The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-12-02
A MERRY CHRISTMAS,
A Story for the HOLIDAYS,


merry Christmas !" It echoed
through the wide streets in Thousand
different voices; it rang out in the clear
sleigh bells; it was shouted through the
house by childish voices; it was whis
pered in loving tones by the invalid's
couch; it was sighed forth, with bitter
emphasis, in the prison cells; it was
muttered, in hard voices, in the dark,
dirty alleys, where merriment was q
mockery, or the despairing mirth of
over-wrought misery. CA merry Christ
mas -
Anna !" said low, feeble voice,
from poor, hard pallet" Anna !'
Yes, mother; am here"
The child-for she had not seen more
than twelve or thirteen summers-rose
from seat upon the floor, laid aside her
sewing, and bent over the invalid. The
room was a garret, poorly protected
from the cold, snowy winds without. A
small fire hardly served to take the bit
terest chill from the air. The furniture
consisted Of two mattresses upon the
hoor, and low, wooden chest.
Anna, dear child, put aside your
work. 1t is Christmas day. Where is
Charley z"
"Gone to the store. Mr.. Perkins
PROMISED him new jacket for Christ,
mas gift, and he has gone for the order. "
And you, my poor child, will have
no gift"
81 am as fortunate as you," said
Anna, with assumed gayety; but, in
spite of her efforts to restrain them, O
large tear rolled down each cheek.
cit is very cold," said the invalid,
shivering.
Mother dear mother !"-and now
the tears flowed freely-"you are sick,
shivering with cold on Christmas day
and L cannot warm you Others have
fine gifts, large houses, warm fires, and
plenty to eat; while we are starving and
freezing. 1t is unjust. o Heaven hast
thou no pity for my mother?"
"Anna, it is Just. Listen, my child,
and you shall hear my story. Long
years ago, L was the petted child of
wealthy parents. I had brothers and
sisters; but, OF all, was the favorite. l
was beautiful and talented, and my
fathers idol. With every indulgence,
every care, my path through life was
strewn. And how did repay it With
bitter, gross ingratitude. was spoilt,
willful child: butmy parents were blind
to all my defects, seeing only my fair
face, and hearing only the praises of my
various teachers.
'Among the visitors at my fathers
house, there was Frenchman, man
who called himself Count de la Posta
He handsome and graceful. Iloved
him. My father, who saw his real
worthlessness, tried, by gentleness and
love, to win me from him. This was
impossible. fancied him persecuteI
saint, aud clung to him still more close
ly. At last, my father exacted from us
a promise to separate, and hold no com
munication with each other for a
year. He hoped that in that time
he could convince me of his I'M
worthiness. Anna, you will despise
your mother when she tells you that
in six mQathS she broke her promise,
and eloped with Count de la Posta.
trusted to my fathers great love for
forgiveness. | was wrong. My ingrati-
tude, disobedience, and deceit met their
just punishnent; /; my father refused to
see his crring child it was bitter dis
appointment, had SO counted ON his
love; but [ turned to my husband for
comfort. Now came the hardest blow
of all. My husband coolly informed me
that he was no count, that his name was
Dugarde, and that he had been valet to
noblemen all his life. He had married
me in hopes of sharing my dowry, and
now quietly refused to support me. For
ten years we lived a life of utter m
happiness. You were born, and Charley,
and named for my favorite brother and
sister. L earned something by selling
the Jewels L had brought from home,
and by assisting my husband in giving
French lessons. Had he but loved me, l
could still have been happy; but he
treated me with coldness, sometimes
with cruelty, and continually reproached
me with my poverty, and failure in win
ming pardon from my father. At last,
he died. In all these long years 1 had
heard no word of love from his lips
but on his deathbed he spoke to me
tenderly and gently. Anna, have long
forgiven him all his unkindness do you
the same. After he died, again sought
my father. In vain he refused to see
me. For three years more L supported
my children then came this sickness.
Two years have 1 lived in abiect poverty,
supported by charity and the little you
could earn. Anna, my child, will soon
cease to be a burden upon your young
hands.
"Mother, do not speak SO. You break
my heart. " .-...l...... ... -.
Gamma, my dear child, who will care
for you when 1 am gonel God bless
aud pity my orphan children 1t is
Christmas day. This very day, fifteen