, 1876-12-24
A CHRISTMAS WARMING.

We had eaten, aid drank, and slept together fo1
years. This Christmas, however, his father had
forgiven his indiscretions, and invited him tt
gather round the old hearthstone, with the resi-
Of the family. But Ned would spend the eye
with me; and, being only boardeEs at IS week
We deserted our cold, comfortless bedroom fol
the cheerful and well-lighted saloon OF Hobson
We enjoyed ourselves as only young men with
q spare dollar In their pockets can. Ned told
me Of his youthful adventures in the Far West:
recalled my boy-life in the old country, almost
bringing tears to his eyes when I dwelt upon
the perfdy OF Lucy Smith, my first and only
love. We had music, too, in the intervals. Ned
sang snatches OF the CHEEKY songs he had learned
in camp; Clipped In with some quaint old
English ballads, full OF chiyalry and love. Never
did Christmas eve pass go pleasantly as it did
with Ned aud I st Hobson's.
But everything has an ending, and, as said
before, Ned and parted After paying his de-
voirs to the family, he was to return to our
boarding house, where We were to pass the re-
mainder Of the holidays in our own style, Ned
was not on good terms with the family circle.
He was too genial fellow to be appreciated
By his cold, lniscrly father, his snarling broth
ers, and swapping, prudisl sisters His mother
was the only one who loved and appreciated
him; and even she was afraid to show it openly
lest her life should be made miserable BY the
family flends. So she appeared as hal lsh as the
rest; but Ned and knew who sent those wel-
come parcels Of dry goods, and who settled the
score when We were dunned by the tailor. Nor
was totally ignorant OF those kindly express
sious OF maternal love that took place in our
bedroom after had rctreated to the sitting
room to be snubbed by the land1ady and her
fashionable daughters.
I watched Ned's figure until he vanished In
the darkness. An fne1pressible feeling Of lone
illness came over me. I cannot describe my feel
ings. Ned sworc he vas sober before parting,
and l-well can swear that was not drunk
But it is hard for friends like Ned and to be
separated at Christmas time With deep
drawn Sigh turned boarding g-housewards. The
bartender was Putting out his lights; the streets
we're almost deserted; the thermometer was
usually thick coating Of snow. l felt lonely and
desoiatc- scarce could reply to the "Merry
Christmas" OF the bartender as walked wea-
rily away; the words knocked against the bars
Of my heart and sent shiver through my
frame.
1 walked the length Of the block, but the
further proceeded the worse my feelings
grew. was profoundly miserable Every ef-
tort to shake the demon melancholy was in
vain. At last threw myself on convenient
doorstep and began to think Strange thoughts
came to me in the cold midnight air. I thought
Of home, Of departed friends and b1ighted
hopes, Of present misery and prospective jog.
But soon my cyelids dropped heavily, and ere
long slept,-.stept on Z doorstep, and on
Christmas Eve!
dreams Of bygone days. bow longl slept
know not, but suddenly awoke aud found that
had companion, "a pleasant-lo ooking, middle
aged gentleman, who was looking into my eyes
with deep, fatherly interest,"
:" merry Christmas" said be, when l had
r11hhed DDtD rrnS.
"Merry Christmas" responded I; "but you
have the better ot me-"
.WhatW exclaimed ny companion With
smile, proud, and On q doorstep. Well. as
you are 50 particular, allow me to Introduce
myself Ny name is BeelEebub."
"The Devl!'
"Oh! no." be hastened to rejofn; "not the
Devil John Milton settled that point before
rou were born, and even went so Ear as to re-
veal certain passages in our history. am sec
ond to Satan in power, as all must know WHO
haye read Paradise Lost
"Ncll, what in the devils name do you want
here on this cold and frosty morning3n l asked,
half angry at the cool complacencT Of Mr. Beel-
zcbub's manner.
"S.-. Don't swear, Young man, he an
swered, sit's ungcntlemanly, to say nothing. OF
it's being wicked"
was astounded at this remark. To think
I, who prlled myself on my politeness, should
receive . lesson from the DEVILS Prime. Min
isteri After recovering from the shock, ven
tured agAin to ask tie reason of his presence
and his apparent solicitude for my good man.
ners.
II am simply looking after my own, as your
proverb-makers have somewhat aptly put it,''
he replied with smile
"Your own!" shricked, my heart beginning
to bent violently against my ribs. "Your ownl
Am then one OF the lost3''
"Lool1 here, young man, don't make insult
ing remarks. That WORT 'lost CRATES harshly
on my ears No such word is known In our
domain" said Bcelzebub, his genial face becom-
ing somewhat soured.
''By your domain" trembled I. .You~-
you-m-mean-"
"Oh! don't trouble yourself to utter 1t il It is
disagTecable. But think you might work up
t'sIy future homel OH" groaned /, in m
agony Of despair.
~ don't understand your misery,n said he,
regarding my CONSERVATION. "You pride YOUR.
self On being one Of the boys. You drink, you
swear, you gamble, and worse. You do every
this wayI What sort Of devil will you make2
Why, am almost ashamed of you!'f
"There must be some mistake,'' managed
to utter, aud ncgan to ransack memory that /
might o'crwhelm the fiend with a recital Of acts
Of charity and virtue
tTnere ia no mistake at ALL he replfed
angrily. "Yonr'e nothing but = miserable pol-