Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-12-21
upfmET'S CHRISTMAS-BOX.

81 BhiDo
pr;dpet was an old maid that is,
ID D. "a been SO long recognized and
bon n' Miss Bridget" that her friends
ap aairhbors would have secuted the
Ell, u her ever being called by any other
nn There had been, to be sure, vague
n If an early fondness on her part
O Ole curly headed youth; but wheth-
"a u sondness had been reciprocated or
: ~ ..s question only set at rest by the
Vi op;nion that no one could ever
~ Viss Bridget without loving her; so
aa generally conceded that the curly
w "a vonth had gone to sea and been
p,.I ..roeked and drowned, and that Miss
q .at had worn the willow" ever since,
a, ssonld always continue SO to do, for
ajy sweet sake.
!" only reason for this sad and catas-
I;cal sl1pposition rested in the known
Pas.ion. by Miss Bridget, of a minia-
representing a young man with large
pves and curling light hair, and clad
lie Jacket; yet on this slender hy-
els was erected complete scattering
snce. which the younger of Miss
r irets friends delighted in rehearsing
her OBLIGATION whenever they felt in
.cnliarly tantaliZing humor-delghted
y Az because of the perfectly charming
"a h the story brought to Miss Bridget's
aa' [ts and the marvelously tender smile
which it softened the rather sad lines
u her mouth.
"a, rs Bridget lived in large old stone
Cd Il in a street which had once been in
hi suburbs Of the great city, and where
dences had been sparsely scattered
n and were of more substantial
"a rter than those usually erected
! nj the great city in its progress had
Y rbt up with this street, lined it with
X Of flaring red brick houses, and
ed onward far out into the country.
ss Bridget could have disposed of her
p rerty at a very high figure if she had
d 90 inclined; but she did not, and no
lcements could change her opinions
Il his question; so she continued to live
e isolated, though in the midst of
SANITY changing crowd of inhabitants,
her dwelling stood out from among
modern neighbors-among them but
Of them.
was stately, solid, square-built
sion, with a home-like and comforting
not shared with any of ''thOse 9TH
stood in the center of several lots OF
md, was possessed of lawn and fine
made trees in front, and a flower and
garden behind, and was shut in from
inside world, and all noise and con-
h. by high stone wall and sRspng
gate, studded with big ironk hail-
rom the polished iron mastiffs that
tded the portal, to the brass knobs and
brass knocker of the front door, all
shiny and in order. The interior of
house was a marvel of neatness and
hfort. The massive furniture, darken-
by age and daily friction, though I'M
ionable and out of date, was stately
comfortable.
he bright cannel-coal fire in the sit
room, that flashed in the large open
e as soon as the brown leaves in the
len began to fall, was a charm in it.
he polished brass fire-dogs and fender
lore for ornament than use-reminded
of the stability and security Of olden
es And when Miss Bridget could be
sitting in front of the fire at dusk,
some of her young friends about her,
scene Of home comfort and quietude
complete
L,s Bridget's household was orderly
ugh system which had been followed
i0rty years-in fact, ever since she
a baby, and a beautiful young mother
strong manly father sat in the room
bow occupied
be same highly respectable butler
ie-haircd and imc-worn-Walted at
e; the same fat and equally respecta-
hOusekeeper managed her domestic
Germs who had managed them for her
her before her. The life in the stone
Sc was, in fact, one of the last relics
the life of a half century before, when
as hope and Joy to have lived at
instead of a disease and an insanity,
is nowadays
ss Bridget formed, in truth, con-
ting link between the old and the new.
recolections were Of the past and OF
cld--but rather by tradition than by
pal experience, for she was only forty
lille her ASSOCIATIONS seemed ever with
Young.
it'll old people she did not assimilate
almost daily she would be found sur
nded by young, charming and gaudy
htures-butterflies of the fashionable
rId-who sought in Miss Bridgets So
y a nameless charm which seemed to
the the feverish excitement under
lch they lived, and to remind them OF
existence more beautiful if less bril-
nt, and tender and sweet in its every
ment of orderly repose and refinement.
Bridget was possessed OF a compe-
&c, and of competent servants. honest,
NAL to dispense it; therefore, her do
Sic avocations were few.
aany of her friends wondered how she
upled her time, since she was
'er seen with crochet or Berlin
Oh employment in her hands.
ue, she read much, and OF the
West and her music was something TO
femembered, as of the utterance OF an
monious soul through sympathetic
gers. Still, the greater portion OF her
was unaccounted for to the curious;
Meanwhile there was wretchedness and
row and starvation in the by-ways OF
great city that recognized in her an
eel OF mercy and a constant savior from
worst Of evils.
mere were poor, down-trodden creac