Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-08-31
Tales aud xketehes.
MRS. DUNN'S CHRISTMAS.

bered the days when the sunshine crept
into her heart; the candles burned with
clear radiance on the mantel. Outside
the snow fell and drifted against the pane,
the wind whistled loudly, as if to drown
the Christmas bells, that now seemed far
away, and anon rang out like clarion calls.
Mrs. Dunn herself sat before the highly
polished fender with her knitting-a wo-
man who had been pretty once, but no
longer young now, with hair quite gray,
and the traces of the tearsthat time had
dried upon her pale cheeks, one might
have said. just as the showers of long past
ages have left their prints on the stiffened
soil. Mrs. Dunn's tears had indeed been
shed long ago, but they burned yet 80
surely as the twilight OF Christmas-eve fell
about her. Tonight her house full Of
boarders had all betaken themselves their
several ways. this one to spend the holi
day with his partners family, that one
with his mother in the country, the other
with his sweetheart, till nobody was left
but Mr.. Royburne-a man as gray and
worn as herself who had only his violin
to keep Christmas. He sat now in the
chimney-corner, drawing the bow across
his violin, and bringing up long past and
half-forgotten scenes by the necromancy
OF his chords and melodies.
Zone feels the need of a home on Christ
mas-eve, Mrs. Dunn" he said presently,
breaking off the air of "Auld Lang Syne''
suddenly. mot but this is as much a
home as I've ever known. aud no bad SUBJ
stitule; yet-perhaps it's only sentimen-
tality, but when a man reaches my time
OF life it goes hard with him to remember
that he has found, as the poet says, his
warmest welcome at an inn."
mo doubt, no doubt !" sighed Mrs.
Dunn. ut seems as if boarding-house
were only way-stati0n to something
more permanent. That's the way it used
to seem to me when | was twenty five.
Do you know. Pve got to kind OF dread
Christmas-eve as much as l used to love
it; it's y sort of landmark now that shows
how Tar we've wandered from the hopes
and promises Of youth. As you say, it's
"a night when one needs freside, in its
true sense. and love and friends, and all
they expected to have when life was
young;" aud Mrs. Dunn's voice trembled
and broke, and Mr. Royburne drew out
chord that sounded like an "amen."
You may laugh if you like at an old wo-
man like me-" she said when she had re-
covered herself; "but had blow in my
young days that I've never got the better
of-a love affair"
"YesP Let those laugh who win.
We all keep corner ot our hearts where
no one enters"
"And every Christmas time the pain
bites deeper, till it seems as if could not
bear it, just as an cid wound is said to
throb and ache at its anniversary" Mr..
Royburne tapped his violin gently, as much
as to say, 1--WE know what that is" but he
looked curiously at his landlady. Hav-
ing lived two years under her roof, and
found her efficient in all the practical
affairs OF life, and always cheerful, it had
hardly occurred to him that she had
more tender or romantic side, though he
knew her to be companionable and even
sympathetic. and with something in her
voice, that brought up the image of fair
woman he had loved long ago. IA
ut was when was barely twenty
she continued. IL ought to have out
grown it and him by this time. but I'm
afraid I'm not strongminded. There l
shall bore you to death. Mr.. Royburne-
there are some folks who have no mercy
on listener; but somehow feel like
talking about myself tonight" -A%@
"And | feel like hearing about yourself
tonight. Pray 60 on; a love affairs like
an air of Mozart, always sweet to listen to-"
"Mine wasn't sweet to live through,
promise you. You see. I'd been left alone
in the world, with trihe of money, not
enough to keep me without work; that is
to say, there was Aunt Huldah. rich and
alive, but I'd no expectations from her.
and would to Heaven I'd had no realiza-
tons Well, l wasn't quick enough TO
teach, and had no knack for millinery or
mantua- making. and the hundred other
employments women turn their hands to
nowadays were unknown and untried by
them then; SO put the little had into
boardin g-house. didn't live about here
u, that time-you see, it's an old craft
with mel lived in the western part OF
the State, at Croftford." ...
"Crof.ford ~ echoed Mr.. Royburne,
STOPPING to pick up the bow he had let fall.
"Yes. You have been there? It's
thought pretty place of its size. The
house l kept looked out on the Mall,
where Young folks went walking arm in
arm in the long summer evenings, and
sometimes the band played-such tunes!
They don't seem like the same thing now.
adays Oh, don't you feel well tonight,
WI. AtOy ouihO ouC 0SACus HaChLuk w u
stitch in her knitting.
"As usual, thank you. Mrs. Dunn"
Things come on so suddenly at times"
she apologized. II thought you must be
going to have an i'll turn just now. You
looked quite ghastly, upon my word. Are
you quite sure that you feel all rightp"
''lt was nothing, believe me--nothng
more than twinge of rheumatism, that
one must expect at my age"
"Oh! where was ? You gave me such
a start, l assure you"
"The young people were walking arm
in arm on the Mall. and the band was
playing" giving her the cue.
"Oh. yes, thanks. I'd been in the hnsi-
ness about year when he came across
my path. dare say it's silly for me, with
my gray hairs and crow's-feet. but some-
times Of spring morning. when open
my window and the fresh fragrance steals
upon me. ! find myself forgetting my years
and expectinD him. inst az I nead ~. and