The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-12-23
EARLY the house began to be filled with

laces and looped with artificial flowers,
while natural roses, fringed with myrtle
and;sn1ilax, were half hidden amid her
golden hair and pulsated upon her Joy
ously throbbing bosom.
For an hour there appeared to be q
ceaseless Ginning of sleigh-bells, and
rosy, laughing loads deposited at the
door. Indeed, 80 many were the teams
that Mike was frantic to know what to
do with them. But the Deacon believed
in "the more the merrier" principle, and
kept every one busy and contented. Yet
for all the gaily dancing and singing
company, shade of perplexity now and
then crossed his face. He had not solved
the mystery of the tableau, and it hung
upon him as a troublesome nightmare.
For hours the house rang and trembled
upon its strong foundation. It was
veritable beehive of fun and frolic, and
many soft cheek took on deeper roses
from stolen kisses; many ON innocent
heart bounded more swiftly from the en-
circling arm and many pair of ears
ingEed from the slapping Of white hands
in payment for saucy jest or pilfered
caress.
But good, buxon dame Hannah had
almost as much pride in her cooking as
in her one dear lamb, and when the
ancient clock made its huge, heavy,
cofin-ike case throb with the ringing Of
ten, she whispered to herhusband, good,
prudent soul that she was, that ''the
children must be getting hungry, and
she was going to see about the tables.
In response to her suggestion, he
sought their daughter and told her they
were going to have supper, and that the
young folks had better stop romping and
cool of, or, some of them would be cer-
tain To take their death.
ssYes, father" she answered; 'fbut VIC
must have the tableau first" and she
looked up, blushing more deeply than
damask rose in June into the face Of MIR.
Frank Emmons, upon whose arm she
happened to be leaning.
f.An right" responded the old man
with d sigh of relief. for the burden would
soon be lifted from his soul. '.Do you
want me to help you?"
"No; but tell mother, please, I want
her." And Miss Minerva darted away
to her own private room, while the old
man told the fddlers to adjourn to the
kitchen and make themselves comfortable
until wanted again.
Evidently some of:the girls understood
what was going on, if the Deacon did not,
for they cleared one end of the hall,
hung great patchwork bed-quilt across
and marshalled the company into some
thing like order. Then, after brief
pause, in which there was much whis-
pering, the improvised curtain was drawn
aside and disclosed Miss Minerva stand
ing hand in hand with Mr.. Frank EN-
mons, with young lady and gentleman
as supporters, and the old minister be-
fore them.
Amazed, but silent, the Deacon looked
on. He did not comprehend the affair
at all, had no practical knowledge OF
charades, but when certain words had
been spoken and ring passed, sud
den light broke in upon the darkness OF
his understanding, and he exclaimed
with an earnestness that startled all:
"Je.ru-sa-lem! It looks like mar
riage!"
The hearty laugh that followed suhiced
for full explanation and it needed not
the assurance of the minister to convince
him that his daughter was honestly and
legally married to the man of her choice.
And yet at first he was disposed to be an
cry. Then he saw the foolishness of
such proceeding, especially as he had
previously given his assent to the Be-
lection Of his daughter, and entered
heartily into the laugh against HIM
self.
''That's what you call a-Jerusaleml
I can't speak the new tangled name-is
it? Yet it wasn't hardly fair to fool the
old man so, Minerva. I did expect you
would find something in your stockings
tonight, child, but not o great, live man.
However it is all right (anything she
could have done would have been SOY and
we'll make the best of it, and your moth
er and will have plenty to do in getting
things ready to fill the little stockings
that"
A soft white hand stopped his words,
red and ripe lips were pressed upon his
own, silken face was laid upon his
wrinkled one, few tears Of happiness
were rained down upon his broad breast,
and with faltering tongue the old man
called the young husband to his side,
gave him the hand Of his darling, and
said, "Take her and may God bless you
both, my children. If I have lost Q
daughter have found son and shall
have another arm to lean upon when my
eyes grow dim and steps unsteady
and"
More he would have said but o great
ringing of bells summoned them to sup
per-and such supper. It would have
made grim Famine commit suicide in de-
spair to have looked upon the tables, and
Time throw away his hour-glass and sit
blythely down and enjoyed the feast.
The good mother had known the secret
from the first, and with her pride stim,l-
lated had distanced all former efforts;
even to produce Christmas supper, and
the only complaint was of excessive full.
ness, when ngain the 1iolns summoned
the party to tho hall.
A few more hours of such happiness
rs rarely comes to earth and the old
house became silent. The company had
departed, but not before the Deacon had
invited all to be present that day year,
whispering at the same time something
in the ear Of his daughter that sent the
blood bounding to her cheeks and caused
her to turn suddenly and shamefaced
away.
Was he right?
Come with me this joyous, blessed
day. You will be welcomed right royal
ly. Come and assist in the festivities
and taste to repletion of the good cheer,
and when the bright-eyed babe is christ
encd, join with all in wishing to him, aye
even to all upon earth, happy, merry,
bountiflll Christmas
The Mistletoe.