Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-01-15

anu Degan 10 cream directly.
And everybody In this house was In
that dream, " the widow went On. &c Yes,
children and all. / thought it was
Christmas night, just as 1t Is now, and
Mamie and were waiting, just MS we
did tonight, for the company to arrive.
And they began to arrive as the clock
struck seven. First came Mr.. and Mrs.
Rose and the rosebuds, looking 80 smil-
ing and happy that | said at once,
You have good news to tell me-
Mrs. McChilly-dear, kind Mrs.
McChilly-(Mrs. McChilly sat bolt up
right in her chair and closed her lips
| firmly as her name was mentioned), has
paid the doctors bill, Mrs. Rose began,
And promised, she having so many
business acquaintances, to look out for
situation for me- said Mr.. Rose. And
she is going to love us and be our friend
always as long as we are good. said the
children, beginning to sing the Sweet
By-and-Bye so loudly that we did not
hear Mr.. Aubrey come in; but there he
was. his face glowing and his eyes spark
ling Mr.. Aubrey was the grandson with
whom Mrs. McChilly had quarreled); /;
and he cried out, God bless her! my
mothers mother. ! knew she couldn't
stay mad long. She's forgiven me and
|
girl with whom he had fallen in love
without the old lady's permission.)
And all OF sudden there was Mrs.
McChilly among them, being welcomed
with loving words and hugs and smiles
the eldest rosebud had n glass of
lemonade ready for her-and saying,
Dear, dear, what is little money to
gratitude and affection like thisp'
Nothing answered MIR. Summer,
who was there all of sudden, too,
with his wife and baby, looking as
handsome as he did when | first saw
him nearly two years ago, and as for
Mrs. Summer, her eyes were like stars
and her cheeks like roses. and she stole
softly to my side, while he was tossing
the baby and singing a merry song TO
it, and whispered: A promise has been
my Christmas gift, n promise worth all
the gold and jewels in the world And
then Susie Bracket danced in and slyly
held up letter from somebody far
away, that might see and rejoice with
part of the dream that about Nathaniel
Bracket was. Really, / don't think /
can tell it,"
"Oh. but you must, I cried
Indeed you must" they all cried.
"Well, il ! must, / must" said the
widow, with sweet, little nervous
laugh. Il thought Nathaniel followed
me into the dsning-room, where / had
gone TO take a last look at the supper
table-oh, it's too ridiculous
Nothing of the sort" said Mr.. Sum
mer. 81 don't believe it. I've no doubt
it was the most sensible thing Nathaniel
ever did-in dream"
And please go on" begged his wife.
And he took my hand" the widow
went on, land said-ohl can't tell you
all dreamed he said, but he ended by
saying: And so. of course, must
| think of you no longer-a poor, Grip
pied fellow like me-" And said ="
"' If you have lost Your arm-your
right arm,'" the widow calmly pro-
ceeded. "'you haven't lost your head,
and that head, as happen to know, con-
tanned the usual, perhaps little more
than the usual, amount of brains, and If.
as hear, thousand or two will give
| you an interest in Tom Aliens business.
| why what Is 10 prevent me. having lit
| tie money Mt my command and no one
TO take care OF but myself. lending 1t TO
/ you-for the sake Of your sister. of
| whom am very fondP Or If you won't
| look at il in that way. why can't be-
| you manage for me, taking fair equiva-
| lent for your servicesP" And that's the
| end-h
Neverw shouted Nat, springing from
| his chair once more and taking few
steps toward her, "The dream never
| ended In that way, Nathaniel made some
| further remark. I'm sure ne did"
believe he did" said the widow.
knitting her pretty brows. though in
| thought, while n rosy blush overspread
| her face, "but dreams grow so shadowy
at the last and this became so very in
| distinct after had spoken OF going into
the printing business myself that I can
scarcely remember"
THAT Nat Bracket said" prompted
Nathaniel, "'G God bless you for darl-
ing! and I'll accept the offered load on
condition that you'll add 10 Il Christ
mas gift-a gin above all price--your
"Well, well. how did you ever
know?" exclaimed the widow in pre-
tended surprise.
/ Can't fmagine,r said Nat, his eyes
sparkling with fun for moment, and
then, as she rose from her seat, he came
and stood before her and said, entreat-
ingly, 4" But / don't know what answer
you dreamed you made"
Nor i" laughed the widow.
"But do" said Mrs. McChilly. with
an emphatic rap of her cane;"l do
Mrs. Nathaniel Bracket"
And we all shouted and clapped our
hands like parcel of children, and
then we all (not ane Of us I'm sure
"What did you sayP" cried Nathaniel,
springing to his feet and looking eagerly
toward her. totally forgetful of the rest
OF the company.
Nathaniel Bracket, you are an
| idiotw
"Just as / expected" murmured poor
Nat, sinking into his chair again.
could have told why) cried little and
were quietly feeling for our handker-
chiefs to wipe away the tears, when the
old lady spoke again, looking down on
the Rosebuds, who were still sleeping.
| 90 will ho N friend 80 thoaa lsatlo s-.s,.