Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-12-26

Jennie, home again, at the two curly Little
heads in the other room, at the baby. But she
had not breath to thank God, not until she
had seen him once more.
AT last there came step-the footsteps of
two men, laugh, the turn of the key in the
front door, and Georges voice in the hall.
"Walk into this room one moment, colonel, |
until find my wife"
Georges voice, clear, ringing, boy;sh, as it |
had not been for years! Georges face at
the door, with the shadow aud weight of ten
years fallen of from it, for evtrI
'.Mary- God bless me, Jennie How
are you, dear girl ?" kissing her white fore
head, and passing over, after the fashion of
men, the hundred little Sights and quarrels
that had lain between her and her sister.
She had stolen up beside him and put her
hand on his.
..Mary, happy Christmas Why, little
mother what ails your" STOPPING to kiss the
closed lids from which the tears began to
steal. --.
Long ago, when their first baby was born,
he used to call her that; but never since.
Don't heed us, Jennie. We're old mar
ried folks, you know" holding his wife's head
closer in his arms.
What was the matter with George! His
breath came quick, she felt his heart throb
full and fast; there was tender light in his
eyes, which she had not seen since their old
courting days.
"oh wife wife!' he whispered, daylight
has come to me at last :"
But before he could say more, there was a
fresh hustle and arrival in the hall.
alt is my husband, George" said Jennie,
nervously.
"That is right. Christmas eve, of course"
heartily. '.There is another old friend, Mary,
! in the study. Huff, you know, whom we knew
in Cumberland. will bring him in."
George was his old gedial, hosptable self.
But Mary was woman; she could not help
but notice how stout, pompous Mr.. Corgil,
who came to patroniZe, was discounted by
her husbands simple, cordial manner; was
cowed by the presence of the old colonel, just
then the great man of the village and per-
picked beyond endurance by his eager greet
ing of Mary, and familiarity with their old
lives.
Il did not know you had acquaintance In
our little burgh,' said Jennie's husband, rest
ling his hands on his two fat knees, and ad~
dressing the fussy little colonel.
'AcquBintances?' A dozen, sir. But friends?
Only Genin and his good wife here. knew
them when they were first married. knew
George in petticoats, sir. Old John Huff was
la poor boy once, aEd might have remained so
', but for this young mans father. l am not
u1Cu " dChuOhlGuSC uOUb L OhCs
Corgill was silent,
'But what astonishes me, SIR said Huff, in
his deep bass, which, somehow, put you in
mind of good dinners, and hearty living.
,, What astonishes me is, that man of genius,
capacity, should have been allowed to remain
unemployed in this community You have
poor dlscernment in approaching your OWL
|, needs, and what will fill them!
!. Our profession is the one in which mar
most easily loses step, and regsins it witt
!, most difficulty said Genin.
: well, George, my boy, you have you
place now, and trust to you to keep it. Mr.
!; Genin is to have the conduct of the road o.
y which l am president he said to Corgill. whC
made haste to shake hands and congratulate
L l his brother iH-law; for he was, as his wifi
said, not so bad man as they thought, though
success was, of all the virtues, the one which
!, he most reverenced. Jennie came with he
= little gush of delight, very bright bushes anC
: smiles chasing themselves over her face; bu
: there was something which pleased old JohI
: : Huff more 10 the look which George Genil
= gave to his wife, in her sudden start, and tht
, warm glow that mounted slowly over he
:. thin face.
'Its from the heart, that is,' thought th,
e old man; 'and tired heart, with the courag
! nearly wrung out Of it, / suspect. Thanl
y God, I've done some good this blessed Christ
10 mas
. I'D like you TO dine tomorrow with us
&c lColonel, said George, as they rose to depart.
AND would like to come. 1t is not tn
. first Christmas dinner l have taken in you
v thouse, boy
le Shall we make it a family party? vii
= you let us in?' said Corgill, holding out botl
e hands to the man who had been at last weigh
&c ed in his scales, and not found wanting.
l~-N q,
!; jokes, and whffs Of the cold air let in by de
llfgrees, they were outside the door and gone.
y Am they'll be back to morrow. ma'ami
said Ann, as she turne1 the key. tPm thank
III fulthe turkey is such monster; and I'll Civ
Iyou me word it'll be done to turn. Pm glai
they'll be back. It's Christmas day tina
'e brings us all together
u They were alone at last, his arm about her
III her head on its old resting place, the long-ag
IsmiIe on his face, grave and tender.
y God has been tender to us, little mother,
he said.
e Then, after awhile, she told of her dreams
. iof all the doubts and pain that went before
u ! doubts of herself, Of him, of God.
ir He listened in silence, stroking her thi
le hand carelessly- in his.
II But it has taught me to look forward {
~ one thing, George she said. TO the da
u when you and Jennie, and the children and
le shall leave our every day faults and little vex
Is atious ways there in the graves just slip then
loft with our bodies and go yonder to be wit
( Him, and pure and unselfish as He
Z. George was silent long time.
N Il do not know, little mother he said, hes
], itatngly, at last. 4 am not wise as you ar
er about these things. But it always seems &
me as if He,' bending his head and lowerin
lie his voice, did not wait foi US to slip off ou
impure bodies, or our faults,to claim us as His
q, And if You could see as He does that |, wit
u, my hasty temper, and Jennie with her tain
lie of covetousness, and the children with thei
Il faults, Gf they have any, God bless them!
n were now in one told, with the one Shepher
ID to pity and help US, it might make life plain
y err
er Il do see, George she said, after a littl
It while, in whisper
lie Presently came the last notes of the singer
in the distance without. II was the Christ
20 mas carol again:
- ''God rest ye, merry gentlemen; let nothin
i' you alright;
II For Jesus Christ, our Saviour, was born thi
"a Christmas night. --s-
~ Now all your sorrows He will heal; your sin
-, will take away;
, For Jesus Christ, our Saviour, was born thi
Christmas-day.
n The sounds died away in the starlight an,
Ne cold-and then there was long silence.
IN zone fold and one Shepherd he said
softly; and it is Christmas-day that bring