Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1873-12-25
THEIR CHRISTMAS.
CHAPTER /

CHAPTER /.
Yes, THEIR Christmas | suspec
the big world didn't know or car,
very much about it. 1t didn't ger
into the newspaper. 1t wasn't Cos
siped about as a magnificent affair al
the breakfast tables of their neigh
bors. But for all this il was dia.
mond day to them as containing more
splendor and beauty end Joy, thar
Duke Alexis, in all the glory of bis
visit to this honored country, ever
experienced.
Life's highest happiness doesn't
always blossom on the topmost
boughs of wealth and royalty. Much
oftener, indeed, it blooms underfoot
like the violets of April, waiting fra
grant and beautiful for the eyes that
can see and the hands that can gather
Their little cottage asserted itself
modestly, yet firmly, in the neigh
| borhood of far statelier homes that
seemed TO look down on il frowning.
ly. Seemed, | say; for l hardly
think the houses meant to frown.
A frown is the natural expression
of lofty brick and marble mansions.
Doubtless they would like to look
pleasanter if they could.
The little cottage, on it's part, didn't
seem to mind its lofty neighbors. 1t
had its southerenxposure, it's pitch ola
garden, its coat of clean stone-colored
paint, it's neatly curtained windows,
and general air of unassuming self
possession and content. Best Of all
noble elm grew beside it Il kingly
tree, that stretched its boughs over
the roof with an expression of pow
erful and affectionate protection that
said "Here, I'll take care Of this
little house if you please, I'll see
that the hot summer sun and the
biting winter wind visit it gently !;
and if necessary, will stand between
it and the very lightnings of heaven.
| watched it grow up from a pile OF
lumber and stones and disagreeable
mortar, into the present neat, pleas
ant little nest you see. ! was the
first TO welcome the two people who
took possession of it. l like them.
They poured barrels Of water on my
thirsty roots during the great dronth
last summer, and guarded my robins
nest from the attacks Of freckled
boy. They appreciate tree, and !
intend to stand by them"
The place had fault OF being very
"new," to be sure. But David Hem
derson and his wife, Edna, though,
they disliked the smell of the paint,
and the starched, bandboxy air Of
the just finished house, agreed it was
better than going into g house haunt
ed by unknown associations.
ave want no associations but our
own, you know, Ed" said David,
taking his wife's face in his hands, as
if it were q bowl, and drinking a kiss
from it.
"And we'll soon enough take the
newness out of it-once let US get
the fires going and our plants, and
birds, and books settled" Edna res
ponded.
They had lived in the cottage two
years, and the newness 1CdS taker
out of it. An ivy had grown about
the bay window. A pleasant air o.
use had crept over the furniture
Graceful and artistic nick nacks, thai
come only with time to those homes
where things have to be worked for
appeared hero and there. And ,
baby-a wonderful baby, with hi
mothers eyes, and his fathers gooC
disposition-had come "to give lit
tie purpose and dignity" to thei
housekeeping, Edna remarked, an,
"to add to the jollity of life in gen
eral," said David in the inane Ian
guage of happy fatherhood.
| doubt the truth of the rathe
popular idea that the inhabitants G
stately houses are always more o
less wretched. But at the same tim
E | doubt if in square mile of thi
fashionable quarter of tLa city coul
, be found q pleasanter home, a iollie
. pair of comrades-to borrow David
, phrase-than existed under the bi
; Elm. No gang of servants to b1tbe
them no demands Of society in th
form of senseless calls and devasts
! ting dinner parties; paying bert
in the sanctum OF the mighty HERALD
a house of their own; out of debt
"and no relatives" David woul
boast with a triumphant ioui
: ish, "within five hundred miles
. They had health and brains and lov
Why should they not be happy
/, They lived and worked for eae
other. They could not avoid bein
, happy.
But Edna's work, she disconsolat
ly affirmed, was the silliest trihini
1t must be wonderful help-iust SCI
r ing that mans house was in orde
: his meals decently served and b
}. buttons sewed on.