The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-11-16
TnE sAlLoYs RETURN.
A CHnIsTAtAs STORY.

ia Nl
A oHn1sTAtAs STORY IA q
II was Christmas eve. n For anahoui
or more 1 had been seated before the
chimney.place gazing into the fire, in.
dulging in o retrospeetion. i am "a
bachelor. But Christmas Is not the
2 only day I devote 10 dreaming for i
am one Of those 'indiyiduals who live
much In the past, and often, as twilight
.deepens into darlnesE, II lsit peefihR
back into the hazy, past, in fancy snatch.
ing again scenes which bring 10 j my
vision sweet, childish face, framed In
aprofusioE Of yellow ringlets, face
that mado an impression on my ,boyish
heart, Which time can never efface.
That Evoke within me the first wild
thril Is OF love-true, ihdplgihg love. "a
iaH,e too heavenly for this world, 30
Tod called it away early. When
looked upon IL for the last time before
The coffin lid shut II forever from my
vlew-my yonng heart chilled within
me, and I feryently prayed that j, too.
might die. From the moment that /
heard the harsh earth lthad upon the
coffin that contained the form OF my
child love, / became something of q re-
cluse. / had come to Cliffyille on bust.
ness n few days previous TO theopening
of my story, intending 10 return on, the
following day; but before I had been
in town two hours an old acquaintance
of mine-the gout-took It upon him.
self to pay me q visit; i was obliged
to forego all business and remain In
Snysroom in the ClitfYille Hotel Christ
mas eve found me much improved.
But tho prospect Of spending the day
atavillage tavern, where ! tEaB, % total
stranger, did not present to me m tih.
pleasant aspect, although sense Of ex.
treme loneliness stole over me, and the
silence and gloom OF the room Qor 1T
was now quite dark) oppressed me. /
Pot some wood upon the fast expiring
Goals and lighted up my lamp. I paced
up and down the narrow room to keep
warm. BY degrees my thoughts ,dritt-
ed into o strange channel, and sudden
ly, and for the frst time in my exist.
ence, I realized whata useless, selfish
being was-that 1 had been looking
atlife through q defective glass. I
was simply Isaac, ,Alderton, O moody old
bachelor, with an intellect in no way
superior TO the average, but possessing
a goodly stock Of thisayorld's goods,
which / had managed and used for the
qualification Of my own selfish whims
and iancies, never for n moment think.
ing OF the want and suffering around
me. Iwould turn oyerDa new Leaf and
date IL Christmas eve, 1856;
A few moments later found me care
fully picking my way over the slippery
pavement Of the main street Of the
town. In the store.windows, which
were illuminated as. brightly as o plen.
tiful array Of oil.lamps and metal re.
flectors would permit, articles Of every
description were displayed in the most
.ienticing manner. Groups, OF men,
women, and children were collected be.
fore the most attractive windows. gazing
admifingly at their alldring contents,
while others hurried hither and thither
laden with numerous packages, contain
ing articles destined to make both
young and old hearts bound with pleas.
ure on the morrow. The jingle Of bells,
as merry sleighing parties dashed over
the crisp snow, tho peals of laug ghter
that reached my ear, aud, the happy
smiling faces that met my gaze az every
turn, combined TO almost convince me
that care had been yanquished for q
time. and mirth aud happiness had
usurped its place.
I had been walking quite briskly for
some moments, humning half aloud
odd lines from old songs, having quite
forgotten my mission, when the dis
tance between store-windows, and the
infreauency Of street lamps, notified
me that I was approaching the suburbs
Of the town. u; ssi.!
Going back away, I lad stopped op.
posite the show.window Of little con.
lection and toy,storeT Before this
window, looking with longing eyes OF
The wonders within, stood q little girl,
thinly and poorly clad; and by her side
holding her hand in his, an old man
with sorrowful, careworn face. =,
1ohl grandpa, amt they beauti.
iul ~ exclaimed the child. "See that
doll with light hair. Isn't she lovely
How I wish she were mine but you
can't buy her for me, can you r.
q 'W Not tonight, /" replied the old dnan,
with q hali.suppresSed sigh. But
sometime, perhaps, my little Aggie car
bayea for finer one-when grandpa geu
He smiled family, then turned hir
ewes from The window and gasea away
into the darkness, The light fell upor
his face, when could easily discer1i
the deep traces Of care, disappointment
and age. ,ql..
,''Sohl how ! wish I , had. \, s some \, Q Q