The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1875-12-25
VOLUME XII.

he refused to see me. For three year.
more l supported my children ther
came this sickness. Two years have
lived in abject poverty, supported by
charity and the little you could earn
Anna, my child, / will soon cease to b,
burden upon your young hands,"
"Mother, do not speak so. You
break my heart"
Gamma, my dear child, who viii
care for you when am gone? Goo
bless and pity my orphan children! Il
is Christmas day. This very day, fif
teen years ago, l left my fathers house
We were having gay party, fol
Christmas day is also my birthday and
was ON that evening seventeen years
old. l left my home in a rich dress,
glittering with jewels, and my hair
decked with flowers; and now / die in
a garnet, on hard N attress, shivering
to envelop my thinly clad form, and
cover my bare neck and arms; now,
rags cover me, and | perish with the
cold. Father in heaven, my punish
ment is just, but it is bitter! Anna,
what o'clock is it?"
cit is after dark, mother. The fire
light is all that makes the room light.
All, here comes Charley!"
A lad, a year or two younger than
Anna. came bounding into the room.
Mother, Anna! merry Christ
mas! l have a new Jacket ehd five
dollars in moneys but / have better
news than that. There was an old gen
tlemnn 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 some fruit-fruit, dear
mother, at Christmas land some wine
and jelly. Anna, get your bonnet and
the basket. and come. / know the
house; he led me past it; it is not far
from here"
"Shall I go, mother% said Anna.
Yes, dear; but come back soon; 1
feel very weak and i'll tonight and l
long for jelly or wine; it will give me
new strength. Goodnight my chtldreh.
They started on their efrand. Anna,
oppressed by the sad story her mother
had related, and filled with dark fore
holdings, could scarcely keep pace with
her merry-hearted brother, who, filied
with joy at his Christmas presents, and
longing to carry the promised dainties
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.
X x x X
Z" A merry Christmas! was shouted
in clear voices by all the children in
Mr.. Leclerc's rich mansion. Toys lay
scattered in careless profusion upon the
velvet carpet; books were on the hand
some table every luxury was in the
room. Lola Leclerc sat with her arms
around her eldest child, looking at pic
lures 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 a doll for Nellie, now
a rich cake, covered with white frost
ing, for all |; now drum for Harry
now book for Miss Lola. There was
Joy and gladness, and truly merry
in that house. The day
flew by with joy and feasting; and in
the evening the house stood dark and
deserted. There was large party at
Lola's fathers. The family, children
and all, were to assemble; and thither
this happy household had gone.
Now, reader, you and 1 are privi-
legged persons, and we will stepin before
the other guests arrive. We find only
two persons in the parlor one an old
gentleman, the other lady between
thirty and forty years of age, but still
beautiful, with a sweet face and low,
sweet voice. The gentleman is pacing
up and down the room, while the lady
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
" pictures, velvet curtains, whose rich |
crimson is subdued by fine lace cover
ngs, everything speaks of large wealth.
The lady's dress is of rich silk; and |
costly jewels glitter in her hair, and on
ner round white arm. These, the |
of the room, are Mr.. Pom
sroy and his daughter Anna, who is
he hostess of the expected company,
or 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,
here was child in store, this morn
ng, whose story interested me. He |
has an invalid mother; and 1 promised
him some wine and fruit for her. He
will be here soon. Will you attend to
.hese things? 1t is Christmas and we
must remember the poor"
The lady left the room; and the old
gentleman resumed his walk. "Christ-
nas!" he muttered. Fifteen years
fifteen yearsI Oh, Hattie, my child
where are you this Christmas night ?"
The large parlors soon filled with
guest. Music, dancing, and merri-
nent were at their height, when two
children came upon the broad, snow
covered step in front of the house.
ooh, Anna! !" said Charley, "isn't
t fine in thereP and he leaned over
he railing to look in at the window.
Listen T! you can hear the music
lon't they look pretty, dancing? Oh,
Anna, see the little boys and girls
See, that little girl just about as big as
you; amt she pretty, in her white
lress, with gold rings on her sleeves?
Don't she look like an angel? Oh, ANIMAL
lon't youwish you lived in big house,
md had white dresses, and dancing,
and music?"
They are coming to the door, Char
ey," said Anna.
The children were led into the wide
nall, and stood over the furnace regis
er, warming their cold fingers, while
he servant vent to find Miss Pomeroy.