, 1880-05-10
The Widow Ray.

Mrs. Ray sat beside her glowing
CRATE gazing into the embers, and ply
ing her knitting-needles industrlously
The rude winds of December night
whistled around the corners of her cot
tage, ratified the blinds, and
sought in vain for some crevice through
which to penetrate to the warmth and
cheeriness within. Tho mind of the
widow busted itself with the past. How
short seemed the time since she was q
light-hearted, frolicking child, and fa-
ther and mother lavished upon her that
caressing care which springs only from
parental tenderness. How sweetly did
childhood glide into maidenhood, and
how like bright dream was the mem
ory of her first acquaintance with DIR.
Ray, the ministers sou. Then she
thought of the bright summer morning
that had witnessed their nuptials, of
the fresh June roses, and of the deli
cate white blossoms that had been
culled from her own flower garden to
form bridal wreath; and she remem-
bered how her heart had bounded with
Joy and pride when the bridegroom had
whispered that the bride was fairer than
the snowy chaplet.
Thus how sweetly the years had
glided by, bearing their rich freightag
of Joy. Her only child, noble boy,
had grown to mans estate, and become
a commissioned officer in the navy, and
her heart had cherished him with a
mothers fond love and pride.
Then came the memory of darker
days; her husband had been injured by
a fall from his horse, and became an
invalid; and soon after came the heart
rending news that the good ship Henry,
of which their son was commander. had
gone down in gale, and that all on
board had persisted. DR.. Ray sank
rapidly under this great sorrow, and
tive months later was laid, with mason
ic honors, in the village cemetery;
and Mrs. Ray found herself, at the age
of forty-tive, widowed and childless.
But little property was left her-only
her pretty cottage, with its pleasant
grounds-and even that was mortgaged
for one-third its actual value. But just
when she had expected to be deprived
of this last relic of happier days, the
mortgage had been sent to her by mail,
accompanied by certificate from the
mortgage that the debt had been fully
Cancelled. But to whom she was in
debted for this kindness Mrs. Bay
could never ascertain. During the two
years that had supervened between that
time and the present, she had, at fre
quent intervals, received supplies of
money in the same mysterious way,
quite sufficient to meet all her wants.
Who was her secret friend? True, she
had many friends, who seemed always
seeking to make her present happy, and
to win her from the contemplation of
the gloomy past; but she could think
of none rich enough in worldly goods
to supply her thus bountifully, and SO
her conjectures were fruitless. But
tonight Mrs. Ray was alone; and she
reviewed the various events of her life,
and thought of her lost husband and
child. The busy fingers ceased their
labor, the knitting lay forgotten in her
her cheek and fell upon the folded
hands. What mattered it to her that
this was Christmas eve? She had none
to make her Christmas merry.
A loud rap at the door startled her.
She glanced at the clock on the mantel
-half-past nine! Who could seek ner
dwelling on so black night, and at SO
late an hour? She hesitated moment,
then went to the door and asked who
sought admittance. There was no re-
ply. She heard receding step on the
icy pavement; she opened the door and
found basket containing large tur
key, already prepared for cooking, and
note tied ro the basket-handle which
read thus
GA merry Christmas to Mrs. Bay; a
contribution to Christmas dinner-to
which the donor intends to invite him
self and few masonic friends"
Well, this is a strange proceeding" +"
said the widow to herself. Himself
and few masonic friends;' who can it
be? l wish the turkey could talk and
unravel this little mystery" but the
turkey was mason, too, as far as Sc
crecy was concerned, SO Mrs. Ray con-
tented herself with resolution to do
the hostess in good style, and to demon
strate to ker as yet unknown guests
that she was no second-rate cook.
The next morning Mrs Colonel Cook
dropped in just to wish Mrs. Ray a
merry Christmas" and, learning of the