The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1877-12-22
A CHRISTMAS "REMINISCENCES.

am an editor and one bitter cold morn
ing, few days before Christmas, in the
year IS, sa5 as usual at my desk. Among
the heap of manuscripts l was daily COM
PEELED to eXamne-rnany of them desultory,
untdy. and unstitched, defiant of spelling
subversiye of grammar, and with neither
beginning, middle or end-was one, written
on the softest cream-aid French white
paper, in a childish lady's hand, ON lines
which had been carefully erased afterwards
1t was a little story ofno great literary merit
but there was an, aroma of youth and of
sweetness in every line. There was a promise
in it. Itwas like the light in the sky before
the sun had risen on a fine day--an omen, a
portent of sunshine and warmth, but no
more. put it down as if / had touched the
petal of a rose. There was a tiny scented
note besida It IF course full of italicts:
DEAR Mr.. EDIToR: | send you little
story. | am only sixteen, and papa and
mamma do not know anything about it, but
please tell me if it is worth anything.
rant it to be printed | ioant to be paid for
it. 1t is not for myself, though, but want
the money to give my dear little brother a
nice little birthday present. | am, dear Mr.
Editor, yours, etc, EMILY -"
Then came the address and signature.
The writing of the note was less neat and
regular than the manuscript. But there
was the same fragrince of dainty youth
about it.
| held it long time in my hand. | am
an old man at all events middle-aged, per-
haps something moro; but tiy heart is
younger than my appearance. Little distil-
lations came, or seemed to come, from the
paper held. 1t was with no common feel
ing Of interest that l sat down and wrote my
answer to the note. l returned the manu-
script,but wrote gently and tenderly. gave
it as my hope and my opinion that, with a
little more care and study, the youthful
writer would achieve a success. l even
promised to print'tha identical manuscript
if it were a little revised or corrected, and
pointed out how it might be made avail
able. ! opened the window ofmy den after
| had written my note. The weeds piercing
through the flags below had less dreary
look than they had ever had before; CLEAN
of sunshine shone on them, and their frosty
verdure borrowed something of Picciola
brightness from it. posted my letter and
the manuscript to the address named, and
went home, wondering if ever should hear
from the writer again. With that, however,
oll thoughts Of the manuscript passed away
The author was too timid to reply.
On Christmas Eve I was asked as usual
to dine with an old friend of mine at st.
Johns Wood He was married man with
pleasant comely wife, and several small
children male and female.
"The children are not coming down to
dinner" said my hostess, " for they are
going to give us a surprise afterwards
! bowed and was delighted, both at the
anticipation of pleasure to come, and of
priyaton for the first time of considerable
present annoyance. need not say | was
then bachelor. When we went up stairs
after dinner, we found the folding doors
which divided the front from the back room
closed.
They were opened after while. The
Christmas hymn was sung, and tree Of the