Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1878-12-24
MIscELLANEous.
FARMER WRBN,s CHRISTMAS.
ST0RY
a SIUhf
FOR THE SPIRIT OF JEFFERSON.

~ HRISTMAS EVE ut farmer Wren's, in
~ the cosy home at the foot of the Blue
Ridge, named by its owner 1.-The Wren's
Nest"-and beautiful '.nest, it was in the
spring, when the beauty time of the year
drew near in summer when the flowers
climbed about the door>way and peeped into
the windows, when the swaying branches of
the trees made music with the summer wind;
q cheerful nest even in dreary winter, when
the ground was as hard as a misorS heart, and
the bare trees shook their great gauat fugers
and made wierd aud ghostlike noises on the
window pane. BY the great wood fire farmer
Wren read his paper, while opposite to him
his good wife counted the stitches In her
knitting.
Farmer Wrcn's neice, Alice. was the only
daughter of his only brother, who died poor,
and his orphan daughter came to make her
home at s.the nest" when little girl. thirty
years ago. Tonight she IS standing in the
open door~way, unmindful of the biting wind
that plays with the waves of her brown hair
aud paints roses on her checks. "a very
pretty gisl," the neighbors said /; tkey might
have said, "a very beautiful woman" Tall,
and straight rs an arrow, as 1.-the and grace
full n young willow tree that bends to kiss
the passing stream; great brown eyes in whose
depths lay shadows of sorrow firm, rosy
lips, and a wealth OF brown hur that would not
be bound down by the band of blue ribbon.
The hungry eyes are searching way over the
bare hill>tops as though she were waiting for
some one Tho brown bat beautiful hands
are clasped, and as the pale moonlight bathes
her in q shower of silver, she makes picture
fit for the pencil of one of the old masters.
The old clock in the passage strikes nine
they keep early hours at the nest, and slowly
Alice f1rus from the moonlight, and with her
firm aud steady step enters the sitting-room.
She moves the table up near the fire and
places on it the old family bible, she helps
her uncle 10 his seat near the table, aud then,
with folded hands sits watching the fre~
pictures that blaze up and fill all the room
with fantastic shadows that play hide and
seek amid the bare rafters.
With trembling hands farmer Wren turns
over the well>worn leaves, and then, as is his
custom on Christmas eve, reads the old. old
story Of the star, the manger and the child, and
then, on bonded knees, he prays "God bless our
absenrone, wherever he is this Christmas eve;
oh, God be with him and bring him back
to his fathers house" The heart of the
mother wAispers amen. aud the heart OF
Alice does not she. too, long and pray for
this absent one7 Who is he7 Where is he
Y
vas the only sou of farmer Wren. and even
Gs boy had given his parents much trouble
wild, wayward and free, he had fallen an easy
prey to the temptations arouDd him. When the
war broke out in 81 he Was Just nineteen, but
st the first Gail he shouidered his musket and
entered the Stonewall Brigade as a private
fit for nothing else, he made good soldier,
Was there a man wanted for some special act
of daring, Charles Wren was chosen. As
boy Alice had loved him ; her heart had
gone out to him, and whom he left for the
war she was his promised bride. 10 one Of
ths hard fought battles below Richmond
Charles was taken prisoner. he escaped
from Fort McHenry. and since then they had
heard no tidings of him. Was he dead or
alive they knew not. But they hoped
against hope, aud it was thus this night they
prayed for the absent one. All is still now
at the nest, and the silent stars look down
upon world ss fair and beautiful as when
long years ago the new star appeared, and
heavens choir sang peace on earth, good
will to men.
Christmas eve in the Monumental City
ell ia life, stir, aud hustle; from tho store
windows the tempting lights make long golds
en- lanes in the darkness the prancing
of happy young people; even the weather.
beaten beggar throws little more life into
the wheezy hsnd-organ as the pennies drop
faster into the old tin plate. The air is cold
and biting, but still the ragged poor stand
long and linger before the tempting windows.
A blaze of light flashes out in the street as
the doors Of saloon open here all warmth
aud cheer; the crystal chandelier sparkles
with its dancing lights rare paintings arc
| upon the walls, and laughter and merrimeDt
rule supTeme. But on al this meTrin,ent .
shadow comes as msn stumbIes at the door
aad falls in a5Agged besp upon the marble
| floor. One or two step gingerly over him as
they go out; another, more brutal, spurus
Ehim with his foot, and the bsr-keeper, his
diamond pin flashing in the gas-lighf. comes
from behind tbe bar and raises the fallen
man upon his feet. s.Look here, Wren, this
won't do, 1 can't have you coming in here
disturbing my respectable customers" The
druDkard's face fushes even deePerp red,
as trying to steady himself, he answers:
| .sRespectable? Oh yes, and was respect-
able once, even as they are; but enough Of
that give me drink aud will CO. AS
he finishes he reels 10 the bar. and, striking
his elbow againsta pils Of glasses, knocks
them On tha floor; be falls. and bleeding,