The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1873-12-24


II am impervious to hunger"
Not thou, indeed: thou vert evel
; a hungry lad"
NAY. nay, Martha" reproyed my
mother, 'thy tongue is too sharp
Never mind, sweet mother!ing,
pleaded /. Thou knowest the
tongue of my aunt was my spice
dish from my infancy; she bcrated me
in my long clothes"
BY this time the children were rev
cling in their gifts, and now it was
the turn OF the older ones ! found
myself like to be smothered, if not
with roses, then with the gifts that
came upon me in a shower-knitted
scarfs, socks woolen head gear, snow
mittens, and what not looked ike
q Santa Claus myself, so bcdizened
was | with all varieties of apparel,
that feminine fingers can devise for
masculine luxury.
Thou wilt have to set up a haber-
dashery," quoth Margretta, with a
half sneer.
"Wouldst thou have him giftless, y
says aunt Martha, sharply, latter SO
long an absence?n | saw that Mar
gretta ever made my aunt angry
The silver-winged angel had given
the gifts to the little ones with a
smile that was beautiful to behold,
for lost not one Of her looks-my
heart drank and drank of their sweet
ness as If it would never tire
| watched Albert now, and saw
his clover-pink cheeks flush, when
she gave him "a watch chain worked
in blue and gold How | longed to
tear it from him.
She did not come near me. But,
her task being finished, my mother
said, in guarded accents:
'Hilda, come hither"
Hlda came. | remembered of the
lOng-ago Christmas-eve, when the
/ fire g!owed red in the CRATE, and she
stood on the rug before it. with the
snowflake crown on her flowing haIr.
This is thy brother Wilhelm,
child" said my mother, pointing TO
me.
Welcome, dear brother, she said,
iaylng little waXeB hand III mine
It's touch thrilled lie. II was 50 How
er soft, dewlly fresh, 1t seemed the
same saLln palm 1 had IOi,ed last To
comfort the little stranger, when L
shared my toys win ner, ana she
went 10 sleep Ola my shoulder.
Remember, she Is ever 10 be thy
sister, Wllhelm," saId my mother,
peruslng my face, with those pale,
Uiue eyes, Inat had ever swayed me
when Iney looked as now, Keen Win
decision.
Il would rather that Margretta
should ever remain my cousin, quOtn
1, III tones loud, yet Joid.
DId Hilua understand. She drew
away the ilower-solt palm, she turned
from me, the print OT rose on eacn
cheek. But alas as she turned, 1
saw that about her neck gllmmered u
line gold cham, and 1 1ancied that
hidden in her bosom was Il lOckeI.-
Was II his, that lntolerable Albert.
Had | come home Tor this
Play, that the children may sing
their carol, daughter HIlda," COM
manded my mother.
HIlda, sitting at the small, upright
piano, began To play ana sing soIIly.
Her voice was only thread OF mel
ody; but ah !. so sweet, so sweet.
The words were,
Carol, carol, Christmas.
Carol joytuliy;
Carol for the coming
OF ChrisI's nativity
The children swarmed around her
like q flock OF doves, perched upon
her chair, hung over her shoulders,
and rang out the melody like chime
of bells; still through al! l could
catch the gliding accents OF sweetest
sweetness, like ril! freshening
meadow of daisy flowers.
Thou shouldst hear Hilda and
Albert sing together" whispered Mar
gretta in my ear. The words stung
like "a swarm of bees-as she meant
they should
'Together?" faltered /, scarce
knowing what | said.
"Didst thou not know of their love?
Yes, they have ever of late gone to
singing school, and looked over the
same book in company Surely, thou
canst not but have seen that his eyes
follow her everywhere
vailed my feelings; the heart that
has loved truly and long cannot learn !
doubt at once. | said to myself, !
"She who has painted my picture,
has painted it with the eyes OF faith
What gives faith but love!"
Supper is ready" cried aunt Mar
tina, bustling in, and an indescribable |
fragrance of coffee, spices, and what
not that was good, followed her.
Thou wilt take out Margretta, my |
son." commanded my mother
l obeyed Albert, as if of course,
offered his arm to Hilda, who still |
wore her wings and star, for the chill
dren would have 1t so. My conf
iencc at this left me. | was in de-
spair again.
As we passed through the wide,
Did fashioned hall, with its carved /
stair case, Margretta pointed to the
portrait, with its grim square of black
and gilt, that, now struck upon by a
beam of moonlight, showed plainly
The handsome, unpleasant face in its
center.
"They say | am like her; do YOU
think so. cousin 2" she said.
Perhaps; but then you are more
beautiful"
This was true, if | was fool to
say it, for Margretta was handsome
% the outward gaze, however the
heart reversed the decision.
Here was the supper room, and
1ne's mouth watered. Was it cold
enough to freeze one outside? What
natter, when the coffee urn, huge,
trusted with rich frost work of silver,
rs its years and dignity warranted,
was nigh hidden in cloud-land of
steam. Beneath the swinging globe
IF light, that overhung the oval Ia