Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-12-21
MRS. DUNN'S CHRISTMAS.

MRS. DUNN IS CHRISTMAS.
1t was Christmas eve in Mrs. Dunn's
cosy parlor; the back log blazed and
snapped with good will, as if it remember
ed the days when the sunshine crept into
its heart; the candles burned with a clear
radiance on the mantel. Outside. the
snow fell and drifted against the pane, the
wind whistled loudly, as if to drown the
Christmas bells, that now seemed far
away, and anon rang out like clarion calls.
Mrs. Dunn herself sat before the highly
polished fender with her knitting-a wo-
man who had been pretty once, but no
longer young now, with her hair quite
gray, and the traces of tears that had drie d
on her pale cheeks, one might have said,
just as the showers Of long past ages have
left their prints On the stiffened soil. Mrs.
Dunn's tears had, indeed, been shed long
ago, but they burned yet so surely as the
twilight of Christmas eve fell about her.
Tonight her housefull OF boarders had all
betaken themselves their several ways:
this one to spend the holiday with his
partner's family, that one with his moth
er in the country, the other with his
sweetheart, till nobody was left, but Mr..
Royburne-a man as gray and worn as
herself-who had only his violin with which
to keep Christmas. He sat now in the
chimney corner, drawing his bow across
his violin, and bringing up long past and
half forgotten scenes Ey the necromancy of
its chords and melodies.
Zone feels the need Of a home on Christ
mas eve, Mrs. Dunn" he said, presently,
breaking IF the air of ''Auld Lang ,ne''
suddenly. mot but this chimney corner
is as much d home as I've ever known,
and no bad substitute, and, perhaps it's
only sentimentality. but when a man
reaches my time Of life, it goes hard with
him to remember that he has found, as
the poet says, his warmest welcome at an
inn.''
mo doubt, no Doubt" signed Mrs.
Dunn. 1T seems as if d boarding house
were only Way-station to something more
permanent. That's the Way it used to
seem to NE when I was twenty-five. Do
you know, I've got to kind of dread Christ
mas eve as much as | used to love it; it's a
sort of landmark now that shows how far
we've wandered from the hopes and pro-
misses Of youth AS you say, it's a night
when one needs fireside, in it's true
md 1ov e., 1o
expected to have when life was young:"
and Mrs. Dunns voice trembled and
broke, and Mr.. Royburne drew out chord
that sounded like ali ''amen." You may
laugh if you will at al old woman like
me" she said, when she had recovered her
self; ''but I had blow in my young days
that I've never got the better ola love
affair."
Yes! Let those laugh who win. We
all keep a corner of our hearts where no
one enters"
And every Christmas-time the pain
bites deeper, till it seems as If 1 could not
bear it, just as an old wound is said to
throb and ache at it's anniversary" Mr..
Royburne tapped his violin gently, as much
as to say, 1--WE know what that isl but
he looked curiously at his landlady. Hav-
ing lived two years under her roof, and
found her efficient in all the practical af-
fairs Of life, and always cheerful, it had
hardly occurred to him that she had a more
tender or romantic side, though he knew
her to be companionable and even sympa-
thetic. and with something in her air.
tone in her voice that brought up the image
of a fair woman he had loved long ago.
ut was when l was barely twenty five,"
she continued. II ought to have out
grown it and him by this time, but Pm
afraid Pm not strong minded. There! 1
shall bore you to death. Mr.. Royburne-
there are some folks who have no mercy
on listener; but somehow l felt like talk
ing about myself tonight"
"And feel like hearing about yourself
tonight. Pray go on; love affairs like
an air Of Mozart, always sweet to listen
to.''
"Mine wasn't sweet to live though, I
promise you. You see, I'd been left alone
in the world, with trife of money, not
enough to keep me without work that is
to say, there was Aunt Huldah, rich and
alive, but I'd no expectations from her,
and would to Heayen I'd had no realiza-
tions! Well, [ wasn't quick enough to
teach, and had no knack for millinery or
mantua making, and the hundred other
employnents women turn their hand to
nowadays were unknown and untitled by
them then; SO put the little I had into
a clearinghouse. l didn't live about
here at that tlme-you see, It's an old craft
with mel lived in the western part of
the State, at Croftford.''
"Croftford ~ echoed Mr.. Royburne
STOPPING to pick up the bow he had let
fall.
Eyes. Yon have been there? ITS
thought pretty place for it's size. The
house kept looked out on the Mall, where
young folks went walking arm and arm in
the long summer evenings, and sometimes
the band played such tunes. They don't
seem like the same things nowadays. Oh!
don't you feel well to night, Mr.. Roy
burne ~ she asked picking I'D stitch in