The Richmond palladium., 1874-12-23
The Birds. Chrtstmas s,arnI-


try, with steel blue sky and frozen sea.
1t is song in the air. The simple
peasants make the birds that inhabit
those rude coasts and icy valleys so
very happy on this one day of the year
that they sing of their own accord a
glad carol on Christmas morning, and
all the people come out of their houses
and rejoice to hear it.
On Christmas Eve, after the birds
have sought shelter from the north
wind, and the still night is bright with
stars, the good people bring from their
store houses sheayes of corn and
wheat, and, tying them to slender
poles, raise them from every spire,
barn, gate-post and gable. Then
when, after the long night, the Christ
mas sun arises, crowning the noun
tains with splendor every spire and
gable bursts into sudden song.
The children run out to hear the
old churchspirc singing; the older
people follow; the air is filled with
the futter of wings and alive with
carols of gladness. The songs of the
birds gil every village with happiness,
and to this living, grateful anthem the
people respond in their hearts, GLORY
TO God in the highest; on earth peace;
good will to men, From Jack in
the Pulpit, St. Nicholas for January.
The Coming Wife-HOw She Helps
Her Husband Under DihlcuIlies---
Patience and Sunshine.
She's little bit of woman, all pa
tience and sunshine, and I'd spoil the
best silk hat that money could bay for
the privilege of lending her my UNI
breila in a rain storm.
She 5 married and she's got an old
rhinocerous of husband He makes
it practice to come home tight at II
clock every other night. and has for
years, and he can't remember that she
ever gave him cross word about it
When he falls into the hall she is
waiting to close the door and help him
back to the sitting-r0om, where a
good fire awaits him. She draws of
his boots, unbuttons his collar, helps
him off with his coat, and all the time
| is saying:
Poor Henry! How sorry I AIN
tnat you had this attack of vertigo ]
am afraid that you will be found dead
by the roadside some night
"Whazzer mean by verizhigor' hi
growls; but she helps him off with hi
vest, and pleasantly continues:
I'm so glad you got home all right
| hope the day will come when yo,
can pass more of your time at home
It's dreadful how your business driye
you.
"Whaz bizshness-whaz yer talkin!
bout y he replies.
Poor one-how hot your head is!
she continues, and presently he break
| down and weeps and exclaims:
"Yez Zus-Zic's orse-wearin,
zelf out hast can-wishzi was dead!'
| Next morning she never refers t.
the subject. but pleasantly inquire
how he slept and If his mind is clear
His boots may be missing and he yell
out:
"Whar'n thunder's my boots?''
| Right here, my dear!.'' she replies
and she hands them out, all NIGEL
| BACKED up.
If she wants dress, or hat, or
cloak, and he yells out that househol,
expenses are eating him up, she nev
er ''sasses'' him back. nor tells hir
that she could have married a Con
gresham, nor that she will write t
her mother and tell her just how it is
That's SO, my dear, times are hard
she says. and then she gets up just a
good dinner as if he had left her Fl
ty dollars.
He may come home tight at suppe
time. but she is not shocked. She re
marks that it is all unexpected pleas
ure to have him home so early, an
she pretends not to notice his stupi
lcok. He sees three chairs whe1
there is but one and in trying to s
down he strikes the floor like the ia
of derrick.
"Whazzer jaw that chair way for?
he yells, and she replies:
It's that hole in the carpet
knew you would stumble p and ST
helps him up and brings him stror
cup of tea.
They do not keep servant and whe
cold weather came she never thougl
of planking herself down in a cha
opposite him and saying:
Now, then, you'll either get up an
light the fires or there won't be an
lighted-mark that, old baldhead."
No, she didn't resort to any sue
base and tyrannical measures. Whe
daylight comes she slips out of be
makes two fires, warns his socks, al
then, bending over him, she whisper
Arise, my darling, and greet Il
festive morn!'
He's sick sometimes, and I've know
that woman to coax him for tv
straight hours to .,take the doctor
medicine, turn over his pillow TWEEN
two times, keep wet cloth on b
head, pare his corn down, and The
wish that she had quail to nal
him some soup. When he gets into
fight down town and c3mes home wi
his ear bitten up and his nose pointt
to the northeast, she inquiries how Il
horse happened to run away with hil
and she says she is so thankful tn
he wasn't killed. She has an excu
for anything, and she never admi
that any one but herself is to bla1
about everything. Lor' bless her
hope she'll go to Heaven and never
asked Question.--Detroit Free Pre-
Loved and Lost.