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

cilsp show with the crurcLing sounC
peculiar to zero weather, as they hur
ned onward, listening TO the lively
c little sleigh bells, the deep, SINGLE note
OF the church bells, and the errati,
chime of St. Nebat's, which, having
lost its final note, persisted in running
down the scaie-dO, 81, la, sol, ia, mi
re- do, 81, Ia, sol, ia, mi, re-until al
the musicians within range, wrought
up to frenzy by long-coniinued ex
pectauon, felt ike opening the
window and roaring out the missing
final do. 1t was ten O'Clock; break
fast was over, and l was amusing my.
self with Christmas decorations. The
room was large, with a rich hued
carpet of small, mixed figures, crimson
curtains, and crystal chandelier filled
with wax tapers; one or two vivid
pictures stood out on the plain gray
walls, and an easel held little crayon
sketch of two elves dragging a Christ
mas tree across the snowy fields to,
ward a lighted cottage beyond. In
the centre of the room q round table
was spread with a crimson cover, odd
Chinese china, frosted glass, and just
enough silver to light up the whole ;
while from the epergne, the mantel
vases, tops OF the pictures. and the
gilded scrollwork of the mirror, sprays
and branches of holly, with its red
berries, and hemlock, with its brown
cones, clambered in gay proiusion,
filling the warm air with the fragrant
Odors OF the forest. A few easy. chairs,
broad sofa, with heaps of Turkish
cushions, and an upright piano, com
pleted the furniture of the room ; a
recess, filed with shelves, held books,
free to the touch and destitute of lock,
glass, er coyer-old friends worn with
the long watches they had kept in
kindly companionship through my
otherwise lonely hours. Looking
around my domain, felt satisfied With
the warmth, fragrance, color, light,
and silent music OF the whole. AL
though an old maid, and consequently
forced at times to eat the Legendary
salad for the solitary, l did not mix it
with the pronged malice, bladed
severity, and acid temper ascribed to
my class; but with health as firm as
the hard d-boiled egg, temper as even
as the oil, and, above all, the crested
silver fork of wealth, / cheerfullY mix
ed my salad-tor the solitary if need
be, but for the social, il friendly hos
pitsli;y could accomplish the wish
This bright Christmas-day l expected
Cousin Eva, Aunt Penelope, and a
distant relative, Mr.. Adam Brown, to
dine with me. Lonely body that ]
was, preferred TO live in a city
boarding house, where space was nee
essarily limited, and one room served
as parlOr, library, and dining room ;
but deit Lucy, black Tony, and the
skilled cook of neighboring restaur-
ant managed TO make my one room as
pleasant as the long vistas Of palace,
perhaps more so.
st. Nebat's kept at it; and as l
equipped myself for the outside
weather, and mentally supplied the
missing do, Tony brought me a note.
DEAR ALExANDRIA,-Ate telegram Just re-
ceived from Adam. He can not leave Per-
| sepOlis until to O-morrOw. Eva has bad head
| ache, anal do not like to Ieaveher You will
be lonely; ecme and dine withns. In haste.
| PENELOPE WALLACE"
] was vexed. l was more than
vexed; was angry. l glanced at
the holly, the wax-lights, and the gilt
tering table; l silently enumerated
the courses oI my iss.al ain"o- !
wrote the following reply:
"DEAR AUNT PEN-I am sorry you can not
I visit me to-day, but shall not be lonely, as
1 have other guests invited.
Yours in haste, ,,-
st. Nebas's still rang its dislocated
chime, and going out into the clear
air, l Joined the bustling throng all
intent on Christmas, although its in
Perception varied from sacred anthem
to jOvial chorus, from turkey and
Cham, agne to sausages and lager, and
from an aesthetic discussion to a bill
lard match. Still angry, entered
st Nebat's open door, and seated my
self in a corner of my pew. The
chime ceased, and the organ pealed
forth joyous strain, as host OF chill
dren standing in the aisles walked for
ward, singing their Christmas Carol
Though poorly dressed, and showing
many wan and sickly faces among their
ranks, the little voices rang cheerily
out IN a genuine child's tune, that al
most sang itself along by sheer force
of the swinging melody:
"Carol, carol, Christians,
Carol joyfulIy;
Carol for the coming
| OF Christ's nativity;
And pray a gladsome Christmas for all good
Christian men:
Carol, carol, Christians, for Christmas como
A little lame girl filed her place in
the ranks with earnest energy, singing
sweetly as her crutches sounded OF
the stone floor. As she passed me q
ray from the stained glass window.
lit up her pale face, and the feeling
came over me Ike a wave, "Do 1 re
pine with health, friends, and fortune
while this poor wait, helpless and des
tituta, so cheerfully bears her harC
lot ?n When the children were seated
the service began, and from the open
ing anthem to the closing benedictior
ali breathed the spirit of Christmas
Glad music told the tidings OF grea
ioy, the royal Psalms and glowing
pages from the Prophets were read
and the sermon made an appeal 70
charity-responded to by heapeC
contribution plates, not a hand refus
ing its mite on Christmas day. Dow
The aisle and out into the stree. tn
thronging congregation whispered It
greetings and good wishes a; sorrow
seemed forgotten, and for once car
seemed left behind. Finding the lam
child with some difficulty, endeavor
ed to persuade her TO return HON
with me Blushing with tImidity, lit
|. tie Jane murmured that Mrs. NJ Me
might not like it.
"We will ask Mrs. M'Niel," / said
only the more determined aso bstacle
rose in my D .th +; and taking the chill,
=. in a carriage, we drove down into tn
business part OF the town, and thread
ing our way through lanes in the res
of sombre warehouses, stopped at
BRICK tenament house which the chill
pointed out as 'home." Followin
the sound of her crutches through tn
dark passages, came at last to sma
room, where a gaunt woman, introdu'
ed as MRS. M'NIel," received m
with"An' what's your wuil with JAM
ma'am?
Iexplained that l had seen the chil
at church, and wished to take NJ
home TO dine with me.
"Oh, ye can take her an welcome
It's not much use she is to me, Wit
them legs. Her mother died in II
next room an left her baby-tt
swatest lamb of the world as liver wa
an l hadn't the heart to turn her oi
She's a good little thing, but she can
arm much, and me working me fng
to the bune-the mother of ten OF n
e. own"
ID, Leaving a present for the ten, hu
ried away from the wretched hom
and, with Jane besideme, drove rapid
back into the airy avenue whe