The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-12-21

Miss Thcodora GREY lived in big
white house on bleak hilltop over
looking the small village Of Elverton.
She lived alone, with tie exception OF
her servants. And such servants, A
small negro boy and stout middle
aged woman, with an immense hump
on her back, and so unufterably ugly
that her presence on the premises seemed
sufficient protection against outside mo
lestati0n.
But despair Of describing this negro
hog. He might have been about eight
wears 81 are, but he was far too small
for that age: and as for looks. he looked
as If the SHOWS Of innumerable winters
had passed over his head-without
whitening it, however. His face was
wrinkled and cadaverous. One eye was
lost, presenting only staring white
ball, which so far outshone and eclipsed
the other, that no one ever thought Of
regarding H. His body and limbs were
attenuated TO degree. and no amount
of feeding availed 70 fatten him; and he
seemed 70 hang together 50 loosely, that
it was wonder he did not lose some
Of his component parts
His name was Nicodemus. Had any
one else been named that, il would
doubtless have been shortened to mick"
or = Demns.r but no one ever thought
Of doing this kindness for him. and he
bore the unhappy burden Of the entire
name about with him.
What his Office was in the establish
mcnt. il would be hard 10 say; he seem
ed to live only To be miserable.
As for Joanna. she did almost every
thing that man or maid-servant could
lie required to do. Occasionally. Peter
Brook, from an adjoining farm, came
over to do such jobs a. his employer
found for him to do: at all other times,
Joanna was the Jdctotnm.
Years before, Miss Grey had been
Young and beautiful. She had had q
lover, too; but they had quarreled and
parted, and since then no sutton had
dared to face the pitiless flash Of the
cold eyes, that looked as If they had
never known the softening dew Of tears.
One Christmas morning, Joanna, af-
ter kindling the fires, sent Nicodemus 70
clear the snow from the front steps
The world was all in white that morn
ing. The first snow Of the season had
fallen in the night, swiftly, silently, soft
IL, n the plumage Of angels wings,
dropped down from heaven to cover the
earth with spotless drapery for the
birthday Of The Christ. In Miss Grey's
house was no wreathing Of evergrecns,
nor garlanding with flowers, 70 repeat
the message Of peace and good vii
among men. Only Joanna had gather
ed some sprays of cedar and arbor-vitw
from the stately shrubs in the front yard
and, mingling with them some scarlet
berries II the holly, had grouped then
in one Of the old vases oyer the parlor
hearth.
Well. when Nic0demus came to clear
the steps. he found basket sitting OF
them, closely covered. He c0ntemplat
Ell II for some time in vacant sort Of
way. scratching his head, and occasion
ally looking of into space, AZ il TO sum
mon some Invisible agency to help hin
solve the overwhelming problem-wha
To do with IT, At last an idea seeme'
10 penetrate his woody head he shut
fled himself hack to the kitchen whcr'
Joanna &as, and standing skeletcn-lik'
III the doorway mumbied out,
"Whaf do wild de basket"
.What basketar
son le step-."
Joanna never wasted time nor breatl
comforting with Nirodemus. So sh
thrust more wood into the stove, wher
the breakfast was cooking. and went on
to Investigate.
II wonder who has brought Mis-
Theodore a present." was her aston