The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1874-12-25

A Lore sserv Of Forty Tears Ago.


CHRIsTMAS ar MOON FARM.
A Lsre Sferv u Fsvfv Tears Ago.
nv sptrH vraH.
Peace on earth and good will toward
men," sang the village children under my
window, in the early Christmas morning.
" Peace on earth, peace"
II reused me from my late slumbcrs,
and I rose and looked out. The sun had
just risen and shone cheerily over the
snowwhite fields. Everything seemed
fair and still, as if rejoicing in the good
tidings" I had come the day before
from the city, worn out with two months
Of gsyety and excitement, to Moor Farm,
70 rest to refresh the soul with an interval
Of truth and simplicity, Of hearty gen.
uine life, such as made Moor Farm a
Paradise, and Aunt Rhoda and Uncle
Nathan the most delightful of hosts. /
was just in the mood to be pleased, and
1t thrilled me with pleasure to hear those
young, sweet voices rising on the frosty
air, blending in their song of peace. They
were Aunt Rhoda's pensioners, and they
had come carly to carry home to waiting
parents their store ofChristmas blessings.
This song was their voluntary tribute of
thanks. / think it did Aunt Rhoda good
20 hear it. Her face beamed on me when
l went down stairs, from behind the
great silver cofee-pot, with the look of
one who was at peace with herself, the
world and Heaven.
That was happy Christmas day. /
did not hear, even in fancy, one city
sound, or see one city sight. l put far
from me the worldiness and WEAKNESS.
gave myself up to the simple pleasures of
child, and ] was rewarded by the child
ish joy which stole into my heart.
/ had often before wondered at the
perfect happiness of Aunt Rhoda and
Uncle Nathan. Youth had passed them
by, leaving not single rose or leaf of its
vanished summer. Five children had
been born to them. Five graves they
had made in the church-yard, and now
they were going down the hill of life
alone. And yet they were happy.
Brightest eyes that ever have shone T"
were no fuller of joy than Aunt Rhoda's.
Sweetest lips that ever were kissed ("
could never have been more merry or
kindly. did not understand it. When
youth should forget me, could l ever
hope to be the hale, happy old lady / adj
mired in her?
The day had passed. We had said
our Christmas prayers, eaten our Christ
mas dinner, and we sat in the mellow
glow Of the brentwood fire, in peaceful,
twilight talk. A thought that had been
busy in my mind all day at length found
utteronce.
did you ever suffer anything, Aunt
Rhoda 2"
"Suder, Edith! You ak that ques-
tien Of woman who has borne and
buried five children"
know il, aunt, but that kind of suf
fering is not quite what mean. 1t comes
TO women who are past the impulsiveness
Of girlhood. ] mean when you were
young--troubles about love, or did
your destiny aud your happiness find
you together ~
Uncle Nathan smiled.
" ] see what you are after, Edith. You
want TO hear your aunt's love-story 1t
wasn't all sunshine for her when she was
young, any more than other young
hearts. I'll tell ii all to you if she
won't.
when was twenty-one my father
lived here on Moor Farm, where his
father and grandfather had lived before
him. He would have liked nothing bet
to. ths- q keep me At home with him,
but l had higher notions | resolved TO
go To New Orleans---the South was our
Eldorado then---and make a fortune
which should quite surpass the modest
competence to which was heir prospec-
tive. j had more than one thought of
pretty Rhoda Fairbanks when made
this resolution, though l had never
spoken 10 her of love sunno.e whon
YOU look AT Aunt Rboda si,ting ,hera
you see only a good fat eomiortable Iool'
inc old lady Of siytv nm, INV ovo"
dim now. and | can zee her a GOOD deal
more MAINLY AS she Looked Gor,v.6ye
years AGO. when awber st.nding a. hor
fathers gate ON am Anr;l morning tho
went AWAY She wa.a Gtbe
brisk little tbing with a ronnd Trim