Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-12-29
Christmas Carols.

| OF were liilcll WIN thoughts OF KIM
a ess, and sympathy, and love. Busy hanCs
were weaving offerings for the morrow, and
busy feet were fastening homeward to
cheerful, waiting frcsdrs. In a pleasant
| homestead a Young Gil of sixteen was
| bulSlly engaged i'll adding the finishing
! touches to some dainty bit of workmanship.
/ She formed ii pretty picture herself, as she
sat curled up in the deep window sill, where
the hre-light, brl9htnin9 i'll the twilight
flashed its warm color over her shining hair
and delicate cheek. Her soft dark eyes
shOne with a subdued but earnest light, and
the 1.-the figure managed the dainty mate
rial of her work with Il graceful and deft
manipulation attractive to The beholder.
! The behOlder was II gray-haired man, who
occupied the great armchair in the window
| corner OF the fireplace, and who leaned
| upon his cane and ~ atched the pretty maid
en-, fair young RosamOnd, ut her work, and
smiled to think how like She Was 10 another
ROSamOnd he had known, and loved, and
buried, i'll the years 50 long 2o,ic by.
E'keep good watch, Grandpa said the
fresh young voice. Don't let anybody
scud along your side ImhcknUwnst,' us
Biddy says; I'm so afraid Papa will steal IL
march on me. | WOuld'n. have him to see
this for Il pretty. Isn't it beauty > Won't
he be pleased With it Ltn.3 now,
Grandie, dear, don't look - solemn and
OWlish. It's Christmas Eve What are you
thinking of SO deeply.
The old man looked up and smiled.
Il was thinking, Rosie, of how good and
how pleasant it is to have Christmas come,
and to have one day in all the year on
which there is SO much good will. L WIS
thinking how all these love gifts that we
make to each other, and I'LL the kind feel
ingS we have toward one another, 90 to
form precious lovc-gitt to the Lord of
Christmas. indeed, the ''peace on earth
and good will to man that prevails on
Christmas Day, Is the "Glory to God in the
Highest"
'That's beautiful, Grandic, dear ex-
claimed the Young Girl. Its Il genuine
Christmas Carol. l always did say that my
Grandpas tlreSide lectures were sermon and
hymn all i'll one. Oh, dcarie me, here
comes Papa up the steps, with his arms full
of bundles. Let me rum And gathering
up her work ROSamOnd went from the
room.
AT the same hour that ROsamOnds papa
assembled the steps of his beautiful home,
another father entered the door Of an hum
BILE cottage not far distant. lie bore no
! Christmas bundles i'll his arms. Ills 4vcs
were sad and his manner detected. Before
the cheerful fire, whose ruddy blaze lit up
| the small, low room, Il young girl was
| kneeling while she toasted slices Of bread for
! the evening meal.
cts Christmas Eve, Papa" she said.
with a lively nod of welcome. 'StOop
| down and give me good, sweet cool kiss
this fire is toasting my checks as well as the
| slices. Mamma is putting Bud t. bed. lie
went sound asleep on the rug and .rouIell,t
wake up. Tea is all ready. | wish Harry
was here
! Maybe it was the cheerful fircwalmtiI or
maybe the bright young face ANT, checrl
tones of the little daughter that wrought
| the charm--I only know shat the sad ewes
! frightened to fond smile as tie father
looked lovingly into the upturned face Of
his child. The room was cOScy and COM
! Portable, although the furniture was plain
and the adOrnmentS of the simplest kind
! The table was spread for tea, and the cloth.
and cups and sauccrs, and plates, were
/ SpeckleSS and shining, and laid with ScrIIp-
| ulOuS nicely. The teapot Simmcrcd on
/ the hearth, and within Il smooth oval Of hot
! ashes lay the mealy brown jackets that were
! to form the evening meal The mother en-
| tered the room and greeted her husband
| with smile. At the sam" moment Il boy
| ish voice was heard at the door. and a pair
of stamping feet on the doorstep kept time
| to a sort Of rude melody that the boys voice
sang to the words:
9 Now it is winter, and [ am disc pntcnt
/ My coat is some What like an ugly rent,
And all the from off the top of the house
Came down into my bosOm-sqHsh kCr-sousc."
'llany Minturn, you noisy younoster,'
exclam the girl, gayly, as She sprang to
open the door, ''Wly, We're have YOU been?
You're covered with snow ~
Il should say So" said the boy shaking
himself.
''Dame lIincklys old slant Roof ayalanch-
ed just as popped under the eaves-hence
my cOStch,uHe. L don't care. It's Christ
mas Eve, and I've earned fifty cents carry
ing bundles, and have got too jobs for to-
morrow. Wen have a Christmas supper
if we don't have plum-pudding and turkey
dinner
Ssh" interrupted his sister. sect off
your coat and come to tea. We've elegant
roast potatoes and toast.
Somehow the brave, CHEEKY boy, and the
equally bright and brave sister, made the
hOmely room seem almost radiant, and the
sad eyed father and patient mother sat
down to the frugal meal with Il Christmas
carol of thanhfulncsS i'll their hearts for the
peace that Was theirs in the gift or their no
ble-hearted children. True, they were
poor and i'll sore trouble but the trouble
came not nigh them in the same manner
that it had come 10 some of their neighbors
They had not ungrateful, rcbelliOus chill
dren to wiring their hearts with anguish
And they chose to praise God for the bless
ings He had given them, rather than to re-
pine for what He had denied them.
eve must lose the cottage, Mildred"
Mr. Nnturn said to his wife when alone
with her ''but we must not lose our trust
in God. Let us sing Il hymn of praise.
Our home VIII be sold neXt week, but we
can celebrate our last Christmas in the
dear old Place with Il pleasant sound of
,'arOiS, cant We"
When RoSamond went from her grand
father Sll" sought her own room 70 put lv
her little SiFa~i,i+.
"A lurc--.I, "a Tie Lord Of Christmas
she repeated 40 herself. That is beautiful
but / illv;, 10 such gift None of mine
are meant for Him. [ never think such
good and holy thoughts Of myself"
She glanced over the army of presents |
she had with such interest prepared !
Something for every one who will he likely I
to give nae sometbiag," she said aloud. |
'EAnd I'd never a thought of any one else /
Ch1ist's birthday, and no gift for Christ" |
At the table ROsamOnd's father said: 81 /
heard to-day that the Minturn cottage is
to be sold next week under 4 mortgage
Minturn's been unfortunate lately-out of /