The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1871-07-08
Jhe Albaag geaister.
Purged ii, the Fire.

out y uOASu VOICES GcHocu tne request
1t was Christmas, and we were gath
cred, to the time honercd custom, round
a blazing Ere under my grandiather's
roof We were merry party, compris-
ing some fifteen cousins, all ages, with
their respective parents, and few mar
ried and unmarried unclcs and aunts-
Uncle Herbert, otherwise MIR. Herbert
Milward, was our uncle by marriage only,
as the husband of our aunt Alice, but
though thus only indirectly related to US,
/ think he was with the younger ones ut
any rate, the best beloved of all Per-
haps because he had no children Of his
own, he was always specially sympathetic
in youthful troubles, and especially lem
lent to youthful misdoings. However
grave the oifense, we were always sure of
Uncle Herbert's intercession though he
never failed privately to admonish the Of
fender-very gently, but SO gravcly and
seriously, that his quiet words would
bring tears to eyes too proud to weep
under the severest punishment, and tame
the most rebellious spirit to submission
and repentance. He would be very mer-
ry at times; but there was a gravity
mingled even with his merriment, as of
life are always present. His devotion to
his wife was remarkable, even to our
youthful eyes. Noone could say that his
affection was demonstrative, and yet no
one could be in the company of the two
together, even for an hour, without feel
ing that aunt Alice was more precious to
her husband than anything else N the
world. Wherever his eyes wandered.
they always seemed to come back to her
as resting place, and however deeply,
to all appearance, he might be engrossed
in conversation with others, he was always
able, by some magical process OF intuition,
TO divine her wants or wishes, aud silent
ly to supply them. Her furs were the
warmest, her silks the softest; nothing
was too costly, no trouble too great, that
ministered to her pleasure There seemed
to be 10 such thing as forgetting, no pos
sibility of mistake, wherever she was con-
cerned If she had found four leaved
shamrock, aud had good fairies constant
ly attending her, she could hardly have
been better served. Nor was aunt Alice
behipdhand in returning her husbands $
devotion. lie was many years older than
she, but I kasT the difference in their
ages increased, if anything, her pride and
pleasure in his love She never did any
thing [indeed Sl4e had no needy to test
or draw attention 70 his devotion, but she
quietly aban doned herself to his tender
care. She seldom thanked him in words,
at least in company, but he was thanked
enough by the i9als of perfect love aud
perfect peace wil.e.l was the habitual cx-
preston of her gentle gray eyes.
On ff1o v1rfsS M ~ IFnf.f.. Tfarbarf
was seated in hi ii-backed oakeu chair,
with aunt Alice on fuotstool beside
him, and the rest of the party grouped
around in simicircie before the blazing
ire. The candles were not yet lighted
but the fame shed ruddy light through
out the room, throwing into bold relief
tie carved work OF the oaken furniture,
and Frightening with geuial glow the
red berries and dan k-green leaves Of tue
Christmas eversreens. 1t was just the
moment for fireside story and as uncle
Herbert was known TO be learned in le-
gend and German fairy tales, which he was
wont to uarrate with much quiet humor,
our little cousins request met with gen
eral approval. Uncle Herbert did not
Immediately reply, but sat apparently
rejecting and the Pickering freight,
playing over his face, showed US that he
was in a serious mood. Aunt Alice
glanced up at him inquiripgly; and /
thought to myself that had never seen
her bright young face (for she was many
years younger than the rest of our aunt>
and uncles) look more perfectly beautiful
than it did that night and caught my
self wondering, half-uneousciously how
it had come to pass that she should have
married one so much older, and to all APP
pearance, so unlike herself. as sober grav-
headed uncle Herbert
"Well my dears, said uncle Herbert at
last, 81 will tell you story, true story.
I don't think it is quite what you mean
BY a Christmas story; but the events
about which am going to tell you hap
pened at Christmas-time, on this very
night indeed, twenty-seven years ago"
We all settled down to listen, and, af-
ter minutes pause, he went on:
''lt was Christmas-ere, or rather
Christmas-day, for twelve o'clock had
struck, and the few people left in the
streets were getting gradually fewer and
fewer, till it seemed as though the police
man and the walls would shortly have
London to themselves. It was bitter
cold night, and the snow was beginning
to fall. Most of the houses were dark
and silent, though here and there lighted
windows ard stray sounds of music and OF
happy voices showed where household
Was seeing Christmas in, and IN giving a
merry welcome to the happy season. Out
OF brilliantly lighted house in one of
the West-end streets there came Young
man, who looked as though he felt but
little share of the general rejoicing. He
was barely twenty years Of age: but
though 30 young, his cheeks were flushed
ana ms gait unsteady with wine, and his
lace was contracted with look of hope
aess despair. And little wonder The
house which he had justleft was noted
gaming house. chad been tempted by
pad companions, and had gambled and
: Enu4n.-nEfAsk Ea1. L