Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1876-01-01

1
cottage, which was completely owe
convoivuluses and roses for her Ol
. grandfather, though only simp
woodman, was fond OF beautifl
things; and as for grandma, her Chi
delight was in her fOwer-garden-
j.. nexs to Christabel, of course. Th
fair girl had been carefully rcaret
+, and taught to love the truth and
right from infancy, and so she was 6
happy as the day was long.
1t was now winter, and all til
beautiful vines clambering over tn
cottage were 3eafless and covered wit
snow but the good grandame had
great many plants growing in poi
inside the house and altogether, wit
the great log-fire burning Oh til
hearth, and the flowers, aud the COZ
tented faces of the inmates, it seen
ed very bright and cheerful within
doors, though the winter storm Nigh
howl ever SO loudly among the grea
old trees all around. Though Chris
label lived at her grand-father's,
was not because her parents wer
dead, but in order to keep the OF,
folks from being lonely, and beca,ss,
there were 80 many brothers and sls
ters at home that it was rather Difficult
for her father, who was bat q poo
carpenter, to fill all the hungry littl
mouths. He lived IN the neishbor
the opposite side of Castle Curiou
ways been accustomed to spen,
Christmas with her parents, but be
fore this there had been no Castl,
Curious to pass by, as it had onl,
been built during the past year. Blu
this year too she was very anxious
to go to the town OIL Christmas Ev,
as usual and her grandpa, who die
not like to disappoint her, told hel
that if she took her Bible with hel
and read it very carefully, without
taking her eyes off its pages once
while she was in the neighborhood,
he thought she might get past it safe
ly. The good old man did not know
very much about Castle Curious, and
for that matter no Que did for who
that had ever looked on it since that
dreadful eye had been placed in its
towers had returned to tell what he
had seen2 Little Christabel had been
looking forward with a great deal OF
pleasure to the merry Christmas.
time, and had been busy for a long
while i'll making pretty little pres.
ents for her father and mother and
all the small brothers and sisters.
She always set out on her journey on
the morning of the day before Christ
mas, SO that she could reach her faith
er's house by evening. This year, as
was her custom, her grandma gave
her as many good things for her
mother as she could carry in her
basket, and then sent her off, with
many caution in regard to the castle
of the wicked Pukket, and many a
fervent prayer for her safe-keeping
OH the way.
So Christabel started off through
the lonely woods, with her Bible in
her hand and her busket OH her arm.
with light heart and an eager step,
thinking of the happy times she
should have on the merry Christmss
Eve and the blessed Christmas morn
ing. The woods did hot seem lonely
to her, but, on the other hand, quite
natural and homelike, for she had
lived i'll them all her life. Then the
sun shone brightly in the blue, blue
SKY overhead, and a few little snow
birds were hopping about among the
bare branches, and now and then
:hirping mcrrily, seemed to be bid
ling her gOod-morning. Nor did she
forget her little friends at this glad
Christmas season, but had brought
arge piece of bread with her to
break up into crumbs and scatter
along the path as she went. And so
she felt very light-hearted and happy,
Is she had been trying to do right
md follow in the steps of the good
saviour all the months that were
zone, and knew that the kind Father
would take care of her, even as he
over the little snow-birds
'ut i'll the dreary winter woods.
When she got near the edgo of the
crest, she opened her little Bible and
reading, taking good |
are all the time not TO raise her ewes
'nce from the page. But Just as she |
'rrived opposite the castle of Pukket,
so happened that she was obliged
o turn leaf, aud as she was doiue
o, flash of sunlight reflected from
he great blazing eye OH the tower,
truck the corner of her eye. That
me glimpse, however, was enough,
ND now there was no escape for the |
'oor girl. In an instant the Bible in
Ter hand, the wise counsel of her
the little Christmas
'resents, Christmas itself, and father
nj mother, sisters and brothers, were
|! forgotten, and she could see or
hlnk OF nothing else but the beaati-
ul palace toward which she was now
astening with willing feet. AS she
rev near, she saw the wonderful
lctures Oh the garden.walls, and al
lost screamed with delight at the
ght OF such pretty things as were
here portrayed, for she never dream
u OF anything half 80 fine. The gates
'ere wide open, and just within
lem there was company of wooden
cures SO ingeniously constructed
iat they looked and could move ex-
city like real persons. These were
ressed i'll various kinds of costume
'me represented ancient Greek and
oman warriors, some eastern sages. z,
'me noddlng Chinamen, like those
e sometimes see in the windows of {
a-shops; and there were great
any others beside. And all these {
cures so gaily dressed were bowing I
own to the ground, and with smii.
e faces beckoning to ChristabeI to
tier, as though she were some great
'incess. The fair girl was 30 much /
tonished and delighted, however,
ith all the strange sights, that she I
uld do nothing but stand still aud +
Ze, with eyes full of wonderment. Il
hen there came dashing down the b
and avenue leading up to the cas- 2
party of knights and ladies, a
essed i'll the brightest colors, and b
ouhted on steeds caparisoned with I
rgeous trappings. And these, too. 1
th riders and horses, were, in fact, o
thing but autOmata or self-acting. t.
tlhcial figures; but SO beautifully p
ere they shaped, and SO perfect the T.
achlmery that caused them to move, il
at Christabel thought, of course "
ey must be alive. Then q pretty
ge led milk-white palfrey up to- n
/, ana falling on one knee, offered O
hahd that she might put her foot q
1T and mount. AS soon as she was !,
the horse, the ladies and gentle +,
n all bowed so gracefully and srnil- i,
so sWeetly that she felt quite hap G,
) ana then some of the LADIES threw n
'eautlfui robe,all covered with gold Il
oroldery, around her, and set a
'onet OF flashing gems on her brow. II
that the poor child thought she Sc
lst be III some dream of enchant- -,
mt, as indeed She uas rNbo I'LL, -