Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-12-18

dren. True, they were poor and IN sore trou-
BILE, but the trouble came not nigh them in
the same manner that it had come to some of
their neighbors They had not ungrateful,
rebellious children to wiring their hearts with
anguish. And they chose to praise God for
the blessings He had given them, rather than
to repine for what He had denied them.
1--WE must lose the cottage Mildred" Mr..
Minturn said to his wife when alone with her,
"but we must not lose our trust in God. Let
us sing hymn of praise. Our home will be
sold next week, but we can celebrate our last
Christmas in the dear old place with pleas.
ant sound of carols, can't we?"
When Rosemond went from her grand
father she sought her own room to put by her
little treasure.
"a love gift to the Lord of Christmas" !"
she repeated to herself. "That is beautiful
but have no such gift. None of mine are
meant for Him. I never think such good
and holy thoughts of myself"
She glanced over the army of presents she
had with such interest prepared. Something
for every one who will be likely to give me
something" she said aloud. "And I'd never
thought of any one else. Clrists birthday,
and no gift for Christ"
At the table Rosamond's father said 81
heard to-day that the Minturn cottage is to
be sold next week under mortgage Min
turns been unfortunate lately-out of en-
ployment so long. 1t will 90 hard with him
to lose his home. 1t won't bring over eight
hundred dollars at auction, and the mort.
gage calls for three hundred more. The in
terest and costs will consume another hun
dred He won't have much left.
"What pity" said Mrs. Gale; "such a
good man, and such nice family. Can't
something be done?"
II don't see what" said Mr.. Gale. "He
asked me to lend him four hundred dollars
and take mortgage, but couldn't just now.
It's too near the close of the year. need the
money in my business"
"It's too bad. How sad they must be to-
night. 1t quite spoils my Christmas"
After tea Grandpa called Rosamond into
the library.
"Come, Rosie" he said, "whst am I to do?
It's too hard for our neigbbor Minturn to lose
his home this way. I could help him by ma
king a little sacrifice"
"Oh, do help him then" said Rosamond.
"But if I do somebody must needs do with
out the Christmas present I intended to be-
stow"
swell, Grandpa, who would be so selfish
as to care?" ..'
"I am afraid my little Rosie will" said
Grandpa. "My one gift is intended for her,
and it is to cost four hundred dollars I have
selected it, and intend buying it tonight, and
having it sent up in the morning unless, in
deed"
"Oh, Grandpa ! present for me to cost
four hundred dollars! II is--it is new pi-
ano? Oh, you dear, beautiful Grandpa. Just
what I had so longed for. My old, worn-out
hurdy.gurdy is real trial to me"
She had quite forgotten everything and
everybody save the much wished for piano
and the generous and doating grandpa. Sud-
denly she recellected.
"0h, Grandpa" she said, II understand
you now. Either must give up. the piano
or the Minturns must give up their home"
She threw her arms around her grandfath-
er's neck and hid her face, and the tears that
,oould come upon his shoulder. 1t was
sharp struggle between self love and Christ.
love. The dear grandpa's words came to her
mind-"a love.gift to the Lord of Christ
mas"-and she whispered, as she kissed the
old mans silvery locks, Dear Grandpa, we
will not buy the piano. We will make a
love-gift to the Lord instead"
"Rose of the world" murmured her grand.
father fondly, "you make my heart sing for
Joy. No music that you could ever have
drawn from the piano 1 had hoped to give
you could have yielded me such delight as
does your sweet voice now, when it speaks in
accents of unselfsh love. 1t chimes in my
heart true Christmas Carol
"Then each has sung carol to the other," !"
said the young girl, her face beaming with
Smiles "only mine would never have been
sung at all had not yours Leen sung first.
Aren't we happy, Grandie? I feel almost as
if it were my home that was saved"
eve mustn't be selfish on Christmas Eve.
Get me my coat I'll go down and speak a
good word to Minturn," said the good old
man. Tears were in his eyes now. When
Grandpa returned Roaamond was sitting at
the old piano, and the family we're singing a
Christmas Carol
"Chime, bells, chime,
| Glory be to God above
Christ has come to live and love-
Chime, bells, chime"
"The old hurdy gurdy sounds splendidly
tonight, Grandie, DEAR" cried the young
girl.
"Rose of the world" said grandpa, softly,
''it is because of the love-gift."
And the Christmas Carols chimed lovingly
all the dreamful night, not only in the hearts
of the dwellers in the abode of plenty, but in
the grateful hearts of those who sang carols
while yet in darkness, and to whom the Lord
of Christmas has sent his servant with a
promise of help in the time of trouble. "Gho'
7y be to God in the highest, and on earth peace
and good will toward men,"
M1srLEToE AT CHRIsTMAs-T1DE.--The
hanging of the mistletoe is cause of much
frolic and laughter in the house. 1t is the
rule that whoever is passing under the mis-
tletoe bough must submit to being kissed then
and there by whoever chooses to take that
liberty As bough usually hangs from the
centre of the ceiling, spreading over large
space, it follows that there must be much
dodging or much kissing am inclined te
think that there are both.
The origin of this use of the mistletoe is moi
bnoun hut NO do know that more than eiph