Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1877-12-25
enough to unsettle the nerves OF the
new soprano. She was visible to all

enough to unsettle the nerves Of the
new soprano. She was visible to all
"A slight medium-sized figure in
deep mourning, standing in the front
part OF the small gallery, and careless.
ly holding book before her droop.
ing eyes. AS the last chord echoed
through the aisles her voice was dis.
tinctly audible, breathing forth rather
than singing the opening sentence Of
that solemn but comforting invitation
to which Handel has gwen a fitting
setting in bis sublime Messiah:
"Come u,to Him all ye that labor and
nre heavy laden, and He will give you rest
Take Ills yoke upon you and learn Of Him,
for He is meek and lOwiy Of heart, and ye
sllal. find rest unto your souls"
So soft and perusive at first as to
be merely audible, the exnortation,
Take His yoke upon you," was CIV
en- with a power and fervor that were
electrifying. and again, the sweet,
pure voice seemed to revel in the Ut
teraLce Of the rich reward.
Mr.. Barclays glasses gave him
great deal Of trouble during the sing
ing Of the anthem. He was so con-
stantly taking them off and rubbing
them with his handkerchief that a
continuous look at the singer was i'm
possible. He fingered in the aisle
after the service, and watched. At
length the organist came down the
stairs into the vestibule, followed by
the new soprano. A number Of per-
sons were introduced to them but
Mr.. Barclay was satisfied to scrutl'
nize at a distance. Both were young
and bore certain likeness to each
other, but the man was tall and blue
eyed, and the masses Of hair that
swept away from his square forehead
were of a lightb.rown shade. The
woman was gifted with glorious hazel
eyes, and very dark, silky lsshes that
gave a sad expression to features 9TH
erwise as bright as pretty. The two
left the church with prominent
member of the vestry, and Mr.. Bar
clay, very much shaken by hitherto
uulelt sensations, took his way down
town.
A toy store was his objective point
and he soon opened the door Of the
best the town boasted. Mrs. Link, the
owner of the lrea ures tcmptingly set
out in the windown, entered the store
from the living-room back, a baby on
her arm, and a little urchin Of three
cliuging to her skirts. We'll, my lit.
tie man, and what did Santa Claus
bring you?' asked Mr.. Barclay, more
surprised than any one else could be
at the words which seemed to come
spontaneously from his throat.
'Nozzin, sobbed the little man.
why, why, that vii! never d.,
said Mr.. Barclay.
He wanted new suit, said Mrs.
Link Toys are no novelty to him,
and as he couldn't have the clothes,
why, he has nothing. What can do
for you. SIR
1t was some years since Mr.. Bar
clay had indulged in a blush, but he
certainly was doing it now.
i want drum, the biggest you
have, and a gun, the longest in the
store.
Shall I send them asked Mrs
Link, committing her baby - the
doubtful arms Of a half gro:
and glancing at the shelf where IT.
posed the biggest drum.
No, I'll take them heroically re-
piled Mr.. Barclay; foreseeing some
mischance if he left them behind
His appearance as he went up the
main street, the hugh drum dangling
from one hand and the little gun under
his arm, attracted much attention from
the children on the street and in the
windows. Box was awake. and had
disposed Of large apple and some
gingerbread. He sat on chair nurs.
ing an astonished kitten which he had
captured in the kitchen, and Mrs. Bar
clay, with very red eyes, still watched
his pranks and listened to his few sen.
tences.
AS Mr.. Barclay entered the room,
Box sprang from his seat and ran to
him. The kitten disappeared under the
sofa and Mrs. Barclay sat speechless
"Oh, he's come ! he's come cried
Box, in au ecstasy. Santa Claus is
come There's my drum and my gun
Where's the sticks till | eat it?
For some minutes there was deaf.
ening rub a-dub. dub, which. strange to
say, seemed to please Mr.. Barclay as
much as it did the delighted Box.
ON, wish my mamma would come
Will she soon be here ?"
Mr.. Barclay nodded, and Box ad.
iusted his gun and forgot her.
When dinner was ready Box was
perched on some great books laid on
a chair facing Mr.. Barclay. The
drum and gun were placed on the ta-
Bile beside him, where, with his eyes
fondly fixed on them, he vigorously
attacked the roasted turkey and