New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-25

Tie first broad. rosy flush Of a mild and sunny
Christmas Day had scarcely appeared in the east,
when The member, Of the Lane family left their
beds. bindcd the fire, in tie dusky rooms, and en-
tered upon the duties OF the day. il was their Old
habit Jerry looked after tine stock, one daughter
MIXED the cows while the other prepared break
fast and old Gideon Lane. now man Of seventy.
enioycd ha.i AN boar Of comfortable idcness in hi,
hickory armchair in the sitting room. II wa.
Susan's turn to milk; bn when the time came SHE
begged Lydia Maria 70 take Der place. She had not
slept well, and was suh ring from SLIGHT headache,
she sad-vlGch was indeed. the exact truth for.
during the night She had risen from her bed, opened
the bachelor and admitted two men who bore q
bulky object 10 the parlor. where il was silently
deposited The key Of the room was in Su>an's
pocket every thing safe, 50 far but the fear OF
being detected during the act and the ,leepesSness
which followed. had taken away a little Of her
robust strength. If she had appeared too flushed
the previous day, she was too pale now; ana Lydia
Maria tired 10 remember whether this was another
symptom of the typhus
As the rcd Of the dawn frightened into clear gold.
and the clu1nps of bare ASH and maple trees along
the edges of the meadow began 70 detach them
selves from the dark f1rmcss Of the landscape,
Jeremiah stood at the stablc-door. Looking at the
sky. he remarked to himself that il was going to be
beautiful NdN the cola, sweet dlI tOuCItO Ills PAL
ate. and suggested. beyond the coming breakfast.
the cheer Of the later dinner ne felt glad that it
was Christmas His proposal, the afternoon before,
although postponed by Lydia Maria elder author
ity nevertheless satisfied his Of justice Susan
henceforih, should not always give them the holI-
day, but they would take turns in giving it 10 her.
Jerelnah's brain worked slowly. and with many
variations hither and thther but 1t generally fell
into the right groove at last.
lie threw open the door and entered the stable.
He first put his hand, according to old habit upon
the back Of Harry. the near pow horse hut surely
that was not Harry's back II was nearly hand
higher and the hide had different quality Utter
" bewdered he CROPPED his way, in the dark stable
TO tho head of the animal; the s6ih, smooth leather
BETRAYED 10 his touch, a new halter. lie united the
ren led the horse-more by instinct than by reason
ing-out of the stable, and, 10! there was new
creature stalwart. strong-lnbed bay, with large,
intelligent eyes! jeremiah was astounded at this
phenomenon that be stood dumb, thundersruck.
The horse shifted at him curousy, and then he
first noticed piece Of paper attached to the head
stall He tore il off, and read these words, in a
large, awkward, unknown hand: Ny name is
Bob; l belong 20 jeremiah Lane"
What Jeremiah said, must not be written. The
words were forced ont Of him by surprise. but they
had prOfane rather than pi0us sound lie meant
no harm by them-Quito the reverse; he was awk-
ward in tho Use Of nteections, because so many OF
them were prohibited by the custom Of the neigh
borhood | have no doubt that be did the best he
could under the circumstance; and the Recording
Angel instead Of blOttng it out with tear did not
even think il necessary TO write 1t down.
Jeremiah was aroused out Of his stupor by a
piercing scream from Lydia Maria. This was a thing
which had not happened for many years, and it