The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-12-09
oNE ApsrNr.


Last Christmas Eve the family Of Rest.
nald PoinIret, Esq, j. p, Of Horton Hall,
Norfolk, were gathered together. The
eldest daughter, married since Inst year,
had arrived that morning with her hu,.
band; bachelor uncle, holding a high posi-.
tion at the Bar, coming down by the same
train. The younger members had either
never left home, or had returned a fort
night previously for the holidays.
Aglorious fire blazcd upon the hearth;
the crimson damaSk curtains were closely
drawn; dinner was Just over, and dessert
and wine was placed upon the table; de-
coratlons vi holly and mistletoe added to
tho air Of English social frstiyity.
Warmth, light and chrcrFuncss seemed to
pcryade the room; and yet q certain de-
preston weighed upon those assembled in
It. Mr.. Pomiret talked graycly to bis
brother about school boards, tho state Of
political parties, strikes and similar sub.
jects, taking somewhat pessimiSt view Of
all he tolChcd upon. Ills wife, at tile
other end Of the table, wore an anxious
look upon her face, and though she con.
stantly smiled, it was only from tue teeth
outwards,
No aneroid Is so sensitive to the yalla-
tions Of the atmoSpheNas tho human mind
is to exhllaratlng or depressing influences,
aud the younger members ol the family
were quiet, or forced conversation for tic
sake OF keeping mp appearances, like the
heads. Even the schoolboys. seemed tv
forget that there were no lessons IN i'm.
mediate prospect, aud that they were 20.
Ing 10 have ms gold dinuer tomorrow as
they had had to-day, aud wcrc silent, OF
whispered teg, thcr without the acctistOm.
ed giggling. Yct they lad been in rare
high spirits all the afternoon; the Ice wa,
In first rate condition for skating, snirC
had been seen in Pcaty bottom; the
Christmas was what Tom Pomfret called
IN " illustrated Christmas, !" all snow, and
hard roads, and icrcles, and robbins; not
one ofyour lnild, muddy. drizzling seaSons
which provoking old fOgics, who ale sub
Ject to Rheumatism, arc wont to delight
In. The young man who had married Into
the family formed a mental resolution that
next year he would spend the season al
his own home, snugly hte-a-tsts with hi.
wife anti come to no more gloomy. gather.
inss. Henry Pomfrct, the bachelor uncle
was the only one, however, whose mannci
resented this state Of things. He was eyi.
IDENTIFY impatient, and alter making sevcra
useless efforts to animate tho onycrsatiOn
took to playing with lns knife and fork
twiddllng his glass, and answering hil
brother In inonosyllable.
There was one guest present who had
no connection whatever with the pomfret
family-Mary Williams beauty OF nine
teen, governess to the younger girls, ant
bosom friend Of Rose, the second girl, (tht
eldest being the married onc,) who wn,
only year younger. But tue cloud whicl
Eung over the party. seemed togather mosi
thickly around her. Her large eyes wort
an anxious expression, and the lines Of car
had thus early begun to mark her resulal
features. Quiet was sucll a relief for her
and even gloom was preferable to noisy
gaicty.
When the servants had finally left tb,
room, and the door was closed upon them
Mr.. Henry Pomtet filled bis glass ant
stood up. ~ ~ n
. can stand this no longer" he said
" there Is one face and foim IN al! gu
hearts, one name on our lips Mt thismomcn
and We suppress II. No, Reginald, iorgiy
me-" (tor bis brother lrowncd, and mo
toned him to sllencc,) "whatever ma
have been the poor buys errors this
pushing the matter too far. At this sea
son eighteen hundred and seventy year
ago, angels voices proclaimed .pcace o.
earth and good will unto men, and shal
We not have peace and good will among,
the members Of one iamilyl God la
been very good 10 us; we have met to
gethcr happily year after year, and this
The first time there has been any gap; hot
m,ny families can say as much7 Las
Christmas, Tom was here with his hand
some face and cherry laugh; and the yea
before, and the year before that, till m
memory goes back to the time when b
was brought In INST in bis nurses arm
and fer ono am not going to Danish bit
from my nsmsry. Here Is Toms hcalt
may God watch over him and keep hiI
from harm wherever he nav be, and brin
him safely back to US before next Chris
mas.n h
Mr.. Reginald pomirot placed bis clbo
On tho table and buried his face In b
hand while bis brother was speaking; whit
he was done, lo nutmuted tho name
bis absent child, slipped his gla" and +
suned bis former attitude. Mrs. Pot
fret sobbed aloud, and NEST Of the othe
were In tears.
Mary Williams became as pale as deaf
and el1tched her hand to her breast wht
aloeket lay concealed; but her emotl
was only noticed by Rose, who sat besi
her, aud quietly taking tho hand wal
lay in her lap, she pressed and held It
little sign Of sympathy which saved b
fffond from patoxy sn, and enabled her
resume her eemposure.
And yet anybody WHO called the
bashelor kill Joy wou,d have been We
much mistakeni the cloud was dhpers
N rain Indeed, hut sill II was dispersl