The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1871-01-13
ThE cHRiSTAtss GIFT THAT CAME
TO RUPERT
A Story for LittIe sola,sr.

TO RUPERT.
A story for LittIe Soldiers.
1t was the Christmas season in Cal
fornia-a season of falling rain an
spnng1ng grasses. There were inte1
vais when, through driving clouds an
tying scud, the sun visited the baooar
hills with miracle, and death end r,
surrection were as one. END out of fl
very throes of decay a Joyous life struc
gied outward and upward. Even IN
storms that swept down the dead leave
nurtnred the tender buds that took tbei
places. There were episodes of snow
silence; over the quicken;ne fields IN
farmers plowshare hard followed tn
burrows left by thelatest rains. Perhan
1t was for this reason that the Christ
mas evergreens which decorated tn
drawlng-room, took upon themselye
foreign aspect, and offered a wier,
contrast to the roses, seen dinl
through the windows, as the south-ves
wind beat their soft faces against th
panes.
Now, said the Doctor. drawing hi
char closer to the FIRE, and looking mild
~ but firmly st the semi-circle of fake
neads aru1nd him. / want it distinct
" understood before 1 begin nv stor,
tbat I am not to be interrupted bv AM
ridiculous questions. At the first on,
shall stop. AT the second, 1 shal
feel 1t my duty to administer dose O
castor-ol all around. The boy tha
moves his legs or arms will be under
stood TO invite anaputation. I have
Drought my instruments with me. anC
never allow pleasure to interfere will
my business. Do you promisefn
Yes, sir,n said six small voices 81
multaneouslY The volley was, hoyey
er, followed by half dozen droppinc
questions.
silence Bob, put your feet dowr
and stop rattling that sword. FIors
shall sit by my side, like a little lady,
and be an example to the rest. Func
Tang shall stay too, If he likes. Now,
turn down the gas little; there, that
VIII do-jnst enough to make the fire
look brighter and show off the Christ
mas candles. Silence, everybody! The
boy who cracks an almond, or breathes
too loud over his raisins, viii be put out
of the room.
There was profound silence. Bob
laid his sword tenderly aside. and nurs.
ed his leg thoughtfully. Flora. afte,
coquettishly adjusting the pocket of hel
little apron, put her arm upon the Doc.
tsr's shoulder, and permitted herself to
oe drawn beside him. Fung Tang, the
little heathen page, who was permitted
on this rare occasion, to share the Chris.
tan revels in the drawino-room. survey
ed the group with a smile that was at
once sweet and philosophical The light
ticking of a French clock ON the manteI
supported by young shepherdess Of
bronze complexion and great symmetry
of limb, was the only sound that dis
turbed the Ohristmas-like peace of the
apartment peace which held the
odors of evergreens, new toys, cedar
boxes, glue, and varnish in harmoni-
ous combination that passed all under
standing.
about four years ago at this time. -
began the Doctor, "Iattended a course
of lectures in certain city. One of the
professors, who was a sociable, kindly
man-though somewhat practical and
hard-headed-invited me to his house
on Christmas night 1 was very glad
to 60, as was ANXIOUS to. see one of
his sons, who, though only twelve years
old, was said to be very clever. I dare
not tell you how many Latin verses
this little fellow could recite, or how
many English ones he had composed.
In the first place, you'd want me to re-
peat them; secondly, I'm not a Judge
OF poetry-Latin or English. But
there were judges who said they were
wonderful for a boy, and everybody
predicted splendid future for him.
everybody but his father He shook
his head doubtfully, whenever il was
mentioned, for, as 1 have told you, he
was q practical, matter-of-fact man. :
There was pleasant party at the
Professors that night. ALI the child
rem of the neighborhoo6 were there,
and among them the Professors clever
son, Rupert, as they called him-a thin
little chap, about as tall as Bobby there
and as fair and delicate as Flora by my
side. His health was feeble, his
father said he seldom ran about and
played with other boys-preferring to
stay at home and brood over his books,
and compose what he called his verses.
"Well, we had a Christmas-tree lust
like this, and we had been laughing
and talking, calling off the names of the
children who had presents on the tree,
and everybody was happy and joyous,
when one of the children suddenly ut
tered cry of mingled surprise and
hilarity, and said !: Here's something
for Rupert-and what de you think il
was7
"We all guessed. "A desk; "a
copy of Milton; "a gold PEN; "a
rhyming dictionary; tNol what thenl'
"s A druml
"'A what2 asked everybody.
"' A drum! with Rupert's name or
it, tool
"Sure enough there it was. A good
sized, bright, new, brass-bound drum
with a slip of paper On it, with the In
scription: fFoR RUPERT
stOfcourse we all lllaughed, and though
it a good joke. 'You see, you're t
make noise in the world, Rupert !
said one. "Here's parchment for th'
poet, said another. 'Rupert's las
work in sheepskin covers, said third
Give us a classical tune, Rupert, saiC
fourth, and so on. But Rupert seem
ed too mortified to speak; he changed
color, bit his lips, and finally burs
into a passionate fit of crying, and lef
the room. Then those who had jokeC
him, felt ashamed, and everybody began
to ask who had put the drum there
But no one knew, or if they did, tn,
unexpected sympathy, awakened fo
the sensitive boy, kept them silent
And what was still more singular, ever,
body declared that up to the momen
it was produced, no one had seen
hanging on the tree. What do I think
Well, I have my opinion. But N
questions! Enough for you to knol
that Rupert did not come down stair
again that night. and the party 500
after broke up.
{" had almost forgotten those thing
for the war of the Rebellion broke on
the next spring, and I was appointe
surgeon in one of the new regiments
and on my way to the seat of war. Bu
/ had to pass through the city whe1
the Professor lived, and there me
him Ny first question was about Ri
pert. The Professor shook his hea
sadly: He's not SO wen, he said; 4