chambers in the
delightful locality of Verulam-build-
ings, Gray's Inn.
Uncle George was widower, with
three daughters. Emily, the eldest
was engaged to Jack Bates, of Merton
Abbey; Charlotte, the second, dis
engaged, officiated as her fathers
housekeeper and Polly, the Youngest.
also disengaged-a little merry-eyed,
falr-halred, saucy girl of eighteen, who
was an especial favorite of mine, and
who delighted in teasing me whenever
opportunity offered Bless her heart !
She married an officer, after all, and
went to the East Indies, where Il, { eli
mate soon spoiled her pretty fac; SO
they told me afterward But [ can al
ways see her as she was then; au,i [
shall love her to my dying day.
Polly" said |, as we sat down at
the end of one of the dances, show
quiet some .people are tonight. Til
wager a dozen pairs of gloves I can
guess what you're thinking about
Some people are wonderfully clever
no doubt, y she replied pray, what
am I thinking about, Mr.. Impertin-
nee +"
You're wondering how many times
ou'H be kissed under that mistletoe.
o-night' .
You're an impudent boy, Willis.
Whatever made you think of such a
thing?n .
'Your own bright eyes, Polly" I
whispered.
eff you talk like that, TIL never for
give you, she said, smiIingIy, as she
tripped away.
"Whew! how tremendously hot it is, -
said Uncle George, wiping his forehead
with his handkerchief, after going
through some extraordinary evolutions
in the dancing line christmas Eve,
Why, I declare, it's hot enough for
July. Willis, may [ trouble you to
throw open the lawn door little way,
and let us have breath of fresh air q"
[ did as I was told, and, somehow
accidentally, no doubt-on sitting down
again, ftound Polly by my side
Here you are again then," I whis-
pered
"What terrible tease you are, Willis.
[ didn't notice you were near me, or I
would have kept on the other side of
the room,
'In what way has this unfortunate
individual offended you {? asked.
9 Never mind, sir [ am very much
offended .
How do you look when you're of
Tended, Polly!n
Willis, you're an intolerable nrlis-
ance to-night-you are, indeed But
isn't It warm here -
''Warml It's hot enough to bake
one. What do you say to minute or
two's turn in the garden?
Il should like it above all things, "
she replied.
very we'll Throw that shawl over
your shoulders, and the next move that
takes place, we can slip out unob
served.
In short time the opportunity of
fered, and no one noticed our disap-
pearance.
''What delightful night it is !" said
Polly, as We sauntered leisrlrely down
the garden ''Look at that lovely
moon-isn't it beautiful?"
Delightful ! 7" I replied. 80 It re-
minds ne of some lines I read some
where, sometime ago, written by some
body or other. Let me see, they're
something like this
When the pale orb of Dian shines over the sea,
When natures reposing, reposing, reposing-'
What an idiot [ ami [ forget what
comes next; but l know it ends with
thee, or he, or she, or be, or some
thing
:. Cousin, you're very poetical to-
night; but when you commence a quo
fgtT L II q L
it. | don't feel at all cold, do you"
Not at all, Polly. For my part /
think it vastly preferable to indoors. u
so do /" she replied
Believe me, it's a dangerous thing
for q young man to be walking alone
with pretty cousin by moonlight on
Christmas Eve. By this time we had
reached the wicket-gate that opened
into the little churohyard, adjoining
the grounds of the Grange.
Shall we stroll round the old church
before we return, Pollv2"
: l SHOULD like TO, very much. But
perhaps We should be missed; and
whatever would people say :"
= don't care what anybody says, y
replied. 81 don't care for anybody
u aii3 eiliHS DlG you, deaf fOlly!
The moon was taking effect.
" Willis! don be so absurd, or I'll
go back at once :"
'.Don't be angry with me, Polly. It's
the moons fault. The moon is tc
blame for it all"
$50 [ should imagine, she replied
cody. tSorry that | have bee' the
means ofsubiectingyou to its influence.
As We passed by, | noticed that the
door OF the church tower stood ajar
The beil-ringers had been there that
morning, and had, 10 doubt, forgotten
co close it. SO [ opened it little way
and peeped in.
Polly I said, ''there's no one
here. Wouldn't it be capital fun TO &c
up tne belfry steps, and see how
the Village looks from the top Of the