New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-25
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Susan did her share Of the household work with a
ieyeIish haste: then, leaving Lydia Maria TO pre-
pare the stufins for the turkey, she slipped into
the par'or l,imded fire in the stove, and opened
The shutters. What she next did would have eX-
cited q suspicion of insanity had It been observed by
any OF the family. But she was certain that her
father and brother had again to the barn, and,
rs she peered forth from the window Of the upper
gable-ion,n there was nothing in sight except
covered vehicle on the read. half mile away.
Susan hing large towel Tor it NAV have been
sheet from the window and let it slowly wave back
and forth arainst the brick wall, In few minutes
her keen ewes detected something like an answering
sional from the approaching vehicle. Their upon
She FASTENED 10 her room slipped on her best dark
silk dress gave the last light. quick touche, to her
hair and ribbons, and went down stairs.
Jeremiah had haruesSed the horse. and was about
to drive TO the village with his father; but Susan
called them both into the house. and summoned
LYDIA Maria from the kitchen. Her appearance. the
suppressed excitement in her face, and something
strange in the tone of her voice, aroused their
keenest curiosity, but, as neither knew what TO say
they all waited for her to speak
Come into The parlor, pleaseP she Stammered
leading the way.
and hummed ~ the stove, the sucer of vioets per
fumed the air. and, III the cosiest place that could
have been picked ont, stO0d-the third aSt0nish-
rneut of the day II was an armchair of massive
oak. cushioned and padded with leather with adj
Unstable supports for the head and feet, and an eX-
ira arm, large enough to hold a book and news
paper turning on q hiuge-n short the perfection
OF solid workmanship and physical comfort.
This is yours, father" said Susan, playfuly
pushing him into the seat.
Gideon taken by surprise, sank down, and did
not Immediately rise. He bad reached the age when
he could wholly appreciate such a luxury, and there
seemed 10 be no end 70 the delight Of trying this
that quality, and finding nothing wanting Then
jeremiah tried the chair and finally Lydia Maria
and thus fully ten minutes passed before any one
thought of asking; where did yOn get it,
Susan ?" and How under the sun was it brought
into the house ?"
its not my gift, father she said; it comes
from somebody else"
"NOt'--Gdeon began but he hesitated to speak
the name in his mind.
The outer door opened and shut; somebody had
entered without knocking. The next moment
bright-fdced, suu-burnt, bearded man. of thiryfve,
appeared IN the parlor.
William 4" they all cried, IN chorus.
Yes. father" said the younger son. heartily shak-
ing old Gidcou's hand. lie gave jeremiah a cordial
grasp kissed Lydia Maria and Susan, threw off ms
over-coat and cheerily announced I've come to
eat my Christmas dinner with you."
"Ha my horse Bobl' cried jeremiah.
And my cow Pollyr cried Lydia Maria.
And this Armchair" Gideon added; lit must
have cost power o money"
"Ncyer mind how much /" said William, laughing
q can easily afford it-thanks to Susan and Evan
POWELL
Lydia Maria became rigid "Susan aud - she
could not bring herself to pronounce the name.
Gideon looked perpIeXed, and a little abashed.
We viii take advance Of their surprised and ex-
pecsnt silence and relate a. much az is necessary
of Williams history We have said that the Lanes
were Democrats. and everybody knows how stub
bornly the Democratic farmer ofPennsylyania holds
to the iulahbllity Of ms party, and the mracuou,
conception OF every one of its doctrines. Gideon
was 50 bitter in the faith that when war came he
secretly cXulted over every disaster TO the Union
arms. Hence he could have felt no sorer wound
than the enlistment of his son William inflicted on
his nature. Williams inseparable schOO-frend was
Evan Powell, whose father a Republican, and
who volunteered at the first call made by Abra-
ham Lincoln 1t was not long before William fol-
lowed but the two not much together during
the William became irst-lieutenant while
Evan only rose 10 be sergeant-major but the former
was sent home severely wounded early in the fourth
year Of the struggle Tho long and careful nursing
he required was an additional grievance to his
father; and still more the announcement that he
would be untitled for farm labor and mast find some
other way Of living.
The end of it was that William went TO Colorado,
where his health improved rapidly. ard the az
tive life of pioneer readily adapted Itself to his
nature. that lie had remained there ever since. He