The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1872-01-04

The days grow darker an1 colder.
Even from their llttle store of shank
ets . Few were taken fue those who
had nons. and many : meal was seiut-
"a ID the paE1onass n rsndsr . poorer
table less boss. The minister labesed
ut bis Christmas screen,
making u = masterpiece Of fhetesical
eloquencs. 7 ~ 81 Afa
At last the great day came, and the !
little family were up betimss, all
sagerness and expectancy. Even the
face or the Reverend Sampsop betray-
ed faint gllmmer Of curiosity, and hs
did no. belake himself tohis study
while breakfast was getting rsady.
The baby crowed upon Lis knee, and
Johnny clambered BY his side, while
little Nell solsmnly watched The
browning OF the Christmas muflns.
: loud knock rssoundsd
the hall, and 5or : moment
the pulse Of the family stood stiii.
Then there was : gssat rush yor As
door, but, reaching i, thsrs W. no
body there. Only Nat, square pApss
box ON the door sIll. With : neatly
folded note clipped under the cord
that bound It.
Mrs. Beatty lifted the boz quite
easily, and her heart sank . little she
found It 70 light.
II wonder what Il can be ?" she said,
as she handed the note to her husband.
The Reverend Sampson read II
aloud:
"REvKaRND AND DEAn,sIR.-Accspt tAis little
Christmas IN - . tJ1sa u sessn sssm ysas
pasiaAionsss. and pisass wsAs Il u their honoe as
the Christmas servics."
"Wear it - cried the minister, with
flaming eyes. "What new insult IL
this?n III
Then he tore open the box, and al
the little brood, peeping over, saw the
hopes OF weeks and months dwindle
down in . square black compass. But
the voice Of the minister softened .
little.
1T is. after sll, present for you.
Lucy. Hear Il the brand new silk
gown that I promised you."
Lucy took 1t up with . trembling
hand, and let 1t suddenly fall.
"It-it II = ministers robe, Samp-
son. she said, aud then her voice fal-
tered, for her husband strods over and
lifted the Ginning fabric from the box.
scanning it savagely, whils his face
whitened to his very lips. Once,
twice they opened, but the words re-
fused to be uttered. Taking the robe
in his two strong hands, he rent IL
from top TO bottom; then, fiiDging It
upon the floor, he went away to his
study.
Poor Lucy choked back her taArs.
and gathering up the robs and the
box, put them well out Of sight. The
mullins were burned, tine coftse was
spoiled, the Christmas breakfast va
ruined and away in the study thay
heard the steps Of the snrased minis-
Ter pacing 70 ard fro., But aitsr the
nr,t great sheck the sturdy hesrt q the ~
ninister,s. .wifs began 70 take cousags
and although many . Sigh escaped
liom her lips. shs went about heating
more cofes. and making more mumns,
% that in. half m hour the little folks
had quite hrgotten the black spectre
that had loomsd uppn them ip tbs
shape Of . miniatsr's robe. Leaving
them 1t the table. the little woman
went softly to the study. and found
that he was not quite 90 violent In hia
dispieasure az she had feared. The
Reverend Sampson was ashamed Of
the burst of rage that had overpowered
him, aud felt in his heart that II he
had been sinned against, he was alse
sinning.
"The fact is, Lucy" he said, turn
ing to the dear lace that was 10 sweet
. rest to his eyes aud heart, Il begin
to fear must give mp the ministry.
am united for it-at least here, dear
We do not understand each other, thu
people and I. Let them get blcci
from the city that they can shape and
dress to suit themselves, and you ant
l, little woman, will 60 father into th'
wilderness. where the souls Of mel
are nearer to God"
But his wife shrank little frem thu
wilderness Of which he spoke, and
understanding the people better
pleaded for . longer stay among thsua
"But Lucy, how can we ever ~
coucile this ridiculous matter Of tn
gown between us ?"
Then Lucy made him pause II hi
walk, and seating herself upon hi
knee, she unfolded to him plan tha
she had been concocting while bakin
more mullins and heating moro coffee
and though the parson shook his hss'
and said nay dozen times, he ende
by going out to breakfast with smil
upon his face. stss
When upon that ChSistmas naornin
the congregation bad assembled at th
church. there was an aiy Of conscioua
ness among them that made It al,nel
like ! social gathering. Many . pew wa
filled that was ordinarily empty An
even the front seat Of the squire ben
under his formidable weight. Mr.
Beverly, in velvets and furs, locke
down upon her slidsd book with >
attsmps st ssrsnity but tseis w0 >
evident restlessness about her whe
there was . stir at the doc
and whisper that the pars0n vi
coming. At lest she looked back Wit
the rest. There was the tail, gaunt forl
of the Reverend Sampson In his q
threadbars coat, the white seams Of b
! we'll worn trowsers shining In It
wintry sunlight, the muscles OF b
strong arms plainly seen from und
his short, tight sleeves, and ut evs'
!, step the ungainIy trowsers hitchir
up and down, showing the whit
9 loose stockings. The same ~ ever
: stern, angular, uncc:dpromising, aw
! wark, stiff. repelllng-was there ~
J. such discouraging man ? Mrs. Beve
. " frowncd with katlon.