Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1871-01-13
THE CARPENTER.
A CHRISTMAS STORY.
nv

E00LHn-
ual arrivals, ahd the house resounded
with trampling feet, and talk, and
mirth and revelry, and the voices and
noise of children. The fiIst-comefs
were large bevy of these Ii.sle ones,
girls and boz s, conveyed by. black SER
wants, and gathered from half a dozen
b uses by Elkanah's wagons, sent
a; ound for that purpose. Immediate
ly upon their appearances, Daniel Snow,
wish assistants, came upon the scene
supDlanting all the lamps with wax
candles, red, white, and blue, and
lighviEg with these. patrforie tapers
every apartment, including that hish-
erto lit by freight only
The children quite usuIped one room
to themselves with their games. and
were there. here, and every where be-
sides. They made the house ring,
while their fathers and mothers, sturdy
farmers and Country people, with their
sons, daughters, and wives, made it
rustic and roar Amidst all, cheerful
and composed, walked the carpenter,
saying little TO any Que, and Oftenest
lingering near the children.
The various members of the family
took their part in the common enjoy
ment somewhat feveFishly, unable to
be rid of the thought of the strange
stroke of fortune which had fallen up
on the household. Perhaps the calm
est of all was John, who amidst the
general merry making, sat apart for
long time with his arm around Faulk-
ner, all told, and nothing but affection
between them, while the carpenter
watched them with a loving heart.
Emily, singularly restless, bright
with lovely .lor, gay with the gayest.
bat never staying long in one place.
Hltted- from room to room. SDe neyeE
came near Faulkner, nor did be seek
her. Occasionally she wandered near
her busbat q, with coy, virEinal CLAN
ees, but always, though half surprised
a. his look of silent kindness. she
timidly hurried away.
Amidst all, with grandiose virility,
with mountainous GayeGy, with s.or-
nv iOcundity, moved Elkanah He
felt somewhat dashed within, noticing
that his wife, tho comely and laughing
still with the new life that had so iuex-
plicably come upon her.Was again cold
him, to and he knew that his behavior
over the discovery of the treasure had
much to do with her department.
Touched by this sense, Dut still un-
quelled, aud a little hardened d blythe
thought of1f-so metimes. too, perpleX-
ed to observe a strange air of lissening
and expec ancy which had come upon
her-he yet let his spirits rise to their
Allegheny height, and kept them at
that summit Till at last, up they went
20 the fathOm of the soaring eagle,
screaming in his joy at the arrival of
Bob Toner, with his fiddle o jolly
Rob o slim young man, with chu5-
by, ugly, ruddy face that laughed all
over, and immense shock of red nair
at which the girls warmed their hands
in fun, but lit their hearts in earnest
and had he been a Mormon, wouldn't
he have been in town For all the
young women round about we e dead
in love wirn Boo and half Biadens-
burg, and all the county far and near.
were his conquest, only he was 100
wise and good 10 take il. SOul-WaTLl-
ilg, hea1t-enticIDg Bob, with a Fl y
away coat, ana trousers trinity set up
on mis- killing legs, aud Waistcoat ike
the plumage of a bird of Paradise, and
necktie made for murder! Bob en- ser-
ing, with derisive, dO1efui screech froIl
fiddle of . Maryland, my Maryland, -
and instantly the whole house in a
yell OF Laughter, and every body run
ming, and Bob twenty deep in Girls
and women, with children clinging o
his legs, and pounding him like fun
for sheer jollity, and men e-owding
about holding their jovial sides, and
old Elkanah looming and believing
above all. and hey! for dance this
very minute, to some blithe old tune of
Liberty and Union !
Into it they go while the thunder of
Sherman's guns, all unknown to them
roars victory over The quaking hearts
of rebels in captured Savannah, and the
light OF liberty and empire that shall
not die, pours from the breaking
clouds into it they go to the tune Of
Yankee Doodle. Staunch BObl Lib
erty and Union-lON ing Bob! They,
the neither hearted, v no keep a rebel
flag and a Union hae to hang out as
either army comes, must this night
kindle to theircOuntry ,and dance tobhe
grand old lil6, nwoVenl deep with jul3i-
lance, rantank erOUss d. 1anee, proud
Revolutionary fire, historic graves of
grandsires, and the great name of
Washington Reviving Bob Inspi-
ring Bob They, the true sons and
daughters of Maryland,s steadfast
through doubt and loss, shall feel the
merry music pour sunshine. and fra
GRANGE around their hearts, as they
beat the floor with flying feet and
souls aglowl 0 kindly genial Bob,
dancing like mad himself, and making
one break and discOrd in the melody
as he pats with the fiddle the back of
old black Daniel, bringing in the tray,
and deity resumes again, the excited
| dancers never noticing the break, but
footing it ike auge 5, while Dam
iel thinks of the lost daughter sold in
slavery, that makes him wake in
dreams in the dead of the nighls, but
soon shall meet him free % rOusing
Bobl fiddle like fiery wind fiddle
| till the pulses lose their bea1 in music
/ I'LL lA1 W1AAOWG GAeAsH dA1NA ANAbp4Gt III
| their frames, and the floor resOunda
with reg liar duh thunderl till the
/ feet dizzy and the arms toss recklessIy,
| and c at tails, skirts, and ribbons fiut-
tering fly and whirl, and the red dam
GERS dance deliriousl till the bright
flags and tattered war-flag culver on
the wall till all th- odorous ground
! pine garlands shak Q, and the immor
tai dark green holly trembles And
Elkanah, 81 anding solitary and reno.
\ we'd, with fond heart swelling, and the
big tears eoursing down his cheeks
bOOms to himself amidst the noise
% that my son George would only
come home, that might dance again n
Suddenly amidst the long continued
activity and din, down goes the mu-
sic. At once all stop in tumult, then 3
ringing cheer, and the thFong commin.
gle 1oYously, WiEing their heated fa.
ees, with univ ersal lauehter and muI
tftudinous elamor of merry voices :
And then the clink of glasses, and ali
IN fresh eommotion streaming away
to the lower apartment where Danie
Snow presides over amighty bowl O