The Morning herald., 1877-05-21
Gideon Grinden S Christmas

4lu6VAN - AssSAAt : : O>eA >'l.sl's - Asss
ua vas very lonely man, this Gideo,
Gr;ndem. in spite of all his wealth. Year
sno he had married q woman much young
80 than himself, but such woman as ON
meets but once in 8 lifetime, and hayinl
saen. s can never forget. Had she lived; hi
might have been happier and better, bu
.he had been dead twelve years. and nj
other 9TH living being had filled her place il
~. merchants heart. She had left hin
one me- child, and, despite his coldness. he hae
1sv;shed upon this little one love only
1e.s stronQ than hs had borne her mother
At At eighteen this girl had married against
h;s viii. a poor clerk that he had taken into
his employ. He had cast her off forever
ond now her name was never mentioned in
h;s house. The refreshments by his side
remained untouched, and the merchant sat
With bis hands folded wearily, and his eyes
fxed absently on the fre-so still, so tran
mil that one might have thought him
asleep. And as he sat there, through the
storm, and through the closed and curtain
Cd windows of the room, came the sweet
tones Of the midnight chimes Of Trinity.
The music of the bells filed all the air,
rising and falling with the wind. 1t was
a clad and solemn song they sung, for it
was a glad and solemn tale they told /; for
thew sang that the Christ-child was born.
6Gideon Grindem!'
The voice was 80 soft, and vet 80 distinct
and sweet, that it thrilled the merchant to
his inmost soul "Gideon Grindem,". the
voice said, "are you glad that Christmas
has come again ?"
The voice came from the fire, and the
merchant glanced down at the hearth.
There, standing just below him, was a
strange but beautiful figure. 1t looked like
an angel, for its face was radiant with
purity and beauty. and its garments were
Of spotless white. =. ~
"Listen to me-" said the little figure,
softly. Iaul Conscience, and I have come
back to speak with you. We have been
strangers for long time. You must hear
me tonight, for you cannot drive me away
until morning and 0, if you are wise,
Gideon Grindem, do not drive me awayy'
The merchant sat silent and trembling.
He knew he was powerless, and could not
take his eyes from the little figure on the
hearth. BUTT was little no longer, for it
grew in size every moment until 1t assumed
gigantic form, and mien go stern and
terrible that the merchant almost shrieked
with terror as he gazed at it. "What do
you want with me?" he gasped. II will
show you," said the figure, solemnly.
"Come with mev'
The merchant felt a strong hand grasp
him by the shoulder, and the next moment
he was borne through space with a
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 astonishment at the scene before him.
1t was little, plainly furnished room,
Everything betokened contentment, though
at the same time an absence of riches. A
woman, neither old nor young, sat by the
fire, and at her feet knelt child, with his
little hands folded in prayer. The mer-
chant gazed at the scene in utter bewil-
derment. Then his eyes grew misty, and
a great sob swelled up from his heart. He
had recognized the two-the boy was him"
self, and the woman was his mother. 1T
is terrible thing, Gideon Grindem," said
the voice Of Conscience, "for parent to
to turn away from a child"
The merchant shuddered. He was think
ing of his own child, and now he had
turned from her prayer for mercy. The
figure laid its hand upon him and drew
him away. He knew they were 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, 10
wretched and mean that the merchant
,hrank back with disgust. A pickering
allow dip shed feeble light through the
room, adding to its misery an hundred
old. On low bed a man lay, wan and
,maciated. A woman sat by the candle,
'ewing busily, her pale, wan face seemed
sven more ghastly by the uncertain light
and on low pallet two children lay asleep
for the while unconscious Of the suffer-
ing around them. As he gazed the mer>
chant saw that, in spite ofcare and suffer-
ing which it bore, the woman's face was
like that of his dead wife. No
wonder, for the woman was his daughter.
A cold sweat stood on his brow, and his
heart seemed to stop still. 1t was fearful
to stand thus and gaze on such dreadful
scene.
Gideon Grindem groaned, and turning
TO the figure cried imploringly:-
"Let US go away! l cannot bear this"
The figure silently led him from the
room and down the long stairs. out into
The street again. 1t was no longer night
there, for the sun was shining brightly,
and the thoroughfares were thronged with
busy crowds hurrying to their accustomed
The air was keen and frosty