The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-31
THE DAILY STAR
YESSIE'S CHRISTMAS;


when we picture to ourselves perfect
one. The ground decked in dazzling
whiteness, the trees and shrubbery hung
with sparkling crystals, the grand moon
shining serenely, and the little stars
blinking and twinkling in their most
inischievous manner. All day happy
children were coasting and snow-balling,
filing the air with the shouts of delight;
but as the darkness gathered, the little
ones scampered homewards to hang up
their stockings and wonder and talk of
what they hoped to find in them ON the
morrow, "Merry Christmas" SO dear to
all and especially to the loving, innocent
hearts Of children.
At the window of fine house little
girl stood looking out. She was dressed
In black, and her face had sad, wistful
expression; tears shone in her dark eyes,
trembled on the long lashes,an dropped
on her thin hands pressed nervously to-
gether. The children knew Bessie Irving
we'll, little motherless child, too frail
and delicate to join much in their wild
sports, but loved by them all for her
gentle ways. She stood there in the twi-
light, like little sorrowing spirit, so
frail and fair, her long blond hair tied
with. black ribbon, falling over her
shoulders and her white face pressed
against the window pane. II shall have
no merry Christmas, like the other child
rem" she thought. Father is 50 busy
he will not think about it, and Aunt
Susan says it is all nonsense for girls as
old as to hang up stockings and talk of
Santa Claus. But am only ten years
old. She has bought hymn book for
me and she says / must learn hymn
every Sunday; it has been laying on her
table in her room for week, there isn't
q picture in it. Oh! if my dear beauti-
full mamma were alive how happy
would be! She used to have such lovely
Christmas secrets for me, and one day,
when l came home from school early, !
saw her making something bright and
pretty, and she jumped up and pushed
me gently out Of the room and laughed
and covered my eyes with her soft hands,
and said, it was Santa Claus workshop,
and I mustn't look And the tissue
paper used to rattle so Christmas eve,
and everybody in the house had such
fun. Mamma always let me help fix the
servants presents, and used to hide
them in some odd place to surprise them
Christmas morning. Bridget said Mann
ma was born lady, for sure.-and 90
you were my dear, dear mamma. on! l
am 80 lonely without your and the
tears fell fast again. Poor Bessie, it was
hard indeed to pass from the tender, low
ing care of a mother who almost idolized
the only child, into the hands of Mr.. lr-
vings half sister. Aunt Susan was one
who might be called in cant phrase, "an
excellent good woman" She was q
thorough housekeeper, and meant to, and
believed she did her duty BY the child
under her care, when she looked after
her diet, and kept her wardrobe in order.
Her ideas and principles were puritanical
in the extreme. Bessie was required to
commit whole chapters Of the bible to
memory, and long hymns often kept the
child in from the fresh air and gay sports
that other children enjoyed. So many
rounds Of knitting must be accomplished
every day; so many words in the diction-
ary spelled. She believed in bringing
children up by rule, and strict one a,
that. She was we'll meaning, but did not
at all understand the child's affectionate,
delicate mind; her bodily wants were ali
cared for, but her heart was starved.
Mr.. Irving had become gloomy and
melancholy after the loss Of his wife. 81
was growing q better man under her in
fuence," he would say, "why was she
taken away from mew He Immersed
himself deeply in business, to drive, i
possible, his trouble from his mind, ant
in his selfish sorrow did not see the suffer
ing in the heart of his child, who was in
teiligent and sensitive beyond her years
When Mr.. Irving came home to tea tha
night he looked more tired and troubled
than usual. So Bessie, who had driet
her tears, and had determined to be
brave girl and comfort papa, tried to b
yery pleasant and cheerful. But whel
she stood by his chair to bid him goo
night, and he kissed her absently, with
out looking up from his paper, she coul'
not repress sigh, as she walked slowl,
out of the room.
It is pitiful to heara child sibg MI
Irving heard it, and dropping his paper
sat looking a long time at the door hi
girl passed through. The sound set hin
to thinking, and in his thoughts coul
not but contrast his pale, sad, quiet chill
with his rosy, joyous healthy daughte
of two years ago. 1t dawned upon hin
then, for the first time, that he had bee
neglectiRg the tender heart committed t
his charge, and as he sat thinking wit
closed eyes the mothers face, seemed t
look reproachfully at him.
Meanwhile Kathlene, faithful Sci
want who had lived many years in tn
family, was tucking Bessie into bed
"God bless you, Miss Bessie" she said
"Angels watch over you and give you
merry Christmas "t"Thank you, Kathie,
replied the child, "but it doesn't seer
like Christmas any more now mamma
gone" Kathlene's kind heart was wrun
az she Kissed her hastily and left tn