Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1871-01-12
THE CHRISTIANS GIFT TgATcAMr
re RUPERT.
A story for Little Soldiers.

story for Little Soldiers.
1t was the Christmas season in Cali
forma-a season of falling rain and
sprlng1ng grasses. There were inter
vals when, through driving clouds ant
nylng scud, the sun visited the napparf
nils with miracle, and death and re
surrection were as one. and ont az N.
very throes of decay joyous life strno
gied outward and upward. Even t6s
storms that swept down the dead leave,
nurtured The tender buds that took thei
places. There were episodes of snow,
silence; over the quickeninq fields th,
farmers plowshare hard followed tn.
burrows left by the latest rains. Perhap,
1t was for this reason that the Christ
mas eyergreens which decorated tn.
drawlng-room, took upon themselves
q foreign aspect, and offered q wierd
contrast to the roses, seen dimly
through the windows, as the southwest
wlnd beat their soft faces against the
panes.
Now" said the Doctor, drawing his
char closer to the fire. and looking mild.
iy but firmly at The semi-circle of flaxer
heads around him. 81 want it distinct
y understood before J begin NV story
that am not to be interrupted by any
ridiculous questions. A. the first one
1 shall stop. At the second, I shall
feel 1T my duty to administer a dose OF
eastor-oil all around. The boy that
moves his legs OF arms will be under.
stood to invite amputation. I have
brought my instruments with me, and
never allow pleasure to interfere with
my business. Do you promise9"
les, SIR, said SIX small voices. 81.
muitaneously. The volley wss, hcwey.
er, followed by hall o dozen droppinc
questions
SILENCE Bob, put your feet down
and stop rattling that sword. Flora
shall sit by my side, like a little lady.
and be an example to the rest. Fufie
lang shall stay too, if he likes. Now
turn down the gas a little; there. that
will do-just enough to make the fire
look brighter and show off the Christ.
mas candles. Silence, everybody The
ooy who cracks an almond, or breathes
too loud over his raisins, will be but out
of the room,
There was a profound silence. Bob
laid his sword tenderly aside, and nurs-
ed his leg .houghtfully. Flora. after
coquettishly adjusting the pocket of her
little apron, put her arm upon the Doc
tors shoulder, and permitted herself to
oe drawn beside him. Fung Tang, the
little heathen page, who was permitted.
on TINS rare occasion, to share the Chris
nan revels III the drawing room, survey
ed the group with a smile that was at
once sweet and philosophical. The light
ticking of French clock on the mantel
supported by a young shepherdess of
bronze complexion and great symmetry
OF limb, was the only sound that dis
turbed the Christmas-like peace of the
apartment-a peace which held the
odors OF evergreens, new toys, cedar
boxes, glue, and varnish In a harmoni-
Gus combination that passed all under
standing.
"About four years ago at this time. ~
began the Doctor, "Iattended course
OF Lectures In certain city. One of the
professors, who was a sociable, kindly
man-though somewhat practical and
hard rd-headed-invited me to his house
on Chr1stmas night. / was very glad
70 go, as vas ANXIOUS to see one of
h1s sons, who, though only twelve wears
old, was said TO be very clever. dare
not tel! 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 we're
wonderful for a boy, and everybody
predicted a splendid future for him.
Everybody but his father. He shook
his head doubtfully, whenever it was
mentioned, for, as have told You. he
was practical, matter-of-fact man.
There was pleasant party at the
Professors that night. ALI the child
rem of the neighborhood were there.
and araong 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 INV
side. His health was feeble, his
father said he seldom ran about and
played with other boy+preferring to
stay at home and brood over his books,
and compose what he called his verses.
Well, We had Christmas-tree Just
like this, and we had been laughing
and talsing, calling off the names of the
children who had presents on the tree,
and everybody was happy and joyous,
when one IF the children suddenly ut
tered cry of mingled surprise and
hilarity, and said 90 Here's somethino
for Rupert-and what do you think 4
was2n
1--WE all guessed. a desk "a
copy of Milton;' "a gold pen;' Ga
rhyming dictionary No7 what then7
"A A druml'
GA What asked everybody.
A drum! with Rupert's name on
it, tool
"Sure enough there it was. A good
sized, bright, new, brass-bound drum,
with slip of paper on it, with the In
scription: sFoR RUPERT
"Ofcourse we all laughed, and though
it good joke. q You see, you're tt
make noise in the world, Rupert !
said one "Here's parchment for the
poet, said another. Rupert's Last
work in sheepskin covers, said third
Give us 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 jokei
him, felt ashamed, and everybody bega1
to ask who had put the drum there
But nc one knew, or if they did, tn.
unexpected sympathy, awakened fol
the sensitive boy, kept them silent
And what was stin more singular, ever,
body declared that up to the momen
it was produced, no one had seen i
hanging on the tree. What dc think
Well, / have my opinion. But n,
questions . Enough for you to know
that Rupert did not come down stair
again that night. and the party sool
after broke up.
s. / 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; Blu
1 had to pass through The city wher
the Professor lived, and there / me
him. Ny first question was about Ru
pert The Professor shook his hea
oo1Iv. Hoe not co nall Ia oo,I Sl