Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1880-12-28
nrKISS1ENT B-ILLs-eAsH..

! Nhots SOiumRs fer Annual, sssnisAaauai and
fully. and-iosher oonjectufes were fruitle.s.
shut tonight Mrs. Ray WAS alone, and as che
reviewed the various events of her life, and
thought of her lost husband and child, tho
busy fingers ceased their labor, the knitting
lay forgotten in her lap, and a tear-drop
found its way down. her cheek and fell upon
her.EeidSd hands. tWhat mattersdr It to her
that it was Christmas Eve, sheshad nons to
make hsr Christmas merry.
Aloud rap attho door startled her, She
SiHnced at the clock on the nantel-halE-
past ninSt7 Who couldsseek her dwelling on
50 black night,=snd at so late hour.
She hesitstcd a menlent, then went to the
! door and esked who sought admittanoe.
There was ne reply. She hoard q receding
step on tho icy pavement; she opened tho
door aud faund a basket containing a large
turkey. already prepared. for cooking, and q
note tied to the basket handle. which read
thus:
ga merry Christmas to Mrs. Raw. and d
contribution to q Christmas dinnef-to
which tue donor intends to invite hissolf
au6 a few rsasonic friends"
"Neli, thisi is a strange Rrocosding" ssid
the widow to herself. ''HimseE and a few
m~asOnic- frie0ds;'' who can it beG wislc
NHS tbIkNS C9ltu Aik buu unT1N.E EnNHAlElB
mystery but the turkey was aniSSons fSof
SO tar as secrecy was conccrredSS Mrs. Rst
con;entcd herself with a rcsolasianlts do The
hostess in good style, mud to demopsfrato to
her as yet unknown guests thaeEho wasHeot
second cook. ~.
The mex: morning Mrs. Col.CSok Sdr6oS
ped in just to wish Mrs. Rsya merry. Christ.
u'a.," and learning of the mysterious advent
OF 6o-tuFkey, declared. that ssher Bridget
Should come r'shtOvor and help prepare the
dIruerc" aud you will! coa,e with the
Colonel aud dino with u.s." said the widow.
"Cortsiniy,i If you desire it," und.I will coma
early ard help prepare the desert.
lie WIS singular how like uagic a spirndid
ChrAtnsSdnner assumed form and sh.D.
Mrs. Cook sent Bridget home for a supply
OF fruits and sweet meats, but Mrs Ray did
not ovcrbHHr The words whi4perod in Bridg.
cts ear,,''TctI Mr.. Cook we nrs ready"
II think. snid The widow. locking out at
the w'udnT, ''tLat it is time the unknown
Made lis appearance with his masonic
fti"nd'. Al, hero they come; one, tvs,
three, four, FIVE, six. Mr.. Norton and Mr..
Baker wuh'their wives, Col. Cook, uudZu
stranger p"
"0b, y sa,d Mrs. Cook, chat is. Captain
~li""t"d, an Ole friend of my husband, who
10 visiting Ut our house. Bridget, nut thu
turkey on the tcf 'e.'
Airs. Ray met tho guests at tho door. raj,
he'd the gentlemen on o~bligiug a poor widow
"a give a Christmas dinner. and asked the
Iodirs II they were Ta;tios to the plot.
"MrE. Eaker rerlinj "thst it was tho gem
tc'uon's idra entirely. WAS not at all to be
woHds'cd ut. since it vas a vol established
fac; i!Ei' most masSns. wene fond of good
dinners"
And arc y0u q mason, also p said Mrs.
i~kay, turning t. tho gentleman who had
sbecu INTRODUCED IN her as Capt. Howard.
= II 'tn " wns tho rrrlY.
"Coac, came said Mrs. Cook, "tho
dinner will he cold
"lIars aud ovsrcaats, furs and konnets,
we're lsid aside, Ond The party we're soon in
the dinins-rn>Co."~ ,
Il win do the carving" snid Mr. Cook. .
40" said the widow. you shall not,
ua!sE3 you "re tho person whs brought the
turkey. The donor Of he fowl shall carve
"HeN, then" said tho Colonel. al must
resign nv rosirians;s Oopt. Howard"
&Ss Esy iooked sssaze5ly at the strau>
ger. ko-TLerc. ! DO not understand
it," sia sLi3.
Then you do not recognize me-" said tbs
Captain.
MFs. Ray fas'eUcd her goxe. upon him.
Great Heaven :" she cried; can this DO
rae. is it my son Howard risen from tho
dsalI'
His arms wcra shout her; ehc was weep
in" j"yfu!tcars upoa hH bosom. Tho Other
ladies 4EUgle3 end .Orind kysturHs. and even
tbe z otleD'ens found iPaeket>handkerchish
aIteie it X ::,id Mrs. Cook at. length
81 told YOU ia dfnner was getting cold, and
yet you must all take, tho time for a ory." I
Howard Ray led lis mother TO- tho tablet
End taking q seat beside her, proceeded to
80 tEO ,hooors Of host, while Mrs. Cook
poured tLo coffee, and DO happier party
could have beeo found upon that day. No
wherc we're ihgFs i InsTrier ChEiatmas than.
in the humble co.tage of widow Ray. Tbs
haDd40n4e young Captain told them tho
story of Tho Good Ship Henry. and of his
miraculous escape; Of his subsequent cap-
torc ~ 4 British E:sn Df-Wsr. and the inn,
possibility Of reaching his hong goophrt
ttftghe arrived only tse evening before and
meezinggGoi. GGok as Ia btepped. out ofsthS
sttge-eofeb he lad With rel astanoe eonsen-
ti 70 LGDajn pc9q, nqfilsthe morroE. thst
nj might cnjoy theTsnsios tseetA6f; thai
daring the previous evening he had learned
tsa. the Masonic Lodge had relieved the
old homo If rife mortgage resting sposs IL,
and bad paistainsd. his Gspshcr 10 III sbs
te7ce. And now, dear notboT," he =aid IN
c~SEciusioO, snd drawing her eicsef 70 Aia
'.Gc, 'Ic: Us cd5ie in grateful t~ekpoHls6ge-
mont Of this t!aiy cuTe Of Tie widow in her
a.i.fvrtGass"
So Tia problem vas eoi5ed at last. Il vas
&c; one kind friend, bu, many, who had
miDistc5ec z~ccfct.y to boz wants.
RcaGer. Ibis js.Eo fancy Aketch; it IS
founded wholly Oh facts, and is but one Of
BauyC ius:aue5s of uHcEteniatiOUs bepeyo.