The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1873-12-26

OF compensation are balanced, al
whether should be found wanlin
. when the ease and ildeness Of uy Ii
were weighed against ne,
Ny warm room greeted me with
fragrant welcome. Never before ia
1t seemed halt so comfortable. Bu
the other vacant places a. the tabI
must be filed; and leaving the wen
dering child ensconcea in my e.sie,
chair, l mounted to the fourth stOr
OF the boarding house and knocked s
one OF the little doors in the circle
like a roundhouse, where a number @
lodgers were slowed away at halt pTic
under the root. y fat little womal
appeared, aud with some surprise in
vited me to enter. The cell cOntaine,
a cot bed, bureau, one chair, and
tiny stove. The temperature mus
have been ninety, and there was n,
way of ventilation save By opening
the one window, and sitting, as it were
outdoors in the freezing air Mis-
MichOn offered me the chair, seatin:
herself upon the bed; and as CAV
my invitation l could not help motto
ing, as l had often noticed before, how
remarkably plain she was!
"Poor Old lady," | sOliloquized as
returned to my rooms below, you, a
least, have been spared the snares o
Cupid. You, at least, know nothing
of the bitter sweet thought, it nigh
have been!'
Here some one passed me, and look
ing up, | recognized Mr.. Blunt, a young
clerk, with whom | had never before
exchanged d word, although he haC
been in the house for six months. He
came and went with silent regularity,
and beyond his name knew absolute.
ly nothing of his history or persona
attribu es. Obeying g sudden i'm
pulse, invited him to dine with Inc
The young man turned back, bowed
gravely, but courteously declined
with p trace of dignifed reserve which
did not displease me. Something il
his dark eyes impressed me, and
curious to see more of them, l ex
planned my situation, and with earnest
cOrdiaiity begged my fellow boardel
to accept the vacant sent at my
table. 81 am but a lonely old maid
Mr.. Blunt" l concluded. "Will you
rot help me to spend merry Christ
mas %
As l spoke the grave face relaxed
and after a moments hesitation Mr.
Blunt accepted the invitation, aud ]
returned to my room as triumphant a.
manager who has just scared &
star OF the first magnitude.
After lunch little Jane fell asleep or
the sofa, and sitting by the window ]
watched the sleiz hs gliding by, and
thought OF the many spirits OF Christ
mas Past-nearly fifty of them-somt
rosy with hope, some dark with dis
appointment but the majority pro-
sale, even-tempered ghosts, not above
an interest in the merits OF the dinner
Perhaps a tear or two dimmed my eye:
as an old enchanted memory stole in
to my heart; bu: l was obliged tC
confess that the last time l saw Ell.
ward he was unromanticallY stout, anC
Edward Tite-''manBavring little
wretch of the past--see ned but {
faded, care worn woman of the pres
ent, with very little apparent happiness
to rouse my regretiul jealousy. Twi
light came, little Jane awOke, Tony
repleuished the fire and ligh;ei th'
tapers, and l consigned my ghosts Il
the past, as Miss MichOn, appeared
clad, OF course, in a black silk, auC
looking palmer than ever. a few
minutes before six Mr. Blunt came in
polite bus rather silent. Poor fel
low," l thought. "He IL embarrassed
so IesI>.- P-eboI~iy ha :. f-0rYp fh,
country, and knows little OF the world
| must try 10 draw him out"
When the last dish vas in plsc,
upon The table my oddly assorted
party tJck their sca.s, and To. y be
gan Ills ministrstiOIs. For the pur.
pose OF making my guests feel a
ease made an effort TO supply con
veEsation, asking Miss MichOn ques
tions suited to her probable capacity,
talking about the country 10 Mr
Blunt, and about the Sunday Schoo
to little Jane. 1t vas dull work. y
monologue is apt to be dull. But q;
Tony was removing the soup. WHIT
should appea. but my del.nquen
guests Adsm had heen ''released
alter all ;" Auat Pen feared
"shouId be lonely > and Eva ba6
miracuI0usly recovered from hel
headache. Miss MIcbon famed her
self, little JaEe stared at Eva, Dr
Blunt arose sDd stood by his chair
and found myself tie mos: embsr
rassed OF the party. However,
made the beat of it. "TDree NOR,
plates, Tony. Excuse the crowded
table, Aurt Pen. Miss Michnn, ,alloV
me to introc ide to you Mrs. Wsliack
Miss Rose, and Mr.. Brown"
Completing the introductiOns, witt
some difficulty all we're seated, Ev
next to Mr.. Blunt, Aunt Pen betweel
| little Jane and myself, and Adam b.
the side of Miss Michon. 1t Ua
funny, but l had no intention 0
lau- hing, snd began TO csive VII;
l dignity. The situation, however, wa
to much for Tony. lie presented
plgte to Miss Michln snatched
awoy hastily, and placed it befoT
Aunt Pen took it bscx again, ,unde
the ~ else Of dustiag it, and finall
let il tail on ny head Ia his val
efforts TO decide the proper eiiquett
o. tue occasion. Jolly Miss Micho
burst out into a peal nf laughter ,Ey
, joined, Ant Pen yielded, the ouai
men tOl,owCd her example, and "
. all laughed until the tears stood i
our eyes, beginning agail and sgai
as lhe embarrassed Tony, after dIyIn
for the pieces, thought it Eecesssr
, to make q profound sGlaGl 10 eac
, guest in token of his contritici
: After this introduction, as may We
! be imsgined, there was no constrair
} to mar me dinner Eve chst.ed gay
lV with the clerk, Adsm kept up
: fire of repartee with Miss MichOl
and Aunt Pen talked with little jar
as though she had known her fc
years. In a gustatory point OF vie
the dinner was perfect the fiji
! glowed, the rspers shone brightly,th
holly exhaled Its spicy perfume, sn
, the guests were merry. "Hail, ,minC
pie p exclaimed Adam, as Ton
r brought him a piece oi that goodI
4 compound
"without the door let sorrow lie,
And II for cold 1t hap 70 die,
Wen b ury it IN Christmas-pie,
And evermOre be merry.
] "Wbat IS that you quot;cg Adam:
asked Aunt Pen
"Au old song OF t. e fourteen:
, century. But why do you say qa'
TING P, amino, capable OF vooir
the Muse myself? =? 1 assure you
am brimful OF poetic f-e, sgd cs
oush right out At any time. l vi
Give YOU a Christmas poem this il
b stsnt. and 10: oniy that, hutI vi
e Give it without capitals We had
e CbIistmas dinner in 1871: If yC
J, onIv could have been there to hei
F. and see the fun Victoria sent b
t Tegrets-she reslly ielt too chunky
Is bat Darwin came, and brought wi