The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1874-05-28
1t Might Have aeen.

was horribly lonesome. W hat could
do with myself 1t is only about Christina:
time that the responsibility of my indvid
nality hangs heavily upon me; my hnsi-
ness engroSses me for the most part for
had been more successful in money mat
ters than in any other interest in lie Bu,
now the holidays were here Everything
IN my neat chambers WAS orderly and com
Portable; and had \ real satisfaction in
the feeling that they belonged To me But
how lonesome they We're, A fellow Just
passed my window with a covered basket
on one arm, and on the other happy
looking woman chatterng gaily as she
walked. We'll, | might have had 4 wife,
If it had not been for Charlcy's perfidy-
yes, and Emma'S too, for | suppose she
was rs much 10 blame as he was
wonderi eitherot them We're to blame: :
Love goes where il is sent, they say. and
really suppose they could not help loving
each other. Poor Emma. Proud, splendid
woman; | should like to know what hey
fate has been, 1t seems strange that have
never heard one word from them since
that Christmas eve on which they elopcd
She waste have married me before another
Christmas. but Charley was Younger and
handsomcr than |, and there We're such
brilliant indications of genius about him.
Strange that they have not been realized !;
and surely they have not, or should have
heard. o. if could only see them again ,
had forgiven them both before the exp-
ration of the first year. in my anxiety
about them; for how could forget the
charge OF my dying mother Take him.
Paul, she said 'be good. and tender, and
true to him, all the days of your life. No
matter with what ingrattude he may re-
pay Your kindness-torgive him not only
seven times, but seventy times seven. Be
to him more than a brother, my trusted
child; till my vacant place for him. Say
TO yourselt-it will be true-there is no
crime on earth that would cause my moth
er to cast one of her children out. The
more abandoned. the more wretched they
become, the more my affection shall COM
fort and solace them, until at last, with a
patience that never wearies, and a zeal
that never flags, and 4 love whose strong
wings bear all burdens upward, will land
them within the portals Of that eternal
home where sin and sorrow can come no
more forever"
And now four years had slipped down
anxiety, until felt that | would gladly
sight Of their dear faces once more. -"
| will get away from these torturing
thoughts. | said; | will 90 out and seek
some adventure, praying my good spirit
to lead me where can make a Christmas
for somebody, though may not have one
for myself put on my wraps and started.
The streets were thronged; how brilliant
w the lights shone and what an array Of
Christmas cheer they illuminated. And
then to see the toys-O, if | had child to
make happy with gift Why, here is a
whole bevy of ragged little urchins, shiv-
ering around a pastry cooks window
Now, good spirits, whose duty it is to in
spire us to generosity, | shall commit no
act of disinterested beneyolence tonight /;
but will make these youngsters happy If
you will grant me some reasonable recon-
pense. So | called them in, and bought
as they directed they We're so engrossed
and so joyful they forgot to thank me, and
departed with arms full of good things for
their different homes But when they
We're gone, the old lonely feeling return
ed to me, and l thought uncomtortably OF
my bachelor Christmas again.
i pt9Stt lIt lltNI tlttA soOliltiioN. Z
a good deal to the friendless little ones on
the strcet-Gods children-still holding
firmly by my compact with my spirit
friends, and asking frankly tor reimburse
ment Why not? Have not we the promise
that, if we cast our bread upon the waters.
after many days it will return to us9
On Christmas morning, as passed out
of my door, found q child sitting quietly
on the step, eating a bunch of raisins. lie
looked hearty and comfortable, though
poorly clad, that at first ! thought he mus!
belong to some of my neighbors. But no
| had looked at all OF 1nese so longingly
and so tenderly, knew them as we'll as il
they had been my own | thonght I'd
speak to him
"llow d'u do, Young man ?"
"Dood morny he said slowly, in a ricl
baby contralto
did not know what to say next. n,
matter-he did. He took a wet raisin IRON
out his rosy mouth and handed ii to me,
"Ain't 90 hungry, poor man ?" he said
declined his hospitality, but his lips
Iuiyered. and tears came into his eyes.
20, yes" | said quickly, seeing wha
allied him; 81 would like TO have some
raisns;" and stopped down beside him
| His face cleared Instantly, and he com
menced feeding alternately puttins
one grape in my mouth and one in his.
thought was doing him favor; he kneu
he was doing me a favor, and as tn,
grapes disappeared began to look uneasy
"Aint 90 dot enough ?' he said
80 no, not half enough yet"
'Es 90 is dot enough, now dey'll max,
| r.; olr ha oil Ia
a good-sized handful-into his owl
mouth. Well, it was not fair, but | re
served my opinion of his conduct an'
asked him his name.
'Dotty," he said.
Where is your mother ?"
"Don't know
"Where is your father
Don't know
where do you live?'
Mes doin to live with oo
with me?"
"Es-my nanny telled me so
Your NANNY told you so? Where i
your NANNY ?''
''Her don'd off,
''What is your mammy's name?"
He looked me over from head to foot
mentally gauging the extent OF my idiocy
and then answered scornfully: NANNY
named mlaolnay; don't 90 know dat?'
And she said you were to live wit
me ?''
''Es; she said if me would, oo'd dit m
lots of pretty sings"
| felt like the man who drew the ele
phant by lottery. "Its most deuced cool,
| said.
'Es, it awfy tool said the young man
rising; "ets do in de house"
/ In the house, and divested of his wraps
he was as much at home as if he had a
ways lived there. The first thing he di
was to harness a chair to the head of tn
lounge with an old pair Of suspenders, an
then to get on himself and commence driN