, 1881-12-25
Miss Fanny Driscon Furnishes q
!: Story, Written in Her Usual
6 r. H. Graceful Style.
II Relates How Toung Lady Traded
~: Her Art for the Lore Of :
=: Young Nan.
+ THE Parsons Gift" Charming Sketch
1T; *::.* in Blank Verse, BY Mrs.: David
" !: i: =, : Harlowe, Of This City.
GRANDPA'S CHRISTMAS.

sfE. Written Tor 1hE Ch$cdC0 Tribune,
81. In his great cushioned chair by the fender
:*;: An Oldham sits dreaming tonight. -:
T; His withercd hands, licked By the tender ::
= Warm rays Of the red anthracite,
q. 81 Arc folded before him, all listless: r. ~.
4 i; His Lim eyes are h1ed on the blaze,
NJ Thile over him sweeps the rcsistless
u. Flood tide OF old days. =" -:
1t He hears not the mirth In the hallway, !.
Ill., He hears not the sounds OF good cheer,
=. Tint through the old homestead ring alway
HI: In the glad Christmas time Of the year.
! He heeds not the chime Of sweer voices
81: As the last gifts are hung On the tree. -.
::< IN long vanished day he rejoices- 80, ~
::= In nis lost ussd to be- =.
:. he has gone back across dead Deccmbers,
!: ID his chlldhood's fair land Of delight;
y Ind bis mothers sweet smile he remembers,
4 As he hangs up his stocking at night.
! He remembers the drcatn- haunted slumber
81: Ali broken and restless because :
I Of ths visions that came without number
>*= OF dear Santa Claus. >. -:
Again, in his maphood's beginning, -.
=. He sees himself thrown on the world,
!: And into the vortex OF SHINING
BIZ Pleasures strong arms be Is hurled. "
: He hears the sweet Christmas bells ringing,
= -* Repent ye, repent SC, and pray"
:; But he joins with his comrades In singing -
7 4 Racchanal lay. >- >: IT,.
!: Again, he stands under the holly
:. With blushing face lifted to his;
For lore has been stronger than folly, -.:.
And has turned him from vice unto blfsss
And the whole world Is lit with new glory . !:
+ As the swcet vows arc uttered again,
= Whi3a fa r{cfv fxa11s fn1I 1fsa a1H
= OF peace unto Ineu. - i. : =, !.
again, with his little brood round him, 50
=, He sits by the fair mother-w1tc; .,-.
&c knows that the angels have crowned him
= With the truest, best riches OF life; :
T. Anu The hearts Of the children, uuroubled,
T.. Are filed with the gay Christmas tide;
And the gifts for sweet Aaudie are doubled,
IT'S her birthday beside ,~:.:~ =. T.
Again-ah, dear Jesus have pity ~ = =.
Fla finds In the chill waning dag, ':- -
That one has come home from me CITY,
Z. Frail Mnudie, whom love led astray- = :: :
Ehe lies with her babe on her bosom-, 49,
. Half hid by the SHOWS tieecy spread; T..
i bud and q poor tramp]ed blossom:
Il And both are quite dead. =:
Eo fair and 50 fragile! just twenty, ..-- !:
8, How mocktng the bells sound tonight. =.
She starved in this great land Of plenty. -
When she tried TO grope back to tho light
Christ, arc Thy disciples inhuman,
Or only for .ne,a hast Thou died? -
No mercy is shown to woman g. -.
Who once steps aside. =" ~
Again, he leans over the shrouded =
Still form of the mother and wife: r.,
Very lonely the way seems and ciouded. 49,
As he looks down the vista OF 1ffe- 80
With the sweet Christmas chimes there Is blended
The knell for life that is done,
And he knows that his joys are all ended
And his Waiting begun. =. ::
So long hnve the years been-so 1onely-e
As he counts them by Christnases gone.
- nm hpmcsick,'' he murmers-sif If only
TIC Angel would lead the way on.
I anu cold-in this chill! winter weather.
Why Maudie dear, where have you been2
And you, too, sweet wife-and together--
o Christ, Jet me iu.:': ~-:. .-~
*st;:'$; r. :.;* - ~ - =.
The children ran in from the hallway;N;s
"Were you calling us. graudpa?'' they said..
Then shrapk4 with that fear that comes alway
When young eyes look their first on the dead.
The freedom 80 longed for is given. :
Tho children speak low, and draw near.
= Dear grandpa keeps Christmas in Heaven
With grandma, this year.
-. ELLA NuEELEH.