Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-12-19

tleman. To be sure, during all his years
of service he had never seen him under
circumstances calling for precise deport-
ment; but instinctively he had clothed
him with all necessary attributes only TO
have them now torn off, and the true
character of the man displayed in all its
deformity. The scales fell from Johns
eyes, and his blood boiled at the insults
offered to innocent, kind.hearted Miss
Coy. He held his anger, however, and
answered as calmly as possible.
"Mr. Lickpenny," said he, ''you have
insulted very worthy young la1y, with
out the least cause, and my astonishment
at your ungentlemanly remarks is only
exceeded by my disappointment 1 did
think, so lately as yesterday, that you
were something different from this"
"Hal hal hap laughed Mr.. Lickpenny
"cant stand raillery, heyY Why, John,
you're worse than a boy"
'lf was out of this bed, sir, you'd
find out the difference" cried John,
waxing wroth; 'you can leave the room
the sooner the better Get your con.
founded books fixed up as best you can.
won't touch them again, by a Jugful."
Mr.. Lickpenny suddenly'became grave,
and began expostulating, but John would
uO0 llstCu W ulLl, ullNl uCLlduutu l0db lie
leave the room in such loud tones that
the landlady appeared, asserting that she
thought he had called for her. There be-
ing no alternative, Mr.. Lfckpenhy angrily
departed but John, in his excitement,
having attempted TO move his injured
leg, Immediately tainted with the pain.
Mrs. Windle was tall, muscular female,
who had never suffered from nervous.
ness. She very coolly raised his. head,
and, calling to Miss Coy, who happened
to be passing, and who she espied
through the halEopen door, she soon,
with her assistance, brought him back to
consciousness. As he was slowly recover
ing, he thought he heard, as if in the
distance, the voice OF Miss Coy, saying;
Poor fellow, he seems to quite alone in
the world;" but when he opened his
ewes they beheld no one in the room save
his landlady.
He lay for some time, until his mind
was quite clear, and then he sent the land
lady for Miss Coy, who hesitated, but at
last came in. When he saw her all his
old diffidence returned, and it was with
difficulty that he told her of his deep re-
gret at the insult she had suffered, of his
selfdismissal from the employment of
Mr.. Lickpenny, and of his sorrow at be-
ing unable to take her to the oratorio
that evening, as he knew she loved good
music.
"Do not mention it." she said; "you
have suffered too much for my sake. If
there is anything can do for you, pray
you let me do It," -.,.e1 80 -
Miss Coy" said John, his heartlspeak-
ing through his faltering lips, az have
lived alone, quite by myself, for number
of years and have few friends and no rel
atives to take care of me; can l ask you
to do so2"
"Oh, gladly!p she said II can spend
considerable time with you, and will read
to you or write for you as you wish.n
81 mean t0reUer," continued John, with
emphasis.
She put her hands to her face and burst
into tears; but, hearing John bitterly re.
pentlng his rudeness, she went to him
then and knelt beside the bed. Tenderly
he smoothed her hair and softly fell his
words upon her ear: "If l am nottoo old,
dear, it is indeed merry Christmas to
me-" And, raising her head and looking
into his kind, sad eyes, she answered /;
we will grow old, together, John," and
laid her head on his s happy breast
Five years have passed, and again the
bells are ringing on the eve of the blessed
holiday. John Marrowprat, seated in his
own house, with a fair r-haired child upon
his knee, hears them with a calm content.
ment, for the sad pictures of the past,
that OF old were conjured up by their sill
very tones, have grown dim, compared
with the happy pictures of the present.
DdilY GTuphic