The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1881-12-29
EsrELLE.s CHRISTMAS.


IT, r~-----------e~-o- M
ESTELLE's CHRIsTMAs.
How q Little Girl Looked In Upon Many
Christmas Scenes and the Lesson She
| Learned Therefrom. Ntut r'1fltiri
The Christmas chime fell unsteady upon
the clear frosty night air. Little Estclle
sprang to the window and looked from the
l luxurious room in which she stood upon
the scene without The moon hung high
( in the cloudless heavens, and, with myriads
of stars, shed bright kindly beams upon
the bustling city; and an eager, hurryins
crowd passed to and fro amid cleaning sky
rockets, and shouts of merry Christmas"
which rose upon the crisp, frosty air. The
little girl looked with quickened breath
upon the animated picture. She noticed q
family Of merry children passing with their
parents, and after looking upon their happy
faces as they passed, she turned her eyes to
the room in which she stood, and seemed to
be making comparisons in her mind.
The room was luxuriously fur
nished with all the, appoint
ments of sleeping apartment, a cheerful
fire burned in the CRATE, and a large colored
lamp hung from the frescoed ceiling, shed
ding q rosy light over the furniture and the
little girl who was the sole occupant of the
room. M ~
"Those children seem so happy with their
ather and mother. and with their arms full
of Christmas presents" she said in audible
tones, "MyAnother has been engaged with
her fashionable friends all day-has scarcely
had time to say "a merry Christmas TO me;
and papa has been down town since break,
asst / have, nice presents which papa and
mamma have, bought for me, and had q
pleasant walk this afternoon with little
brother and his nurse, but now little brother
II asleep, and l feel so lonely. wonder IL
mamma has any company in the ,parlor
now if she has not, maybe she will let me
take tea with her at the table and SIT up
awhile with her, for it is Christmas night.
and she ought to let me ewith her some OF
the time" ts-
Her soliloquy came to an end, as the door
|opencd, and her mother attired in elegant
evening costume, entered the room.5
\ "Are you all alone Estelle ~ she kindly
inquired advancing across the room, the
folds of her rich dress trailing along the
soft carpet. y
know where the governess is" Estelle de
murely replied, her eyes taking. In her
mothers dress. and comprehending at a
glance the meaning of the elaborate toilet.
"Well, my child, you can take tea with
your governcss as usual, and do not sit up
too late-I will be gone until quite late to-
night, myself, at the opera. SO goodnight,
and the queenly mother stopped and kissed
the little girl, then turned to leave the
room, fEs,f
HAS papa come YETI" Estellc asked, her
lips quiyering with disappointment.
A trown rufIled the mothers smooth
forehead. ''Why do you ask me such use
less questions?o she said impatiently I;
"You' know he rarely gets
in before eleven, and 40
not profess to keep myself informed as to
his every movement. have had tea and
will 70 to the opera in company with a
party of friends who are to call tor me-,
Then in milder tones she added: "Do not
sit up too late, dear" and with a careless
kiss she passed out and left the little girl
alone. Estelle soon joined her goyerness
at the tea-table, and the evening meal was
par taken of in silence, almost uninter-
rupted When the meal was ended, the
two returned to the sleeping-apartmsn
and the governess, taking a book IN her
hand, seated herself near the fire and began
read ing, unmindful of the little girl, who
had withdrawn to the window and stood
loo king cut, her bosom heaving with sup
pressed tears and her heart yearning ior
love and sympathy. The room was heated
to a warm, pleasant temperature, and while
she sat in the deep arm chair which she had
drawn up to the window, and looked out at
the twinkling stars in the quiet sky and the
kindly face Of the radiant moon,
she felt "a calm, happy mood
stealing over her. Her disappoint-
ment was soon forgotten. her childish trou-
bles were sootlfed TO rest; nor was she at all
startled when she heard her name called in
kind, musical voice at her elbow; She
turned her face at the sound and bcheld the
form of beautiful lady, who had noiselessly
approached the chair.
'.Come 90 with me, my little girl the
lady said, 'and. If you wish, wewill see. in
what manner many persons are spending
their Christmas tonight
Estelie instantly felt desire TO 20; and
as the lovely lady spoke so kindly and In a
manner SO winning, she could not refuse 70
20. She rose, and placing her little hand In
that OF the lady's, the two passed unnotioed
from the room and left the house. They
walked through one lighted street after an
other and finally found themselves in the
suhur, BIS OF the city, upon road Leading out
II would first have you see how this
Christmas night is being spent in a comfort
able farmhouse, said the lady,
after they had walked awhile in
silence. Even while she spoke
the outlines of pleasant iarm-house, sur
seen spreading out before them. I'VE will
not intrude ourselves upon the family
said the lady, "but can take sur
vey of the family sitting-room through the
window, and can Judge thereby Of the man
ner in which they are spending the Christ
mas" She drew Estelle up TO window
as she spoke, and, looking through. tne
within. Afire ofhickory logs was burning !
brightly in the wide fireplace, around |
which were seated the family grouI,-father,
mother. an aged grand-notber, and i've |
children. Thep was n thick homespun
carpet upon the floor, the parents ana
were seated in capacious arm
chairs. and near the group was drawn a
table containing fruits and nuts and candle.
of different kinds, with which they RECALLED
listening 10 an entertain
inc Christmas story from grand mother,
and over ali beamed the light OF the
brightly FURNISHED lamps upon the mantel
Affer the grsnd-Inother's story was ended,
the children engaged for while
IN an amusing game OF hide-and-seek, after
which they babe their parents goodnight
and retired 20 sleep.
FufeIle had become very much interested
In lie rcrne within the farmhouse, and now
turned te the lady and said in low tones
q What plessanthome and happy family
il fhisi"
YES replied the lady, hut did you
nat observe that although blessed with all
needf1fl comforts 81 life. this family has
fafled 70 return any expression Of thanks 10
God. the source Of the blessingsz 4 bspe
that Won daily rrnr TO God. my chld, and
beTIosforfh. when Yen kneeI % pray, 1 beg
PAT YOU ~|1sra flw words 20 your Heavenly
Frfhrr IN behaIf Of al children Who have
MT vef learned t. rrIy fDr themselves
Sic foof The little girl hand In hers and
f.Irur1 In The directions whence they h11
rrrnr. We viii nov return % TIE CITY.
- sid. and behold some oI the scenes
s-or-11|' rirr there tonight. having seen an
rrrmr'e ~ the u1uu1z11n which
ihls chriztmns nlsh i o-'ns