Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-12-23

QUICK tCWiuu Tue Ce.StlS lUIGHt Oll OSs
holding the wonders there to be seen.
The great gatel like the jaws of death,
closed on. them and then they were
heard Of no more. The poor king,
when he found that his favorite regi-
.nent. with whom SO much precautions
had been taken, had not been able to
avoid the mishap Of the others. was in
great distress of mind, aud entirely at
loss for,some NC r expedient and so
we will leave HIM for the present in the
midst of his perplexities
On one side Of Castle Curious was a
very large and fine old forest, and on
the other, though separated from it by
high hills which prevented it from be-
ing seen, apopulous town. AT the Dor
der of the wood, but on the side further
est FRO Il the castle, a maiden nan ed
Christabel, who was one of the prettlest
and sweetest little darlings that was ev-
err seen, lived with her aged grandI ar
ents. Their home was neat, little
thatclI-rooted cottage, Which was cCm
ple.e.y overgroNn with wood bine,nas-
turtium ,convolvulsus and roses for her
old grandfather, though only a simple
woo Imam, was fond of beautiful things;
as for grandma, her chief delight was in
her flower garden-next to Christabel,
Of course. This fair girl had been care
fully reared, and taught to love the
iluth ana do right from infancy, and SO
she was as happy as the day is long.
It was now winter, and all the beau
tiful vines clamtering over the cottage
were leahess and covered with snow,
bat the good grandma had g great many
plants growing IN pets inside the house,
aud altogether. with tie great log fire
burning on the hearth, and the flowers,
and the conten!od faces,,of the inmates,
il seemed very bright aid cheerful With~
III doo3s, though the winter storm may
howl ever 80 loudly among the great old
trees all around, Though CAri@ja0ei
lived at her gFan,!i;thers it was not be,
cause her parents We're dead, bat in or
der to keep the old folks from being
lonely. ard because there were 50 maaY
brothers and sisters at shonie that ii WAS
rather difficult for Aer father, who W#s
Jut 4 poor carpoiagr. to FIJI Ill he hun
CRY lllile mouths lie lived IN ;Ay neigh
boring town. which, as / SAD, MS Oh
the opposite side OF Castle Curious from
the forest. C5s'istabel had Away Jeen
accustomed to spend Christmas " ill,
her parents, but before this there had
been no Castle Curious to pass by, as it
had only been built daring the past year.
But this year too. she was very anxious
TO so TO the town Oh Christ mas eve, as
usual; ana her grandpa, who did not
Ike 10 diaappoi.l! her, iold her That if
s'le took Der Bible with her and read it
very carefully, without taking her eyes
OF its pages once while she was in the
neighborhood, he thought she might got
past it safely.
The good old man did not know much
obout Castle Curious, and for that mats
ter no one did for who that had ever
looked Oh it since that dreadful eve had
been placed in it's tower had never re-
turned TO tell what he had seen. Little
Christahel had been looking forward
with q great deal Of pleasure to the mer-
~ Christmas time, and had been busy
fer q loug time making presents for
father, mother and al! the small broth
ers and sisters. She always Set out on
her journey on the morning Of the day
before Christmas, SO that she cold reach
her fathers lous by evening. This year
as was her custom, her grandma gave
her as many good things for her moth
er as she could carry in her basket, aud
then sent her off, with many caution
in regard TO the castle OF the wicked
Pukket, and many fervent prayer for
IN i,o.,,,;,,.r ~, ho vrrv
so Cilrissai3el started off through the
lonely woods, with her Bible in her hand
and her basket on her arm, with light
heart and eager step, thinking Of the
happy time she would have on the nier-
ry Christmas eve and the blessed Chris
mas morning. The woods did not seem
lonely to her, but On the other hand,
quite natural and homelike, for she had
lived in them all her life. The sun was
shining brightly in the blue, blue sky
overhead, and few little snowrbirds
were hopping about among the branch
es, and now and then chirping merrily,
seemed to be bidding her good morning
Nor did she forget her little friends at
this glad Christmas season, but had
brought large piece of bread with her
to break up into crumbs and scatter as
she went along the path. And SO she
felt very light hearted and happy as she
had been trying TO do right and follow
in the steps of her good Saviour all the
months that were gone, and knew that
the kind Father would take care of her,
even as he watched over The little snow
u i I