The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1875-01-01
THE SAILORS RETURN.
A Christmas story.

A Christmas story.
1t WAS Christmas eve. For an hour
or more I had been seated before the
chimney place gazing into the fire, in
dulging in a retrospection. I am a
bachelor But Christmas is not the
only day 1 devote to dreaming; for L
am one of Observation-Disclosures who live
much in the past, and often, as twilight
deepens into darkness, sit peering
back into the hazy past, in fancy snatch
ing again scenes which bring to my
vision sweet childish face. framed in
a profusion of yellow ringlets, face
( that made m impression on my boylsh
heart, which time can never efface.
That. awoke within me the first wild
thrills of love-true, inoulging love. A
face too heavenly for this world, so
God called it away early. When I
looked upon it for the last time-before
the coffin lid shut it forever from my
view-my young heart chilled within
me, and fervently prayed that I, too,
might die. From the moment that I
heard the harsh earth thud upon the
child love, I became something of re-
cIuse. 1 had come 10 Cliffville on bust
ness few days previous to the opening
&bf my story, intending to return on the
: following day; but before [ had been
in town two hours an old acquaintance
of mine-the gout-took 1T upon him
self to pay me visit; 1 was obliged
to forego all business and remain Id
nv room in the Clifville Hotel. Christ
e Il
But the prospect of spending the day
at a village tavern, where I was total
stranger, did not present to me an un-
pleasant aspect, although sense of ex-
treme loneliness stole over me, and the
silence and gloom of the room (for if
was not quite dark) oppressed me. i
put some wood upon the fast expiring
Goals and lighted up my lamp. 1 paced
up and down the narrow room to keep
warm. By degrees my thoughts drift
ed into a strange channel, and suddenly,
and for the first time in my exist
sence, I realized what a useless, selfish
being I was-that I had been looking
at life through defective glass. ]
was simply Isaac Alderton, a moody old
bachelor, with an intellect in no way
superior to the average, but possessing
a goodly stock of this worlds goods
which / had managed and used for the
qualification of my own selfish whimi
and fancies, never for a moment think
ing of the want and suffering around
me. I would turn over a new leaf anc
date it Christmas eve, 1855.
A few moments later found me care
fully picking my way over the slippery
pavement of the main street of the town
In the store windows, which were illu
minated as brightly as plentiful ARA,
of oil-lamps and metal rehectors woul(
permit. articles of every description
were displayed in the most enticins
manner. Groups OF men, women, ant
children We're collected before the mos
attractive windows, gazing admiringl,
at their all11ring contents, while other
hurried hither and thither laden will
numerous packages, containing article
destined to make both young and OLE
hearts bound with pleasure on the NOR
row. The jingle of bells, as the merry
sleighing parties dashed over the crisl
snow, the pea1s of laughter that reached
my ear, and the happy smiling face
that met my gaze at every turn, com
bined to almost convince me that car,
had been vanquished for time. ant
mirth and happiness had usurped it
place.
1 had been walking quite briskly TO
some moments. hummingh half aloud cd,
lines from old songs, having quite foI
gotten my mission, when the distanc
between store windows, and the infre
quency of street lamps, notified me tina
was approaching the suburbs of tn
town.
Going back away, 1 had stopped OF
posite the show-window of little con
lection and &oy-store Before this win
dow, looking with longing eyes at tn
wonders within, stood little girl, thin
y and poorly clad, and by her sid
holding hand In his, an old man wit
a Sorrowful, careworn face
"Ohi grandpa, arn't they beautiful /
exclaimed the child. ssSee that do
with light hair. Isn't she lovelyl Ho,
wish she were mine; but you can't bu
her for me, can you?''
'' Not tonight, % replied the old man
with half-suppressed sigh. "Bu
some time, perhaps, my little Aggie ca
have far finer one-when grandpa get
rich.
He smiled family, then turned hi
ewes from the window and gazed ava
into the darkness. The light fell upo
his face, when I could easily discer
the deep traces of care, disappointment
and age.
"Oh how I wish had some of thos
candies, and the doll, and that WACO
with red wheels, and-but L forgot.
is wrong to make such wishes. Aun
Maria has told me- that must not cove