Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-12-24
|@1T,g OF CHRISTMAS.
ny =. ANNIE FRosT.
- .r,a1n.in poos ]

# a. and inb h'aA' H., -
y ,,,t at each other. In the great city OF
pP ,ir rang with sounds Of holiday mer'
uonsas were brilliantly Illuminated,
L' .sn.lv decked trees we're surrounded
s'e'd Svod groups of little ones. Stores
'p''.s. "a with the representatives OF kriss-
DoI rora the patron saint Of the day was
r. rts IT,, cipa to the good old fashioned GUS
s,' .,octipe ., filing. Smiles lighted faces
" rave or sad on other days, and hap
'''s -e.,aI the yearly festival in many
,. one honee, however, where no lights
lee ,"S VT ,ha wipdows. where no christmas
all'U v,ting fr childrens greeting, whefe
'... aud sobs fell upon t:ie ear o' hhy
y, Not for poverty, Inc mouse was AiSe
n1.ome aud within every room pore iok-
,'S wealth Of its posseHsor.
tbs grim destroyer. VINO sl"ys ynit,i III, ~ p ~
q y, riches, who comes no" nteAitny, ~"
i. ,IS "a high and low. had placed bic
zSphann'n ,,,,ou y, ihs heir OF the stately home,
l.lVa in,a enfin had only a fortnight befure
ID ont OF the Nlus uoO''
tsu'A.lS" sou. .'n only child Of widowed mother
s, wa, hs;rsd plne-eyed boy OF four years
tupny y,;ainn.d ana died. though all that love
i ~ .,,, oanld compans was given for his re-
nd Uhen he was gone, tue world
~ IN tbr male mourning mother, who
s aarself alone to weep. refusing all comfort.
u ,l,a tiJa nf uetrlment swept along the
llI pot the cav city, Mrs Hilton ia her heavy
4 EN-, ,,.rnent4 sought the room OF her lost
il'IS .i ,bare solbed aud prayed for death, to
T' l". .ty.d ones. Sac was young. not thirty
..'r lnyrlv ia spite Of the traces OF grief
~ nsla facs and as size knott by her lit
a.lit,le led to ween and pray, the light
!n,,,,, her a,euned tuIluminAte some saint
ce aud t0lm. -. ..
=, tron, her own, and had beOn fitted up
'.sy f,r the petted young heir. The fur
Of delicate Cooring aid soft satin wood,
I, small 10 suit tho little hButo OF tue hoy
md across one end was shell full OF toys,
4. boys luys drums, horses, whips aud
more. A small bookcase held gayly cofor-
n of nursery literature, tales oi talrles
zaanis Mother Goose melo lies, anu stories
i ID boys aud gtls A 4 tie table ana GUAR
4gsndipp rear the window, as il waiting for
',ng cr'np,nt TO come aud draw childish
i. mon The slate in the dfawer,ior make
4r,Gu, wa. rnee 10 make chlldhol nd happy.
sT9et was strewn with lovely flowers, pic.
j ii chllren we're hung upon tue walls,
#.rc. Of children stood upon the MANTLE
and on bratAets. The small wardrobe III
#rrar held dainty suits OF tiue clothing, tho
manned coat and cap the boy had worn
i Nd last walked bb ids his foud proud
ri 'by tlsy ias elled cane the shining boots
Il tureau wore piles Of dainty linen, little
4 rr.ny pu,het hinlkerchlefs, the gay
that v,r1 wOru with suJh Jtuuty mir
II G.edark tpot was in the room, hnd II
- IA brightest snnshlna; tho kneelinB
She bat wept herae'f quiet, aud WAS
1er WAte beautiful face upon her boys
ahlH tine iulr upeHul softly. and lady
i, t,fnNu ago and closely RESEMBLING her,
70 softly
: ay we'll, Sybil;" she a. ked, kissing the
i facs thi pillow.
#ny the mother %, and tried to smile
! Gg Tor her only slster, whom she loved
4 5Hay,
VS. n7 a'l, Elsie" she answered lyon
E JIte and nad but that one. Let me
. ar am very desolato
q aus. know II, +" va the reply, but we
q ,a you tao Il YOU shut yourself up here to
cu-Htiy llny' irua for yOl to take
Il H.-tmas 'iIlyA am alone, and George
EJy with tie children. You will come p
ano c.nnUt.
s. . pllt folks will expects u4. L. is some
-.ito We have Hp5ut JAristmas Ev, in yls-
poor, aud il viii comfort you to think
a-e clunnt. | nill give vol tho m11-
B. viii XIII me to 90 ID you not rem Sun
ear, we took Frelitol can See MIN
HB we nt clatrhn lli to oae and an
i A, race fl lihlnB with pleasure, as he sail:
MAID Frui il5 wish yOua merry CIrist-
ra mbar, dsar Trv to think he will ba
4 d N,ul4ht Come with ms II the trial
81 il'rl tor yOa, will bring yOi h Jms, all
.t alne; but make the effort, SyOil, for
& tt lirel much urging and many tender,
5nmbats to cOuq1er Sybil M Irbld
70 tenlln alone in fredlls's room a1i
l'iar slo nal submttsl to have her cloak
oafi on, she liugerod there.
q closet, sle said -
ra Is tho sled That WAS to be fer Ohrist-
Z 49, aud the par OF rub lsr boots TO
st tic snow, like man You shall take
Aime for Willie, when you como back
not forgotten your little ones though
lo Promise to Mn you, tomorrow. All
sli's are in my room.
atAinied her with loving kiss. and then
r Ia the carriage whlcA was piled with pack
III JisAets Il hal bsen for many years
lla1f tho sisters to distribute personally
lh oi their large wealth amongst the poor
u n@lVo city, giving m luey, food. clothing
iefs Tor fuel AID giving what was as high.
5-l gentle sympathy and kindly counsel.
Ny0.' had last been amongst these humble
$50 had lost husband aud child aud III tuY
"a hand tremhled, many a tear dimmed the
llio7e 10 whom she spoke. as they prof
Wofls OF sympathy and cDmfOrt.
~ ler sister had hoped, It was doing her
70 iehie her home. and feel that there was
lof neI hands to do She realized iully as
4''4 lrem one poor home to annther that
'l&9ls giits were increased flur-IOld il
~ tue lact that in her own sorrow, she
Aal 1uaered the wants OF her fellow crea
Many hearty God bless aud comfort
ma am, though it was answered with
ilb up aud tearful eyes, vet laft its heal
lleDc' upon her heart. Elsie spared her
Ieh taking, by few whispered words to
sA1 would have torn her heart by refer
% lier griaf; and she did not claim thu
u 10 return il the effort oyertaxed her
Is alter nine o'clock, aud the carriage was
" NUM- VI lts lOau Mueu Elsle SAID =
VIC Is oae new family to visit, Sybil, aud
4'l We will go home.
Nao arc theyt'
l1)F WJmln living on tho outskirts OF tho
'Aa las been doing aOme sswin, for me
l1lae l' tiny one, bnt she rented one floor
949" Who Ii dying OF consumption il moi
Y dead II was her Kindness to the suffer
iser' IN tAo face of her own power y. that
l'to tae woman. Saving hard to sup.
~ aged mother AID four little ones OF hel
I'M ms forgiven this still poorer sister the
'4t lu3d lnto her mouth, and nurssd faith
her aylus bed. have comforts here
W, y aud some toys, flutt and cAnlies t.
s',iist'nas for the children"
!A' Is ier ngmb -
..l1Y B1 her lndser | think has sser
LpaEs Sae speaks like a person of re
1' ana educqiou. aud told ma her hut
4ei been wood engrayer. THIS is thi
.la ." are expected"
9"i5 tue Huiil 10 yar room, the ladiei
..i ai lTt7h Nomtn, poorly clad, who wal
F Watching ior them. sac spoke at onci
''5 '.siS iS too lato, ma'am. She's gone"
sNe' at four O'Clock, as easy as bah
9eep' i bave sent you word, if yol
~ NDu would b9 here this evening,