Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1871-12-23
A CuRIsTMAS sToRY.

"Oh, DO grauuLuOtlcf- W q arc
IN attention." cried both the girls
George Colman was a worthy
-oung man. His moral character
vas beyond reprOach. His father
Dwned this very farm on which we
aow live. Nellie WoodWOrth's
father lived on the adjoining 1srm.
George and Nellie were much to-
gether. and ere their school days
we're passed, had formed . strong
for each other. There
was mutual understanding be-
tween them. Nellie was quick at
figures, and would help George with
his hard sums, while Nellie could /
never understand the rules of gram |
mar, which George had at his |
tongues end; so they helped each
other.
By and by they talked Of uniting
their fortunes for veal or wo, when
A sudden calamity came across their
path. Georges father had retired
from business in New York several
wears before, with sufficient means
for all his wants, having a wife and
only two children, now nearly grown
George and his sister Mary
Georges father had endorsed heavi-
Iy for his former partner, An whom
he had the utmost confidence, and
who suddenly failed. II came like
A thunderclap upon the hopes OF
George and Nellie, when they real
lied that the farm must be sold, and
that il would likewise take all the
personal property that Georges
iather possessed to pay the debt.
The change Of circumstances
weighed heavily upon Georges splr-
its, but Nellie would encourage him;
saving that brighter days would
come, and that they would be hap
pv vet, and perhaps buy back the
old homestead. What made IL hard
er to bear was, that the man
the father Endorsed for, and for
whom he had sacrificed his whole
property, was still living in princely
style n Fifth Avenue, having trans
ferred his house and almost his en-
tire property, TO his wife before II
was suspected that he was going in
to bankruptcy. George was partic-
ularlv severe on his fathers old
Dartner. ssIt Is no better than steal
ing" said George, ito put your
property in your wite's hands 10
avoid paying your debts" In tins
he and Nellie perfectly agreed
Hbut never mind" said Nellie, I'VE
will be happy yet, and own the ola
homestead"
Being saddened by the hopeless
prospect before him, George pro
posed TO 90 to California and try m :
/ fortune. At that time but few had
zone thither. Once there, he hoped
10 earn enough in a few years TO buy
back his fathers farm, and as he wa
| bred a farmer, he looked forward tt
| the time when he and Nellie could
see their way clear to be married
and walk life's crooked path TO
gether.
All last ;he day of parting came
/ George said, ''Now Nellie, never
falter. Though we never meet again
| will be true TO my first love. dt
not know what viii befall me; bu
let what will come, ! will trust II
God. and il il is His will, will come
back 20 YOU without spot or blemish
/ Think often of me; and in the even
ing, spend a little time alone, II
eommuning with your own soul, anS
lifting up a prayer TO God for M
Dreseryatioa and return 10 you, II
As good state as | leave you.
will devote an hour each night II
d. the same way, and perhaps our soul
NAV commune together"
= George reached California anOni
the earliest adventurers. lie wa
thrown among a very rough class
hut his earlv education and training
preserved him. lie had a partner
/ as two could be company for eac
other. and in case OF sickness tak
! care of each other. Al first thel
accommodations were large, ana
the end OF three years George cor
, cluded that his ambition was salts
/ | fed. lie had enough to make him
, self and Nellie comfortable, an
= | what more did he want!
In the latter part Of the suInmc
: of l849. George wrote, II will eI
= deavor 10 be home AZ Christm'
: time. / have enough TO buy bac
!, the old homestead, as that SCENE
{. TO be the hight of Neilie's ambition
e and enough beside AS capital
o work IL with" Christmas cam
I but George COlburn came not. II
t steadicame letter, saying that Ju
as he was about TO start Tor hon
his partner had left for parts N
known, with all the accumulation
of both. at seems TO be my fate
y George wrote, "to be scathed al
! tried. cannot come home now.
: of good cheer, Nellie; all may y
r be well. Ihave found partnersh
Y to be a bad ship to sail in. Henc
o forth | 90 alone, and may God bile
IS Us. every one. You NAV not he
IF from me so often as formerly.
m must use all diligence; and my mil
Is has received a severe shock in n
r | being able TO come at Cluistm
W time, as l wrote you, which IL "
DR. take time To recover FROM
n Al first letters We're received quI
- often. George wrote that he W
a. living alone IN cabin, and doing
e. " ell rs he could expect. Then
,d long interval elapsed without "a
a letter. Nellie was sad, and spe
a much time alone. One morning ;
= said .I dreamed that George W
A. sick. 1 heard him calling for me.
of was in his cabin taking care OF hi
al 4 colOred woman seemed 10 '
IN with me in taking care Of him.
a. Al last Il letter came from b
n saving that he had been very i'll wi
is fever: that much time had pass
ne which lac did not otremember. VIII
au be came to himself he found bla
ON woman standing over him, who h
ma watched him ali through his few
i. She said. "Massa l thought YOU "
es Going to t'Other country sure. \
Id was praving much and reaching {
ot ~ some one YOU seemed to see, a
o. called Nellie ! believe sure
of was Nellie who called you back
o. You must, sartin sure, marry {
i Gal as soon as YOU 90 back
III Several years passed GeOi
ne wrote occasionally. but said nOthi
ps- of coming home. Nellie continI
.se sad and detected, avoided all co
pr many. and spent much time comml
nj ING with herself and the angel wo
en- | which is all about Us. One morni
IL she said, Il dreamed saw Geo
ast last night, and he said he was &C
he ing home at Christmas. lie 5
Va his pilgrimage was at an end; [
w he had money enough TO buy the
-en homestead, and we will be hal
nd yet"
de- As Christmas approached Ne
w was positive that he would be no
,le- though she had not heard from
i'm in nearly a year. George had b
90. very busy since he had recove
ln- from his sickness, had not writ
-ell for some time, and now said, 81 ,
hat surprise the folks at home at Chr
- mas" He fancied that he could