The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1877-12-27

Rs'DAY, DECEMBER ]! g: J! 4: ;: 2 p, /
~ :'j|A NEW YEARS STORY q. I
III t0nAPTERr. ~ or: Z. :;
1t was New Years Eve-the snow fell
fast and thick; on the frozen ground. In
Bloomsbury Square the trees Aad lawns were
white and crisp with frozen snow. The Grim
son curtains and the blazing fires made the
dlning-rooms OF the handsome old-fashioned
houses OF the square seem earthly paradises
to the houseless, barefooted outcasts whose
rags of wrctchcdncss', were, blown aside by
the keen cast wind. The cruel wind drove
the snow-fakes in their pinched, blue faces,
and covered their tattered garments and lean,
sallow flesh with what was at one moment
a white overcoat, and the next an icy bath.
With what wol6sh eyes those shivering
famished step-children ot fortune glared first
at the dining tables, covered with the snowy
damask, and glitterfng with glass, china and
silver, on which the .hrelight was reflected
like rubies and t0pazes, and then at the clean,
cozy kitchen, where before the noble fire the
turkey, the saddle of mutton, or the sirloin
was roasting.
One of the houses in question belonged to
the city. Tie had snowy, handsome wife, a
very proud, pretcntious and pedantic woman,
and subtle and sly iwithal-a tyrant where she
dared, and ruling Mr.. Pomfret, who dotted on
her, but who had a great idea of mans SUI
Premacy, by pretending to obey him, always
the while crafti]y managing to have her own
way in everything. They had six children
Was four teen; the youngest, a girl, was four.
One poor, pale govcrness-Miss Noss-cdu-
Gated the four girls, and had charge of the
two mischievous boys-Master Wellington
and Master Nelson-during the holidays.
Mrs. Pomfret was of a warlikc spirit, and
was very fond of heroic names. Her father
had herself dubbed him "Colonel" after his
decease-and she was equally attached to both
the Army and Navy. However the great
boasting piece of the family was Mr.. Pom
fret's younger and only brother, Sir Henry
Pomfrct.
He was barristcr in good practice, had
written law book which had become an au-
thority, and was so lively, and gentlemanly,
and popular, that he made friends wherever he
went.
He was SO bright, so genial and so levable,
that even those clients who had weak causes
he could not gain retained him still as a friend
and continued their "refreshers" in the shape
Of good dinners and choice old wines.
VI 1uc otuof nano, tuose cAents LOT
whom he gained by his eloQuence and learn
ing all important verdicts, positively idolized
him.
One among them, a nobleman Of political
influence obtained for Harry Pomfret Colo
nial Judgeship, with the honor of knighthood,
and 'our brother, Sir Harry Pomfrct, the
Judge" became Mrs .Pomfret's favorite boast
ing piece in conjunction with "my father, the
Colonel"
-l;r uorr, ho1 1,on,, ol>,o.I 41.on ,,o,., - ~ .
the time Of which we are writing, and was
about thirty five years Of age. It was, as we
have said, New Years Eve, and showing fast.
Mrs. Pomfret was in full dress. Mr.. Pomfret
had promised to return from the Office at five,
to dinner, in order to take herself and the chill
dren to the playa great treat this, for Toole,
the comic genius of the age was to delight the
of mingled mirth and pathos, fun and
which made him the acknowl.
edged genius Of the grotesque and graceful,
grand master Of the sources Of smiles and
tears.
Mrs. Pomfret was hungry, cross, and was
at the ragged wolf-cyed outcasts glaring at the
roasting turkey at the kitchen fire, when sud-
denly from an Upper window few pence,
wrapped in paper, fell at the blue feett Of the
Outcasts.
Mrs. Pomfret Redeemed with anger, and
rushed upstairs. The school-rOom was on
the second floor. She suspected Miss Moss Of
wanted to vent her ill-humor on some one
the safest person in the house was Miss
Moss
Miss Moss was second cousin Of Mr.. Pom
fret's, an orphan and quite destitute, she had
only been received by Mrs. Pomfret; boarded,
lodged and paid twenty pounds year, at,
Sir Harry's request, on condition that the re-
lationship was to be kept secret, and never al
luded to. Another cousin Of Mr.. Pomfret' s.
Della, commonly called Dahlia Domvile-also
lived with the Pomfrets. She had been so
named by an Irish suitor, who naturally pro-
Della Dahlia, and her style of beauty
and her gorgeous velvet dresses gave her q
close resemblance to that splendid flower, the
Dahlia. The 1rishman's blunder was univers-
ally adopted; Miss. Domvile alsorIived. with the
Pomfrets. Mr.. Pomfret was her guardian.
She had some fortune and paid el0O per an
mum for her board and lodging. She was a
great belle and great tlirt, and having a
high spirit. Mrs. Pomfret was as obsequious
to her as she was overbearing to Miss Moss.
On the landing of the second floor Mrs.
Pomfrct meet Masters wellington and Nelson
giggllng:
Pomfret. "Not you am sure, my precious
loves" -,
Master Wellington.
"she's always giving to beggars,' said Mas
ter Nelson.
Mrs Pomfrct, rcd with wrath, entered the
school-room
"Who has been throwing pence out of the
window to bcggars" she asked.
II die" said Miss Moss. "The poor creature
seemed starving with cold and hunger"
II have soup tickets at your service, and in
discriminate charity is the special aversion OF
Mr.. Pomfret and myself. To encouraging
street beggars, alias robbers, Miss Moss, you
risk our being murdered in our beds. Pray
and worse still to Mr.. Pomfret."
Miss Moss bowed her head in token Of sub
mission.
"Ma, pas come, aud wants you directly
He's got letter from Uncle Harry, and a
present..
"For mc:" asked Mrs. Pomfret.
20, he doesn't know yet-he hasn't opened
it; but it's something in red morocco case,
for saw that through hole in the paper" )"
said Nelson.
(Which you tore, young shaver" said the
elder boy, in whisper.
Mrs. Pomfrct had hurried down stairs, Miss
Moss pale and trembling had sunk back in
her chair. She was leaning her arms upon
the desk, and her face in her hands, and was
weeping silently. She said to herself: "Why
should care for Mrs. Pomfret's unkindness
He has been heard Of He is well--pcrhaps
he has sent kind message to Cousin Rose.
He never was ashamed to own me. Heaven
bless himr'
The children were all to 60 to the play.
Poor Rose had dressed them, and they were
gone to desert. She was just sitting down to
her weak tea and toast when Dahlia Domvlle
the.belle'of Bloomsbury, came In. = -
20 Rose," she cried, "do help me with these
plaits and curls-I can't make them feel safe
and then fix this wreath for me, and am
sure that great stupid Ann has laced my dress
awry-I feel quite crooked"
Rose complied-a hole had been missed