The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1873-12-24
M CHRISTMAS HOMECOMING
BY GABRIELLA LEE.

As the train dashed along, that was
taking me TO my home, the home
from which | had been absent for Sc
many years, | took out again and
re-read my mothers letter, which |
had received on landing at New
York
80 thou art in truth coming home,
my Wilhelm" she wrote, in the fash
ion Of her fatherland-for though
had been born in New England, and
though my father had come of a good
old Puritan stock, my mother was a
native Of Germany-"and thy moth
cr's heart throbs with happy antici,
patton | picture thee, after thy long
absence in China, as no longer lad,
as thou vert when thou went away,
but tall man, like thy father. brown
with the sun, yet with curly locks
that SO often | have twined over nv
fingers as thou stood at thy mothers
knee.
II will not speak much to thee of
home; thou wilt be with US shortly,
and then-Thy third cousin, Margret-
ia, is well, and often speaks of thee
Her land, as thou knowest, is next TO
ours; uuly joined, it would make a
fair estate-would it not, mine Will
helm? As for the orphan, Hilda,
she paints like an angel; she is busy
about a matter that she keeps within
her bosom; methinks that it is thy
picture she makes for my Christmas
pleasure"
| folded the letter, and laid it next
my heart where was the shame that
my eyes were dripping? But yet |
smiled, as ever | did, at the thought
of Hilda. Have you not kept one
thought in your heart, sweet, sacred,
never spoken, save in prayers, that
touched your life with purity, and
kept afar influences that might de-
grade and mar? This had been with
me the thought of Hilda. / remem-
bered when she had come to our
home On Christmas eve before the
lamps were lit, while the red-frelight
shone warm, and the "snow-twilight"
closed in, my father, entering, set the
figure of a little one upon the velvet rug
before the wide CRATE, atleaped ard
glowed with welcome. Methought
this had been the Christ-child, for the
little one was lily fair, with the print
of summer rose on each cheek also
the lips were sweetly smiling, and
set upon the long, shining hair was a
crystle crown that sparkled in the fire.
light
The child drew me as none had
done. ran to her Stay with us
Away" cried |.
eyes, Wilhelm" said my father.
This is little sister | have brought
home to thee; she has no home, so
she shall be one with u.s.
i took the hand of the little one,
and saw she was human child like
myself; and that which had esteem
ed crystal crown, was a diadem Of
snow-hakes that had lighted on her
shining hair, and that now, melted by
he warmth, had changed to dew
spangles sparkling in the freight.
| shared my gifts, my comiits, my
toys. my books, with the little one
she went to sleep on my shoulder.
This was Hilda.
Yet now did my mother speak to
me- of Margretta. Had she not men
toned her as third cousin, that
might see she were not too near for a
wife? Had she not spoken of the
ands that were next to ours, to re-
mind me of my fathers latest wish
Well, well, | had heart that could
lare all things-so let the matter
est
The train stopped The numbering g
'tagc-coach rolled over the snowy
'Oad, on either side of which rose the
nils, white as brides in their wintry
'obes. Surely ] was home at last!
Dusk was darkening into night, and,
quietly as one of its shadows, | stole
trough the back porch, for / was
ain to be the surprise of all surprises
lpon this Christmas eve. The hall
vas long and wide. The walls were
,arc, except for an old portrait in a
,lack frame, carved quaintly-the
portrait of a lady. / had shrunk
rom it always, for the face was Of
me with a strong will, and weak
intellect, haugty spirit, and a
lart of ice. 1t chilled me now hang
ng there. To the right of me was
ny mothers "fowerroom" 1t faced
he south, and within it had always