The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-12-29


touch was wanting now. She was over
looked in the tide of festal Joy. Whence
she came no one knew; where she was
going, poor babe, who cared The
signs of love, the looks of sympathy she
saw, awakened in her nothing of fellow
ship. Never, in the sad maturity of her
short life, could the little vagrant recall
one single look that made her less waif.
And so she covers, chill and friendless,
underneath the mocking glitter of the
stars, while up and down the street the
winters wind carried its ceaseless moan
ing. Mr.. Bright rubbed his hands as
the shop cleared of its last customer
He locked and barred the great door and
then stepped lightly back into parlor
in the rear.
Now it might have been that there
We're many finer rooms and gayer scenes
than this, but, I am sure, not one more
full of glowing comfort in all the broad
city limits tonight. 1t peeped out OF
the folds Of red moreen that draped the
windows-it shone in every piece of the
stiff hair-cloth and mahogany = it
squared itself upon the tufted rug-it
simmered delightfully."- in an old fashion
ed tea-kettle-and it eliminated in the
person and presence of q tortoiseshell
kitten that frolicked before the FIRE.
Everywhere the flicker of light showed
wreaths and sprays of holly, disposed by
some delicate hand.
And while John Bright settled him
self, after the manner of old gentlemen,
upon the rug, with his back to the
CRATE, there foated out from an inner
room the notes Of hymn, sung in clear
aud childish tones
"To you, this night, is born child
or Mary, chose mother mild
This little child, Of lowly birth,
Shall be the Joy Of all your earth"
In another moment fairy girl, with
fiaxen braids, and eyes of serious sweet
ness, came out and started joyfully at
sight of him.
John Bright's big face grew beautiful
with tenderness as he caught her up in
his arms.
Naughty father /" she said, in mock
reproof, to keep your housekeeper
waiting so long for her tea"
"Christmas eve, little woman, and
little treats, remember"
"And somebody sent his assistants
home early to their Christmas, and did
all the work himself, poor tired DEAR"
she added, passing her snow flake of
hand over his bald head with the dain-
tiest Of caresses. "He shall have some
thing nice and hot for his supper,
shant he, kitten o.
The last named member of the family
had no idea of being left out, and sat
saucily blinking her green eyes, on
Johns other shoulder.
"Put me down, please, father, now;
must bring in the things myself to-
night. Isn't the room pretty3 You
haven't said anything to my holly,
either, after pricked my fingers So"
After they had finished supper, and
the room was again restored to order,
Johns arm chair was put into requisi-
tion, and the fire piled high, for which |
purpose he went out to coal closet in
the rear.
"Whewl" said Mr.. Bright, bringing
in with him a fresh rush of frosty air. |
" Bad night out for them as wanders,,
my dear. God grant n shelter to such. |
It's making out to snow, Faith, before |
morning, and who knows but what you
holidays7"
But Faiths face sobered. She had
sat down upon her cricket, and was lis
tening to the soughing of the wind, and
thinking Of the homeless wretches she
could do nothing to relieve. John
Bright could not bear q cloud upon his
darling, SO he took her up close to his
heart.
"Nine years old tonight, Faith" he
said, fondly. Christmasses have
passed me by, many time, my dear,
but never a one left me gift like this.
You was singing something awhile ago
about child-what Was it7-that was
the Joy of all the earth. That's what you
are, nv pretty, that's it; the joy of all
my earth-that's it |"
"But, father" Faith said, after he had
done kissing her, "that did not mean a
common child. It is pretty hymn
written long time ago by a good man,
for his little boy, on Christmas eve, and
he meant the Savior. Would you like
to hear the rest, sir2"
"Go on, my pretty, go on" John said,
admiringly; "if it amt like a book to
hear the little woman talk"
Again the pure tones foated up.
"Now we must talk about tomorrow"
he said; "won't there be famous din
ner, though, with little Faith behind the
plum pudding9"
And such famous company, father I
You are to fetch old Mrs. Grimes after
church, and little crippled Tom, and
the poor French dancing master and all
his children. am thinking of tree for
the children"
Womanly little Faith How demure-
ly she mapped out pleasure for her fell
low innocents. And John smiled, as If
nobody had ever been charming before.
After a while, his little woman came
back to him in her thoughtful vein. She
slid from his knee, and again perched
herself upon stool where the fire glow