The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1870-12-29

No holacausts there mar the silence deep. /
No burnings or blights oler our spirits steal.
f. Where the angels sing we will rest for aye,2s
u With our foreheads decked with immortal
-nfa4 sfl fowers;3fn gsa 81 EGGlg gE5
In the beautiful light Of eternal day. .iIaa5
.Y We shall fndno change in the passing hours
TX 2i.I adf utoll Llsg aEiE91 sFF"f14Fsg,aaas
How the Umbrella Ran RaWay with Ellie.
:, The old clock in the market place
rang out the hour of three in tones
sweet and tremulous with age. The
children coming from school counted
the strokes and rejoiced for when the
black, spidery pointers should have
thrice again travelled around their
dial, Christmas eve would be begun.
The afternoon is. crisp and ,cool.-
Jets of thin, blush smoke curl from
the chimneys like long fingers, all
pointing the same way-pointing to
the frrc1ad hill which rises beyond the
town, If we followed their direction
we should find ourselves on the steep
path which crosses its top, and, wind
ing downsthe other side, runs close to
the dooriof small neottage=4the cot
tage of Dame Ursula. and her little
Ellie.
A tiny place-so low, and brown,
and hidden among the messy rocks,
thatsRe might pass by without seeing
it. a In summer, there are bee-hiyes,
and the bees buzz ,cheerfully among
the wild thyme; but now their music
81 y a.
porch where Ellie sat at her4spinning
during. the sweet, warm days, is emp
ty. Only the faint gray curl from the
chimney tells of life within. s.f :.
The door is on the latch. Lfds,!1t Let Us
push it open. "A few sticks on the
hearth, the clock ticking-that is ALL ALL
No, one other sound a sigh from the
Bed in the corner. IT is Dame Ursula
l6fe s1one. BIZ is5 ma i r. -
Something very bad has hapra ned. - s.s-
She has always been SO Strong and
active that she forgot she was no long
ef Young, and climbed up a ladder to
mend the thateh on her roof. And she
| fell and twisted and bruised her back
dreadfuliy.. Y 1t hurts her a great deal.
| She eanifot move or work and here
/ is Christmas at hand, and all her plans
for giving Ellie treat are spoiled
No wonder she sighs.@, - ~ - ..,,..F.
We came in SO softly that she did moi
lear us but now the door is pushed
open again and she looks rup.gOIt il
Ellie, al, flushed and rosy, and drag,
ging a great spruce bough fresh from
the forest. She claps. her hands joy.
ously as she cries: "See, grandmoth
4
| !" Poor child, thou hast nothing t.
put on it." n
"Ah! but this is not all,n' cries Ell
! lie, again clapping her hands. =" I've
thought of plan-sueha grand
| mother!v
"And what is that, nv Ellie pa "a
st. "Thou knowest the silver thaler il
the stocking we said should go for tn,
candles and the plums for The Christ
mas fete, nv grandmother 80
ayes, liebehen: but ]. cannot go II
town to buy them.' se. 9}saF
"But I can, grandmother-that i
my good plan! will trim the fire
| and set the soup beside thee, before !.
go. know the way so well, and tn
shop with the great fir tree in the win
ldow, and shall say: ''I am Dam
Ursula's little Ellie, and thou must sci
me good measure of plums, beeaus
my grandmother has hurt her back.
And when I return. we will light tn
candles and hang the raisins and FIJI
berts on the bengh, and, it will be-
CAV. Dear grandmother do say
NAV 90 -'-'- : Il
She looked so eaoer that tbe Dam
! had not the heart to refuse her. 5Sb
thought of the long distance. and th
lonely path but she knew the Iittl
feet were light and active. ard the iii
tie head aswise as woman's. s
!, she kissed the bright cheek and an
swered: l'I5 H .
"Yes. liebehen.thou mavest co.
Put on thy- Sunday kirtle- and thy re
can and make tbvseIf neat..as soon .
NAV he. and do NOT ~Iinoers mon fl
. road, lestnieht oyertake thee. b. oar
Ellie qwss soon dressed. = The fir
! was stirred. the broth prepared. n
= little basketreached from its nail.M
&c "And take the umbrella with the
dear. The winter days often cheat i
with rain, and / would not have the
Now. to- be trusted with the un
brella was counted by Ellie a gre;
honor. She willingly obeyed. Il ha
been her grandfather's, and was ver
big and blue, with his name cut upo
a horn shield on the handle. 1t WI
taller than She. and NOT easy to carr,
bnt f she % felt ~ prond nd of #. as. MONTH