The Hawaiian gazette., 1874-12-23
HAWAIIANGAZETTE
TURNED FROM THE DOOR.
A CHRISTMAs JOB.


TuRsboro' and its neighborhoOd for about thu
same length of lime. 1t has changed very much
however, 10 the few years preceding. TweIv,
or fifteen years ago the whole region was wild
rough, bleak. aud inhOspitable.
The house which now occupy had been in
habted BY my father and grandfather. Where II
now stands was thea wood, jus, before the bin:
commenced to rise toward Hodane; and there
was not then a single other house within two
miles on the Holdane side, and something like 8
mile and half on the other. toward Burn.
courted and won wife at Holdaue. had
my wedding day, or rather wedding night, Fixed
AFTER two years Of engagement. suppose tha,
must have been madly in love with Milly Col
den. She was very young-even younger than
myself; thought her very handsome, and quite
worthy Of all the affection that l could besiOw
upon her certainly thought could give more
of that security Tor welded happiness than most
men Of my age.
Milly Golden was the eldest daughter of par
tially-invalid widow lady, living at Holdane,
pinching along little, was often afraid Though
I did not dare insult them by limiting at assist
anee, or even making direct inquiry. on a small
Efe-annuiiy LEFT her by her deceased husband. a
clergyman; and something Of habiiual sadness
being connected with the family history and ira
ditiOns, through the loss at sea, many years be-
fore of no less than three of the brothers of
Miny's mother, all sea-faring men. aud more or
less scapegraces, perhaps remembered but the
more fondly on the latter account. II is ueces-
sary again to be particular ia saying that Mrs
Golden was not 40 old resident. but had accom-
panied her husband some years after marriage,
from the coast line, her family history being far
less known, and her circle Of visiting acquain-
lance much more limited. than they might have
been in the event Of her original residence in the
neghborhood.
How it was that my wedding night was set for
Christmas, forget, if 1 really ever knew.
At all events, the marriage was arranged for
Christmas night, III the room 10 her mothers
house where we had 50 often sat hand in hand to
talk over the love of the present and the hopes
of the future. And never did expectaut bride.
groom look forward 70 any one period with such
certainty Of happiness, as to that Christmas
evening.
Nature, meanwhile, was as gay as my hopes,
and as pure as those Of my bride for the snow
lay over all the region, shrouding everything that
might have been ugly or offensive. Then long
period Of clear cold weather seemed to have set
in, lasting for many days with only the change of
its gradually growing keener and keener, until at
the verge Of Christmas the atmosphere must have I
touched zero and gone far below it
What was cold weather-nay freezing wealth
er, however, to heart as young. as warm and
impeiuous as mine! Was not Milly TO be mine
on Christmas night, and comfort my life there
afieri l well remember the warm, blushiug kiss
she gave me as left her on Tuesday morning,
after making the excuse Of carrying her up a pair
Of shoes aud some ribbons, while the fact was, l
suppose, l felt the impossibility Of waiting two
whole days without sight of her, the proprieties
keeping me absent On the last night
Of unmarried life.
How fearfUly cold that last night shut down
remember Its chill as it had been but yesterday
The snow crunched under the foot with that Pc
,uliar metallic sound Indicative of every fake
'eing frozen anew; the stars winked with chill
FILTER that seemed steely and pitiless and the
lorthwest wind bit home like the driving of sharp
cieles into the flesh. 1t was an awful night, ,
Pite Of the calm of the heavens night long
o De remembered; how to be remembered By
me-
II came O'Clock, and We had finished supper /
iy father was absent. but was momeniariIy ex-
'ected. came out from the house, and found S
ny stepmother-the dearest aud best of women, 8
7hOm | loved quite IS well as could have done 1
y own understanding at the yard gate. c
Trough the dusk, could see that ragged. uu- e
leanly-lookng old fellow was at the gate, aud b
Ould hear their conversation. He was asking O
be privilege of staying all night, and she was
Eidently hesitaiing. knew why she was doing +,
D. Within tEentJ-four hours our home would :
e fol- Of visitors, attracted by the wedding ard !.
he Christmas festivities; ard how could she al
~ that uneieaniy tramp to contauinate one of =
sr snowy white a0d immaculate beds-perhaps |,
feet whole chamber. !
4 ueA4u tAak uOuOt 10 uer voice, and echoed o
God forgive me- I was SO much younger \
len, and so much less aware Of the scares which ),
lines and follies make on our natures as well as !
II livesl Sometimes think oar love and our :,
lPpiness make Us for the moment harder and :,
ore selfish, just as at other moments they soften :
ID refine Us, was SO happy, just then, think.
at the world was nothing to me- Above all, I
anted 10 strangers, and certainly no dirty stran- "
rs, mingIiug with the family and my great joy.
The man was pleading. even after the refusal, m
be allowed to stay and heard him. in q voice u
ct sounded foreign and outlandish. though be y
Is speaking good English enough, saying some :"
ing aboat Hold2uer
" PsbaE mother, you have debated long - J,
Ough with that old stragglerl7 said. aHe :.
iOEs about Holdane. and no doubt can easily :.
d bis way there. Send him on, and come IN :.
1 Of the cold, with your bare head and no ~
avL"
q There, NY good man, you hear what my son ia
r. said ny mother, thus strengthened Tor va
akeued) BY ny words. We cannot do any m'
ING for you tonight; all fall Right up the p0
d there. oulv a coupla Of miles that i the De