Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-12-23

eBless me, sister, " said a lively little voice,
tsWhy do you cry But that's the way--a
mothers lot-tesrs from the cradle, in sorrow
or JOY. Let me have chance to look at the
| gave my hand to aunt Martha; she was
the character of the household, my mothers
| maiden sister, who never would marry, who
laughed nt lovers, and yet who hid romance
like jewel 10 casket within her life and
heart. Aunt Martha was as pungent as aro-'
| matic vinegar she stung you to action she
would not suffer man to be unmanly. wo-
man to be unwomanly, that came within her
atmosphere she abhorred scandal, she be-
rated your faults she had an easle-eye upon
| aatr,gantesj; she had a tongue sskeen as a
brier for shortcomings people that loved
| her esteemed her for q 'snonesnch," and us for
those who hated her, they proved their own
meanness
f.Bless the boy ]" said aunt Martha. ..If
| he hasn't got great hanging mustache of
true German yellow" Lifting the same, she
bestowed upon me hearty salute
fsAunt Martha kissing man !, Dried a
cold, metallic voice. 81 thought you held
/ that a crime"
's.There !. thst's your cousin, Margretta,
that's speaking, qnotb aunt Martha testify,
as if she would cay, Nothing agreeable from
that quarter"
turned curiously to contemplate nv
| bride-elect. She was tall, straight as pine.
tree, and cherry of cheek. Her stately head
wore crownof blne- black hair, wound braid
upon braid above the high, somewhat narrow
forehead, which now proceeded to kiss.
She bowed her hend saying stif1y, ssThou
art welcome, cousin Wilhelm"
| And this ] knew was her best manner. and
| that she was glad to see me as another. and
no more.
In the meantime my heart ached. Where
! was the sweet, silver-winged home. angel. that
my soul had claimed for its own from the
| first?
Signing, looked down at the little ones,
who, at first. awed and half-terriied at my
bronzed and bearded presence. now clung
aronnd me, csressed my hands, and cried,
"Sailor man. tell us abont the sea-, eyes,
and the whales,,' sand about the mermaids,
that comb their long, yellow hair"
This was stopped by my third cousin. Mar
gre,ta who said, in her frozen accents. that no
summer heat could ever warm. "Silly chill
dren, do you think cousin Wilhelm hast
nothing better to do than to tell tales of his
voyages :"
The little ones, chilled by these accents,
hung their heads abashed; but presently their
downcast visages grew radiant. The doors of
the inner,rnom unfolded, and disclosed the
memorial fir tree, a elitteriug, dazzling object.
that made even US older people wonder: as
for the children they were speechless Grys-
tails. like icicles, depended from the spreading
branches; likeness of fine snow powdered
it; hundred tapers liehtedit and. curious
anomaly. hundred flowers hlonmed amid
icices and snow, and warble of birds came
from the throats of tiny sonssters, that fitted
in nd kn4 fboS t.I L =
by Invisible threads. Above all,this was set
a portrait, earlauded in flowers with the le.
gend in German, q Welcome tothe Wanderern
Had sat in spirit for the likeness? It
mirrored my features as if it had been look
ine~gass. Angel fingers had painted il. L
knew. She, who, standing beneath the tree,
outshone its radiance with her angel beauty,
her sweetness of womanhood, child, fairy
what was she 80 small 80 1.-THE, so floating
in her white drapery, With her star lit flowing
hair. Ny arms acbed to imprison her for>
ever. lest the heavens should absorb her-the
heavens TO which she seemed to belong!
81 can tell what is most beautiful to thee,
Albert, said sMargretta's voice. at this junc>
ture. Thesvoice wns trife changed now.
Its cold dry tones wers slightly heated by .he
sting of malice.
4 quick pang thrilled me. Who was AL,
looked around. a youth, with pink .clover
cheeks, well-knit frame, and top. knot of
light brown curls, tightly frizzled, met my
eyes,
lie returned my look, which was one of
unconscious defiance, with another
Eyes, / know which is the most beautiful
to me, the angel Hildn."
I This he said with a baby lisp, yet with suf-
ficient frmness. / could have clutched him
by the throat, and thrust him from the house.
"Well, veil, we have stood staring long.
enough here" said the lively accents of aunt
Martha, who was rubbing her eyes in the
most suspicious manner. for the beautiful. des
| pite her irony, always affected her to tears -
/ "Come, little angel with the silver wings. give
| the children their gifts, that afterward we may
| have somewhat to eat Wilhelm. can tell
by his eyes, longs for his supper
"For shame, aunt Martha / cried. nI
am inperviops to hunger T."
ssNot thou, indeed thou vert ever
hungry lad t'
.Nay, nay. Martha" reproved my mother,
| "thy tongue is too sharp"
'Never mind. swee. rnotherling" pleaded
! /. ssThon knowest the tongue.of nv aunt
i was my spice-dish, from my infancy; she
berated me in my long. clothes I" r
/ BY this time, the children were reveliDy
! in their gifts, and nov i. was the turn of the
older ones. I found myself like to be sme.h>
cred, if not with roses, then with the gifts
I that came upon me in q shower-knit.ed
scarfs. socks. wooden head>gear. snow uittens
| and what not. looked like Santa, Clans
myself, bedizened was with all varieties of
/ apparel that feminine fingers can devise for
masculine luxury.
Thou wilt have to set mp harberdashery,D =
| guoth Msrgretta, with half sneer.
.sWouldst thou have him giftless. saws
aunt Martha, sharply. '.after so long an abb
sence Z" L saw that Margretta ever made my
aunt angry.