The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1873-05-29

tendance chabJeu VIII tlem ~ cAeef-
ful equality, wherein the sole line of
social distinction lay in his remaining
standing while they were seated.
"Real Christmas weather this, said
Mr. Johnston.
But Norham's very duh, answered
NIr. Lee.
They're a dead-and-alive set Of peo-
pie, now-the Norhamites, said Mr..
Johnston, who was one himself, and
would allow nobody else to abuse
them. It used to be different in my
young days. remember it was quite
gay, what with the oxen roasting to be
given in charity, and the puddings
boiling for the same, and everybody
that was. any. ways conpected with the
church-and everybody seemed to be In
those days-invited to tea in the town
hall. And usedn't there to be fine ca
rol singing through the streets And
rare Christmas sermons he used to
preach, the old rector that was, IN my
young days.
"A All, that was Mr.. Rogerson, /" put in
Peter, directing his thumb toward the
open door. GIVE just been showing
that gent that bit of an old sketch mp
agin the wall. He broke the good old
gentleman's heart, that young scamp
did.
"Ah, yes, and did deal Of harm to
Norham every way, pursued Mr..
Johnston "we'ye never had a lively
Christmas since I remember the first
after his going of. What could people
do when they knew there was nothing
but misery in the reelory house2 The
town kept just as quiet as ever it could,
and it couldn't do less every Christmas
after, during the rector's days. And so
it got out of tho good old ways"
''Poor young Rogerson, said old
Lee. 81 used to think there was
something good in the young fellow,
for all his wildness, and always hoped
he'd right himself, till he went and did
that wickedness that set man against
him, as well as God.
''I don't know about good or not,
persisted Mr.. Johnston, g but I know
it took years and years before his sis
ter Mary looked mp again. Only at
last, as time began to .thicken over the.
tender spots O. grief and shame she
kind of took heart. Says she once to
my dear wife that's dead, Mrs. John
ston, our poor Dick was the child of
many prayers, and I've faith God viii
keep hold of him. And then she took
fancies that he was dead And I no.
ticed she was happier-like after that
just as one breathes frecr in a house af-
ter the dearest corpse is buried. As for
poor Tom Rogerson, his brother ruined
him for this life, any way. Maybe he
needn't but poor Mr.. Tom was awful
proud and sensitive. Miss Mary, she
told my wife that her brother Tom said
he'd never ask people to trust him, be-
cause he couldn't expect they would,
after his brothers ways, and he wouldn't
lay himself open to be half trusted and
watched, and suspected all the time
And so, he that was SO clever, stayed a
poor under-clerk all the rest Of his DAYS,
and has left his poor widow Just to
struggle on and get what places she
can for her boys. Such pretty, dain-
ty miss, as she used to be, and now
she's wearing an old rusty silk tllat's
been turned and turned till she's for
\ gotten which is its real right side. I
should think what their uncle did
won't go against my sons, Mr.. John
ston, she said only the other day.
Bless you, Mrs. Tom,' says 7, half
the town people are new since then.
SIN always so afraid he'll come back,
says she I'm sure I don't wish him
not to repent, says she, I always hoped
he would-but can't help thinking of
my own, and for their sakes, I'd rather
II came back. The more PEN
itent he is the mole he'll stay away,
ma'am, says I. 1T isn't as if the whole
story was above ground still, and he'd
only got to be forgiven and all would
go well, but there's some that's dead
that died in wrath and bitterness with
others for his sake. Look at poor old
Mrs. Rogerson-how she turned against
Mr.. Tom, good, dutiful son as he was,
because he wouldn't stay by Mr. Dick
through thick and tlnn, and defend him
as if he were innocent. Poor, dear old
lady, she knows better where she's been
this many a day. But Mr.. Dick had
better wait to ask your forgiveness till
he can ask hers too You forgive him,
ma'am, says I and that's enough foi
you, but maintain that he'd have nc
right to come disturbing your mind tC
ease his own. .
"There was one that would hav,
been glad to see him, had he returned
in ever so much shame and misery,
said kindly old Mr., Lee.
cay, ay. " cliimed Peter; "L know
r who you mean. You know she was OF
the charity school committee, and wheI
3 the lection board met here. she Away
E just stepped in yonder and took lool
4 at that rum picture on the wall Sht
q never thought I saw her. She neve
o thought nobody was looking at her
S My old woman says she always Wake,
4 regular among them green avenues b,
+ the old abbey, where she used TO wall
: with Mr.. Dick when he was oourtint
of her. Maybe she thought he'd be sur
K to go there, if he'd ever coned back
G At that instant the stranger cam
+? suddenly out of She brown closet
!, crossed the coffe-room, left the house
n and walked mp the street toward tia
e main quatter of the town
a Quaint old Norham = The winte
a moonlight ley clear and cold on it's en-
& cient cathedral. standing in It's spaciou
il square OF sombre. stately houses. Th
& stranger stood still and gazed upon Il
That stranger knew little boy VIII
had attended many service in tbs
d csthedral-owed by its sweet musi,
r wondering at its white-robcd chorizter.
:. That little boy had known every fac
E on that quaint gargoyles Of ihc snciel