The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-12-02

my nome III u rlcn dreSS, glltter1ng VIII
Jewels, and my hair decked with flowers
and now l die in garret, on hard
mattress, shivering with cold. Their
there were soft furs to envelop my thin
ly clad form, and cover my bare mech
and arms; now, rags cover me, and
perish with the cold. Father in heaven
my punishment is just, but it is bitter
Anna, what o'clock is it q" L
{" 1t is after dark, mother. The fire
light is all that makes the room light.
All, here comes Charley !''
lad, a year or two younger tl!ar
Anna, came bounding into the room.
"Mother Auna a merry Christ.
mas I have new jacket aud five dol.
lars in money; but have better news
than that There was an old gentleman
in Mr.. Perkins store; and, when he
heard my mother was sick, he told me
to come to his house, and he would give
me somo fruit-fruit, dear mother, al
Christmas and some wine and Jelly.
Anna, get your bonnet and the basket,
and come. L know the house; he led
me past it; it is not far from here"
"Shall L go, mother?" said Anna.
" Yes, dear; but come back soon; ]
feel very weak and ill tonight; and l
long for jelly or wine; it will give me
new strength. Goodnight, my chill.
dren."
They started on their errand. Anna,
oppressed by the sa! story her mother
had related, and filed with dark fore.
bodings, could scarcely keep pace with
her merry-hearted brother, who, filed
with Joy at his Christmas presents, and
longing to carry the promised daintics
to his mother, bounded along, unheed-
ing the falling snow and the cold wind,
which blew open his poor jacket, and
nipped his fingers and toes. His pre-
cious new jacket and the five dollars had
been left in his mothers hands.
GA merry Christmas !'' was shouted
in clear voices by all the children in Mr..
Lcclerc's rich mansion. Toys lay scat
tered in careless profusion upon the vel
vet carpet books were on the handsome
table; every luxury was in the room.
Lola Leclerc sat with her arms around
her eldest child looking at pictures
and little Nellie and Harry played about
the room. Aunt Jenny, Mr.. Leclerc s
sister, petted the only boy, encouraging
him in his noisy glee, while Chloe came
from the front door every few moments,
bearing some new gift now it was doll
for Nellie, now rich cake, covered with
white frosting, for all, now drum for
Harry now a book for Miss Lola
There was JOY and gladness, and truly a
merry Christmas, in that house. The
day flew by with joy and feasting and
in the evening the house stood dark and
,-kx ,nl
Lola's fathers. The family. children
and all, We're to assemble and thither
this happy household had gone.
Now, reader, you and l are privileged
persons, and we will step in before the
other guests arrive. We find only two
persons in the parlor one an old gen.
tleman, the other lady between thirty
and forty years of age, but still beauti-
full, with sweet face and low, sweet
voice. The gentleman is pacing up and
down the rooms, while the lady ar
ranges some music upon the grand
piano. Luxury can scarcely devise a
more superb apartment. 1t is long,
very long, and wide velvet carpets, rich
furniture, gilded frames containing cost
ly pictures, velvet curtains, whose rich
crimson is subdued by fine lace cover
ings, everything speaks of large wealth.
The ladys dress is of rich silk; and cost
ly jewels glitter i'll her hair and on her
round white arm. These, the occupants
of the room, are Mr.. Pomeroy and his
daughter Auna, who is the hostess of the
expected company, for Mrs. Pomeroy
has lain in her quiet grave for ten years.
Suddenly the gentleman paused in his
walk, and spoke to his daughter: My
dear, there was child in store, this
morning, whose story interested me. He
has IN invalid mother; and L promised
him some wine and fruit for her. He
will be here soon. viii you attend to
these things2 1t is Christmas and we
must remember the Door"
The lady left the room and the old
gentleman resumed his walk. "Christ-
mas!" he muttered. Fifteen years !
fifteen years ! Oh, Hattie, my child !
where are you this Christmas night?"
The large parlors soon filed with
guests. Music, dancing, aud merri-
ment were at their height, whom two
children came upon the broad, snow
covered step in front OF the house.
"Oh, Anua!" sul Cairlsy. isn't
it fine in there z" and he leaned over the
railing to look in at the window
"Listen You can hear the music don't
they look pretty, dancing? Oh, Anna,
see the little boys and girls See, that
little girl is just about as big as you
amt Sue pretty, in her white dress, with
gold rings on her sleeves Don't she
look like an angelo Oh, Anna don't
you wish you lived in big house, and
had white dresses, and dancing, and
musicS"
"They are coming to the door, Char
ley" said Anna. ..
The children were led into the wide
hall, and stood over the furnace register,
warming their cold fingers, while the
servant went to find Miss Pomeroy. Soon
they were surrounded by little children,
dressed in gay, pretty clothes, who
clustered, full of pity, around the chill
dren who had no Christmas presents.
Miss Pomeroy herself brought out the
basket. AS she came near the group,
she hastily placed the basket upon the
hall table, and came to Anna. "Child |
child % she cried, while the tears
poured down her cheeks, "who are
you 2"
Gamma Pomeroy Dugarde."
"My little namesake my niece
Oh, my child my sisters little one !
Father !" The old gentleman came
hastily at her call. 2" See !" she cried.
sis she not Harriet's image2 Look,
father Oh, this is Christmas night
Once again, 1 pray you, forgive my
sister |" a'
Anna"-the old mans voice trem-