Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1879-12-25

! uuJo3 VI Lu6 bdlhIy WOulu nave CGdS6u
though they did, for wonder, give m,
an extra half-hour at noon when 1 wen
home to understanding Mamie to wal
on him when he was getting better, anC
making all sorts of nice dishes to temp
his appetite, and lending him all thu
incest books and keeping the room
bright with beautiful flowers. But i
wasn't this kindness that made Nat fal
in love with her. o, no! for he haC
fallen in love with her long before, anC
was on the point Of telling her so when
that cruel machinery grasped his arm
But must give her up now, Susie, y
he said to me-we had no secrets
from each other" though l love heI
more than ever. 'Twould have been
no match, in worldly sense, for her,
before-a printer with only what he
earned from week to week, and a pref
ty young widow, owning houses and
lands sufficient to give her an income OF
a thousand a year. But now it is sim
ply impossible. Disabled for life, ]
must make up my mind to be a burden
on you, and see her marry"
You'll do no such thing, Nathan
iel, cried /. "What has come over
youP 1t seems to me that the people
who are the jolliest when they are jolly
are the bluest when they are blue. One
would think you'd lost both arms and
legs to hear you talk. Do you forget
your favorite motto, Nil desperan-
dum,' to say nothing of up guards,
and at emp" b
But Nat continued very low in his
spirits, all could do or say. And this
is how affairs stood at our house the
Christmas Eve before that Christmas
day.
The kettle had just began to boil
next morning, and had just called out
" Merry Christmas to Nat, hearing
him stir in his own room, when Widow
Winterpippin's blue-eyed little maid
knocked at the door, with "Merry
Christmas" giggle, and note from
her mistress. The note read:
"Winifred Winterpippin sends her
love to Susie and Nathaniel Bracket,
and begs that they will, as a great
favor, give her their company in her
rooms this evening at seven o'clock"
"And I've got a note for everybody
in the house, and there's to be a
supper, miss" said the little maid,
laughing outright. (This little maid
was almost always laughing, in which
respect she much resembled her black
eyed mistress.) "Say We'll come
with pleasure, Mamie" said l. eyes,
miss" and away she flew.
And at seven precisely, the invited
guests were assembled in the widows
pretty parlor. Dear me! How pretty
it was. Christmas green's were fes-
tooned all around the walls, and
anchors, and wreaths, and hearts, and
crosses, were hung wherever they
could be hung, and above the mantle,
" Merry Christmas" in large dark
green letters, frightened by crimson
berries greeted us as we entered the
door. And there were stands filled with
lovely geraniums and begonias, and
lilies in each window, and splendid
fire in the CRATE and most charming of
all there was the widow herself in a
pearl-gray silk with scarlet ribbons at
her throat and scarlet flowers in her
hair.
When Nathaniel-poor fellow, how
his empty sleeve annoyed him and l
Mrs. McChilly and her grand.
children were already there-the old |
ady in the easiest chair in the room,
nearest the fire, with a glass of lemon
ade, of which she was very fond chow
lid Widow Winterpippin manage to
ind out eVerybody's little weaknesses
II this way Of eating and drinkingO on
/ small round table by her side, and
he grandson and his wife looking over
he photograph album in cosy corner.
Mr.. and Mrs. R ose and the three rose
buds, as we called the children, wee,
larling, auburn-haired girls, came
n at the same time we did, and
Mr.. and Mrs. Summer, helooking worn
md haggard and she with traces of
ears around her beautiful eyes-and
he baby-made their appearance few
moments later.
"And now that we are almost all
lere," said Widow Winterpippin-we
who else was to come
well have a dance to begin with.
You will play, Mrs. SummerP Mamie
,an hold the baby"
But Mrs. Summer blushed and said
he "never played, now"
"But you can," insisted the widow
n her genial way. "You surely have
lot forgotten. l used to hear you play
ng so much and so well when you first
moved here, and Mr.. Summer sang
hen, too. Many a happy hour have l
'assed listening to you both" And
dr. Summer, with conscious contrite
ook in his face, put his arm around his
wife and led her to the piano.
Then Nathaniel took the widow, and
Ir. Summer Mrs. McChilly's grand
laughter by marriage, and Mrs. Nc
yhilly's grandson Mrs. Rose, and Mr..
lose me, and we had an old-fashioned
uadrille dance in the Old-fashioned
a jig TO end with. And Mrs.
IcChilly declared it made her feel like
ancing herself, and she would have
anced, too, believe, if it hadn't been
Dr her rheumatic foot. AS it was, she
eat time to the jig tune with her cane
ntil her arm was so tired she couldn't {
eat any longer, and Mamie and the t
aby took it and beat away, utterly re-
IN y.JIoas oF A;v,a y,u%f1 oil tho loJgas