Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-12-25
ROSE BELLS CHRISTMAS.

Dainty lace hangings, rivaling the FROST
work tat would be on the window by
morning, framed in the fair face of girl,
who STOOD tapping drearily on the window
pane and looNing at the storm and
people hurrying by outside. Her face was
clouded and her gray eyes had grown
shade darker with trouble. a..
There was Snow every where-under
foot overhead and all around, hurrying
and scurrying into peoples faces and
LOGGING in the folds of every garment. The
traditiora al OH woman must have been
plucking an extra quantity of geese-for
the feathery flakes were flying hither and
thther. hiding al the ugliness of the street
under their dainty coverings, making beds
of down of the freshly TAXED piles of dirt
Stiil on the street; spreading snowy sheet
over sidewalk and giving ermine-like
edges to door frames and acknowledges;
patterIng softly against the glass in the
prettIe-t and most provoking way to the
girl trying to Look through them. 1t was
a sudden torn, stealing swiftly at the
heels of Indian-sum ner-llke weather that
had made every one quote the old saw: A
green Christmas MAKES q full graveyard
aud no one was ready for it. With
thoughts miles away, the girl stood look
ing sadly and dreaniily out, noting every.
| thing, from the old woman b ndlng under
| 10 d of wood on her back, which she had
| literally fshed out of the lake and which
caused the girl, enshrined amidst comfort
and plenty, to shiver and whisper, God
| pity the poor this wretched night" The
| poor old creature with the blu den on her
| weary back and burden in heart that
would never in this lie grow brighter,
passed out Of sight. A portly, warmly
Clad business man. briskly followed, wrap
ped in fur coat and gloves, his heart, per~
chance. colder than the shivering form of
the tiny blue-veined child that jostled his
footsteps as it was hurrying through the
binding snow. vainly drawing the thread
bare shawl closer. Weary-eyed working
women, tired business men, sleek-looking
young America, and naughty Games,
hurried along in the gathering dust. milk
~ en- whipped their horses, glad that the
days work was over, and snow-covered
police left the city to take care of itself and
sought the warmth of a bar-room fire.
Night closed in, the lamplighter was rum
ming about with his ladder and presently
the lights began to CLEAN like stars in the
darkness. 1t was growing colder. but still
Rose Bell stood peering out on the night.
Presently q couple under an umbrellas
sauntered slowly along, and as they passed
| in the light of the lamp, she saw the tall
| form of the man with beard so full of snow
that he look vertible Santa Claus, bend
toward the. girl leaning on his arm. and
| though the girls face was merry; and her
answer laughing One,. Rose knew that
they were lovers, scarce conscious of the
snow or the cold, or of anything but thai
| they were together, hidden as it were b.
the storm, and all the nearer for it. The
| sight made Rose draw tina curtains ant
| sigh as she turned away, shivering to the
| fire, throwing herself down on the rug an(
| burying her face in her arms.
= y 80 -
Out in the lake the storm was iercel
than on the loud, and cold, cutting WINE
was blowing. The cold waters of the lax
heaved dark and merciless, SIS q disabled
chooner drifted helplessy about, every
. LOW and then the floating ice grating
against ner hull and making the ..faintin,
noarSs Oh ner crew quake with fear. Ever
uou: Tue coio became more intense, an(
q Tue lc9 was getting closer and thicker nes
sIe snore. Inc crew were freezinJ
I alnost IN signt OF home. What dreams @
e warm nreSloes, OF loving, faithful heart
. waiting their coming, must have 6lled -
i hours Of the dreary night-watch, VIII W
: night it was to cling to rigging as tn
schooner became wedged and half san
between the ice The stiIled voices vii
never tell.
t The next morning the snow had cease
to fall, and the helpless hooner, with i,
| crew still clinging to the rigging, could
) seen from land. AS soon as possible
sturdy tug was got under way and wer
putting fercely, but slowly cutting il
, way through the ice. Intense rs was th
cold, crowd soon gathered on the shore
watching with eager interest. No answer
ing shout was heard to the cheerful halo
OF the men en- the tug, Everything abou
the schooner was still and motionless. Th