Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-12-19
JOHN MARROWPRAT'S CHRIST.
MAS.
BY WILLIAM AMBROSE.

BY WILLIAM AMBROSE.
"It's very odd" said John Marrowprat
scratching his head with the end of his
penholder, and looking obviously at the
columns of figures he had been adding up
MIR. Marrowprat had been clerk for
Josiah Lickpenny, ship-chandler, for ten
long years, but never, in all his experience
had he encountered so obstinate a set OF
figures as those before him. Three times
had he carefully arranged and compared
them, each time in different way, but
every combination had successfully re-
sisted his endeavors to strike proper
balance. Whether it was owing to the
fact that the solitary candle. mounted in
the neck of an old ink-bottle, gave so poor a
light, or that the DAYS labor had been
very arduous, or that his mind was en-
ployed upon some other subject than the
one then before it, do not know. Ger.
tain it was that the results he obtained
were anything but correct, and they so
perpleXed him that from scratching his
head he. proceeded to rub his. nose, and
afterwards gazed into the three-cornered
bit oflooking glass tackled up before him
to SEQ if any wandering ink had found a
resting-place on his face. Satisfied that
such was not the case, he ran the fingers
of his left hand carelessly through his
locks, and saw for the first time that here
and there gray hair had entwined itself
with its brown fellows. Then he put his
pen in his mouth and, biting it, allowed
his thoughts to wander much in this wise /:
"Christmas Eve again. Christmas Eve
the happiest eve Of all the long year to
many; but to John Marrowprat the
gloomiest? Hasn't he got good position
at a fair salary, with the prospect OF seeing
q q new sign hung over the door in the near
iuture pearlnS tho nAnnos of TiiOhpcuny
u Marrowpratg Hasn't he got a COM
Portable back-room at Mrs. Windle's, with
a little stove in it that does heat terribly
when well fed, and a large, cozy rocking.
chair, and shelf of books, and a
table with two drawers in it, and pleas.
ant light? Isn't there old Mr.. Windle to
talk to, and Miss Coy to play chess with?
Miss Coy to be sure. l must have PLAYED
as many as twenty games with her, and
yet, now that l think of it, we are not
well acquainted She seems to be very
nice little body though, and has a very
pleasant smile; a smile very like the one
that so frequently illumined mothers
kind face. All, the old homel How Joy.
Gus were the holidays l spent there |!
Again can l hear mothers gentle reproof
for our boisterOusness, and again do see
the ruddy face of father as he heaps the
wood upon the roaring fire. Those were
happy days beneath the old roof-davs
never to return; for the earth covers all
those dear faces that no longer can bright
en- at the sound of Christmas bells-no
longer gather about the dear old family
board"
There were tears in simple John Mar
rowprats eyes as he trimmed the caRdle
and turned again to his figures.
John" said Mr.. Lickpenny, thrusting
very red face, surrounded by frame of
stubborn sandy hair, through the little
window in the partition that divided the
private Office from the store, "when can I
have a statement?"
"Almost any time, sir; I'll come down
after supper and finish up" answered Mr.
Marrowprat, wiping his pen on his coat
sleeve, and proceeding to close and put
away the books.
Mr.. Lickpenny shut the little window,
but Immediately reappeared in the door
way, and, advancing, said:
we'll John, it's Christmas. Eve, and
payday, too"
Yes" replied John, somewhat sadly
III has always been my Gust ON, us you
well know, to add something to the usual
wages at this time of the year." continued
Mr.. Lickpenny, producing well.worn
pOcket-book, "but money has been so aw-
fully tight with me for the past few
months, and things work so uncommon
bad that-eh II have thought it best to
dispense with that little ceremony. Of
course, to one who expects a change in
the condition of things, and is in meas
ure preparing for that change (which is
not as far distant a. it might be), this is
no great disappointment. l only mention
this, MIR; Marrowprat, that you may know
the whole matter"
AS he handed his honest clerk the
amount of his weeks salary there was
cunning CLEAN of the eyes and twitching
at the corners of the mouth that ll-befitted
the gravity of his speech.
$50 far as that's concerned sir referr-
ing, OF course, to O'the promise of advance.
ment you have made, I've always endeav-
Ored TO do my duty. It in time, | have
become worthy of closer CONNECTION. !
shall endeavor to deserve it," answered
John, as in substance he had answered
many times before. ..Hr y.
Mr. Liekpenny nodded and smiled, and
so did John. Then Mr.. Lickpenpy went
back into his little office, rubbing his
hands; and John, putting on his great
coat, went forth into. the cold evening air.
The lamps were lighted throughout the
city, and the toy and candy stores were
resplendent with gold and red and silver
ornamentation. As he passed one of them,
and saw the throng'of pleasant-faced peo
PIC, within, purchasing happiness for the
little ones at home, his heart was heavy
with the thought that there was no little
sou, near and dear, for him to gladden. on
the morrow. J.. 49, T.-T,.I
1t was short walk to Mrs. Windle,s
boarding house, and, soon reaching II, he
entered by means Of latch-key. He had
built fire at noon, and his room was
now warm, but IL ere was an air of lone
illness TO it that it had never worn before
After washing, he passed the few minutes
elapsing before supper in looking over
the evening paper, copy of which he
had purchased on his way home His
eye naturally sought the amusement col.
umn---not that he was in the habit of fre.
quenting theaters, but because he hoped
10 ma there some cheerful notices of
Christmas pantomimes and plays. There
were, indeed, several announcements of
this sort of entertainment, but thew were
not attractive. The time had been when
he had read with delight the names of the |