The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-12-06

lght IL all that makes the room light.
An, here comes Charlcy!"
u lad, year or two NOang0r tl,gll
Anna, came bounding into tic room.
Mother! Anna! merry Christ,
mas l have now inckJ and tiya dol,
lars IN money; but I haze better nrrs
than that. There was an old gentleman
in Mr.. Perkins store; and, when !o
heard my mother va, sick, h. told mo
to come 10 his house, aud h9 would Rivo
me some frit-iruit, dear mother, at
Christmnl !-and tome vino and Jelly.
Annn, get your bonnet aud the basket,
and come. know the house; hO led
me rast it; it is not far from here"
Shall | go, mo.herl' said Anna.
Yes, dear; but come hack soon; |
feel very weak aud i'll tonight; and
long for Jelly or wine; il will give me
now strength. Goodnight, my chill.
dren."
They started on their crrand. Anna,
oppressed by the sal story her mother
had related, and filed with dark fore,
bodings, could scarcely keep pace with
her msrry-hoarted brother, who, filled
with JOY ut his Christmas presents, and
longing to carry tho promised daintics
to his mother, bounded along, uuhced-
ing tho falling snow and the cold wind,
which blow open his poor jacket, and
nipped his fingers and toes. His pre-.
cious now jacket and the five dollars had
been left ia his mothers hands,
"a merry Christmasl" was shouted
in clear voices by all the children in Mr..
Lcclurc's rich mansion. Toys lay scat.
tered i'll careless profusiou upon the vel.
vet carpet books wcrC on tho handsome
table; every luxury WIS in the room.
Lola Lcclcrc sat with her arms around
her eldest child, looking ut pictures /;
aud little Nellie and Harry played abou!
The room. Aunt Jenny, Mr.. Leclcrc's
aistcr, petLed tho only boy, encouraging
him in his noisy glcC, while Chloe came
from the front door every few moments,
bearing some new gift now it was n doll
for Nellie, now rich cake, covered with
white froSting, for all, now drum for
Harry; now n book for Miss Lola.
There was joy and gladncss, aud truly q
merry Christmas, in that house. The
,lay hew by with joy and icasting; and
in the evening the house stood dark aud
deserted. There was large party ut
Lola's fathers. The family, children
and all, were to assemble and thithcr
this happy household hal gone.
Now, realdor, you and | aro privileged
persons, aud We will step in before the
other guests arrive. We find only two
persons in the parlor one an old gen.
tlcmln, the other u lady between thirty
aud forty years OF age, but still bcluti-
ful, with n sweet fac1 and n low, sweet
voice. The gentleman is pacing up and
down the rooms, while the lady mr.
ranges some music upon tho grand
piano. Luxury can scarcely devise u
more superb apartment. 1t il long,
very long, aud wide velvet carpets, rich
furniture, gildcl frames containing cost
ly pictures, velvet curtains, whose rich
crimson is subdued by line lace cover
ings, everything speaks OF large wealth.
The lady's dress il Of rich silk; aud cost
ly jewels glitter in her hair md on her
round white arm. These, the occupant,
Of tho room, arc Mr.. POmcroy and his
daughter Anna, who is the hostess Of the
expected company, for Mrs. POmerOy
has lain i'll her quiet grave for ten years.
Suddenly the gcntlcman paused in his
walk, aud spoke to his daughter: Z" My
dear, there was child in store, this
morning, whose story interested me. He
has an invalid mother; and | promised
him some wine aud fruit for her. H.
will DO here soon. Viii you attend to
these thingsi 1t il CHRISTMAS and W.
must remember the pO1r."
The lady left the room and tho old
gentleman resumed his walk. Christ.
mas" lie mut'crrd. Fifteen " Wears
fifteen years! Oh, Hattie, my child
where are you this Christmas uighl!"
The large parlOr6 soon Gllcl with
guests. Music, dancing, aud mcrri.
mnnt We're at their height, whom two
chil,lrcn came upon the broad. SNOW.
covered step in front Of the huusr.
"Oh, Anna" Ail ChIrlsy, isn't
il fine in there T. audhc leaned over the
milling to lbok in at tho window
" listen you can hear tho music don't
they look pretty, daucingi Oh, Anna,
sec the littlo boys and girls See, that
little girl il Just about ns big az you
amt she pretty, in her white dress, with
gold rings on her sIcCvcsi Don't she
look like an angcli Oh, Anna! don't
you wish you lived in big house, and
had white dresses, aud dancing, and
musici"
"They arc coming to the door, Char.
ley" said Anna.
The children were led INTO tho wide
hall, and stood ovGrthc furnace register,
warming their cold fingers, while the
servant went to find Miss Pomerny. Soon
thcy were surrounded by little children,
dressed in gay, pretty clothes, who
clustered, full Of pity, around the chill.
drcn who had no Christmas presents.
Miss POmeroy herself brought ont the
basket. As she came near tho group,
she hastily placed the basket upon the
hall table, aud came to Anna. "Child
child !" sho cried, while tho tears
poured down her cheeks, "who are
you !"
Gamma Pomeroy Dugarde."
"My littlG nRmGSlkC my niece
Oh, my child! my sisters little one
Father !" The old gentleman came
hastily at her call. "Seo :" she cried.
"Is She not Harrict's imaScl Look,
father! Oh, this Is Christmas night
Once again, l pray You, forgive my
sister -
AnnA"-tho old mans voice from.
bled-"is this not a forbidden subject 4"
"But she is sick poor her children
begging on Christmas night Father,