The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1873-05-29

Norham he ate in this room, sir, and (
rare lot of ham and eggs he did &c
through, sir, and never minded q bi
that the policeman was watching O.
him."
The gentleman said not one word.
"He's queerer than ever" confidc(
the waiter to tho old cook, as he receiv
cd the tea and toast from her hands
81 began to tell him about young Rog
erson, but he did not listen bit, die
not even ask if he was hanged or any
thing. It's like taking meal to {
ghost, that it is.
"You might do better than poke NJ
old stories about as bad young SCAMP
as ever lived to disgrace an honest
family" retortod the old cook, who
was sharp in her temper "and as tc
ghosts, there are plenty o ghosts every.
where, for them as has sense to see
EN-, Peter, but l don't think you need
be afeared."
Meanwhile another Norham trades
man had dropped into the coffee-room,
and Peter, in the intervals of his at.
tendance, chatted with them in cheer.
full 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 dull" answered
Mr.. Leo.
"They're n 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. l 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 connected with the
church-and everybody seemed to be in
those days-invited to tea in the town
hall. And uscdn'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"
"Ah, that was Mr.. Rogcrson," put in
Peter, directing his thumb toward the
open door. GIVE just been showing
that gent that bit of an old sketch up
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've never had lively
Christmas since I remember tho first
after his going off. What could people
do when they knew there was nothing
but misery in the rcctory house? 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 the good old ways
"Poor young Rogcrson," said old
Lee. "I 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"
81 don't know about good or not, "
persisted Mr.. Johnston, "but | know
it took years and years before his Sis
ter Mary looked up 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 will
keep hold of him. And then she took
fancies that he was dead. And | no.
ticed she was happier-like after that
just as one breathes freer in house Of
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
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 n pretty, dain-
ty miss, as she used to be, and now
she's wearing an old rusty silk that's
been turned and turned till she's for
gotten which is its real right side. I'll
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 I, 'half
the town people are new since then
I'm always so afraid he'll como back,
says she I'm sure 1 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
h er came back 'The more pen
itent he is the more he'll stay away,
ma'am, says I. 1T isn't as if the whole
sIor,n ,una nhnrn nronnd still nnd he'd