The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-11-27
Gideon Grindem's Christmas.
BY McCABE.


merchants heart. She had left him one
child, and despite his coldness he had
laYisned upon this little one a love only
less strong than that he hal borne her
mother. At eighteen this girl had mar
ried against his will poor clerk that
he had taken into his employ. lie had
cast her off forever, and now her name
was never mentioned. in his mouse. Inc
refreshments by his side remained un-
touched, and the merchant sat with his
hands folded wearilY, and his eyes liked
absently on the tre-so still, so Tran
quil, that one might have thought him
asleep. And as he sat there, through
the storm, and through the closed and
curtained windows OF tue room, came
the sweet tones Of the midnight chimes
Of Trinity. The music Of the bells hlled
all the air, rising and falling with the
wind. 1t was glad and solemn song
they sung, Tor it was glad and. solemn
tale they told; for they sang that the
Christ-child was born.
"Gideon GrindemW
The voice was so soft, and yet SO dis
tinct and sweet, that it thrilled the mer
chant to his inmost soul. "Gideon Grind
en-" the voice said, "are you glad that
Christmas has come agalnr'
The voice came from the fire, and the
There, standing Just below him, was a
strange but beautiful figure. 1t seemed
| like an angel, tor its lace was radiant
| with'purity and beauty, and its garments
were OF spoCless white.
"Listen to me-" said the little figure,
softly, II am Conscience, ana | nave
come to speak with you. We have been
strangers for long time, but | have
come back to you again. You must hear
me tonight, ior you can not drive me
away until morning; and y, if You are
wise, Gideon Grlnuem, do not drive me
away thenw
The merchant sat silent and trem-
bling. He knew ne was poWerless, aud
could not take his eyes from the little
| figure on the hearth. But it was little
no longer, for it grew in size every mo-
ment, until it assumed a gigantlc form,
and mien SO stern and terrible that the
merchant almost shrieked with terror as
he gazed at 1T. .
"Wnat do you want with me?" he
gasped. 81 will show you," said the
| figure, solemnly. Come with mep
| The merunant felt a strong hand
grasp him by The shoulder, and The next
moment he was borne through space
| with speed SO rapid that it deprived
him OF the ability to cry out. Suddenly
there was a pause, and he opened his
eyes. He started in astonisAment at
the scene before him.
| 1t was a little, plainly furnished room.
Everything betOkened cOntentment,
| though at Ihe same time an absence of
riches. A woman, neither old nor young,
| sat by the fire, and at her leet knelt a
child, with his little hands folded in
prayer. The merchant gazed at the
scene in utter bewildermeut. Then his
eyes grew misty, and a great sob
| sWeled up from his heart. lie had rec
ognized the two-the boy was himself,
and the woman was his mother. 'IG is
a terrible thing, Gideon Grindem," said
the voice OF conscience, "Ior parent to
turn away from child"
The merchant shuddered. He was
thinking OF his own child, and now he
mad turned from her prayer lor mercy.
The figure laid its hand upon him and
drew nim away. He knew they we're
now in New York again, and that they
were hurrying through The city in the
midst of the storm. The figure led him
up long flights of stairs, until finally
they entered a chamber, so Wretched
and mean, that the merchant shrank
back with disgust. A Pickering tallow
dip shed feeble light through the room,
adding to Its misery all hundred fold
On q low bed man lay, wan and ema-
ciated. A woman sat by the candle,
sewing busily, her pale, wan face seem
| ing even more ghastly by the uncertain
| light; and on a low pallet two children
| lay asleep-tor the while unconscious Of
the suff yring around tuem. AS he gazed
the merchant saw that, in spite of The
marks of care and suffering which it
bore, the woman's face was wonderfully
like that of his dead wife. No wonder,
| for the woman was his daughter. A
cold sweat stood on his brow, and his
lhearJ seemed to stop still. II was fear
full TO stand thus aud gaze on such a
! dleadtlti scene.
Gideon Grindem groaned, and turning
| to the figure, cried lmplorlngly:
Let US 30 away! l Can not bear
| thsw
The figure silently led him from the
room, and down the long stairs, out into
the street again. 1t was no longer night
there, Tor the sun was shining brightly,
and the thoroughfares were thronged
with busy crowGs hurrylng to their ac-
customed ayocations. The air was keen
and frosty, and the extra wrappings and
comrorters which the people wore, as
sured the merchant that it was very
cold.
The figure led him into large store
on'one Of the store business streets, and
only stopped when they reached the
counting-rOOm, where several merchants
were collected around the stove. Gid
con Grlndem and his companion paused
beside them, but the gentlemen dld not
seem conscious OF their presence.
| "What was that you SAID about CID
con Grindem?" asked one.
II said he is u heartless bruteW re.
piled another.
"What new thing has he doneW
"He has killed his daughter, aud hel
husband and children. They froze to
death yesterday, i'll a miserable hove
near East River. Think OF it-on Christ
mas day, too-and old Grindem rolling
in wealth. in his sumptuous home"
Gideon Grindem's neart stood still.
''It is true," said the figure, soiemnly
I'm the sight OF God you nave murdered
your children" Again the merchant
ielt himself borne swiftly along, and
when he opened his eyes again, he fount
himself in his own home.
He stood in his chamber, and involun-
tarily he marked the contrast between
its Injurious comforts and the miserable
garret in which his daughter had irozeI
to death. He saw, to his surprise, hi
ldesk, where he kept his private paper
and a considerable sum Of money, open
, and one of his servants searching amoni