Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-12-24
Andrew EllisOn's Christmas.
BIZ OSCAR FAY ADAMS.

For the CHRISTAAS INTELLIGENCER
Opportunity is a rare and sacred thing
God seldom offers 1t twice.-.Nrs. Dali.
"While there is time let us do good, .
was the text the rector of St. Luke's haG
chosen for one of the last Sundays in No
vember, and very fine sermon his peOpl
said he preached from it, and the most o.
them went home and forgot all about it
Andrew Ellison, however, who sat neal
the chancel, heard only the text and a.
that did not particularly impress him, hi!
mind soon wandered off to the cares of tht
week. He was 4 wealthy man and by NJ
means an ungcncrOus man when his sym
pathies were aroused, but ideas did MOI
readily suggest themselves to him and ht
gave of his abundance only when the ne
cessity for SO doing was urged upon him
by untOward circumstances. Since the
death of his wife and daughter he had
lived alone and as years went Oh had be
como moro and moro immersed in business
cares. He did did not stop to think fOr
whom he was laying up money every year.
Visions of distant cousins to be some day
enriched by him sometimes passed through
his mind, but they were only visions as
yet. There was time enough i'm tho fu-
turc to think definitely of them.
The day after tho rcctor's sermon had
been preached, to which he had not lis
tened, Andrew Ellison was sitting alone
in his private Office, just rs the daylight
began to struggle with tho darkness. Out
side it was dull and rainy, and indoors the
fire in the gratc burned low. In the outer
Office through the glass partition he could
SEQ his two clerks, Hopper and French
writing busily. Ho vaguely wondered if
they ever felt us drearily rs he did ut that
Hopper was \ man old rs himself,
had grown up with tho busircss, and
seemed to have no other thought or de-
sire, SO far as his employer could judge,
but he had never taken tho pains to in
quire into the circumstances of the
younger mans life. Just then the lamp
lighter passed through the street and FL
lisOn noticed for the first time what very
small boy he was. Moved by {. sudden
Ellison opened tho window ard
called to the boy, who came wOndcrinsly.
He seemed SO very small and wretched,
there in the half-darkness.
"YOu wanted me, sir ?" said the boy
"Yes," was tho reply, | wanted to
speak with you moment, at the same
time Offering Il small coin. which the lad
took gratefully. "YOu must be very wet
md uncomfortable, Ellison went on ; Il
hope you have some dry clothes to put on
when you get home."
mo, sir, these arc all | have, and
nave no home to 60 to-" The boys tones
we're not complaining.
"NO home, how is that:!' asked the
,thcr.
"The family are all dead but nc, but
,ct along pretty well, for the engineer of
he shop on the next street lets me sleep by
lis engine nights. You wouldn't believe
What 4 capital place it is to got warm, and
rot many boys has such 4 good chance"
concluded the small waif with cheerful
Energy.
Ellison grew cold at the open window.
t would not do for him to stand there
oDgcr.
"COmc here tomorrow about ten
''clock," he said as he closed the window,
nd tho lad promised.
For some reason the day seemed less |
reary rs Ellison sat down again and the |
ffice fire certainly buraed better. The
bought occurred to him that when tho
10Y came the next day he would give him
situation in the establishment as office
Oy. There would be 4 good place for the
hecrful little fellow.
The gas was lighted now in the outer
flicc, and Ellison could sec as French
looked up from his writing
nat the younger clerk was carewOrn and
nat there were wrinkles OH the young
,rchead. 1t seemed but a short time
nee French had come to the office
right, happy looking boy. What should
laDgc him SO soon? Just then Mr.. El-
sons carriage drove up and the coach
ian let down the steps. AS Ellison rOso
} 60, still thinking of his clerk, he con-
uded to take the young man home with
i'm and talk with him il little.
" FRENCH he said, as he passed into
lc other Office, 81 want you to go homo
, dinner with me-" The young man
'okcd up in surprise. Hopper went on
riting. He never paid attention to what
as not addressed directly to him.
{" Yes, l mean you. French" added his
$50 put on your coat and come
ith me- and the young man thought
lcrc was kindlier ring in Mr.. EllisOn's
Dice than he had ever noticed before.
"How long have you been with me,
rcnch," observed the elder man as they
It at dinner.
"Tcn years, Mr.. Ellison" WAS the re-
so loug:' muscd the other, "but
len you were but 4 boy when you came
me, | remember"
" And now am twenty -iyc," returned
reDch.
"Twcnty iive,'' thought Ellison
what have twenty five years to do with
ire and wrinkles 90
" Your salary is SIX hundred, l bclicve?"
, said after 4 pause. "Can you get
Ong comfortably on that sum 81
"Oh, yes, though can't lay up much,
II have younger brother that want to
art ir the world if can. We make the
x hundred 60 as far a, it will between
The young man spoke checrfully, but
S employer now began to realize how
nall sum he was really paying and re-
lived to double the amount at Christmas.
Q wondered how it would seem to have
lly six hundred dollars year and have
share it with some one. After all, per-
,ps it did not take SO much to make one
lppy as he had sometimes thought, and
len he thought of tho little lamplighter
,ain. Well, it should be a happy Christ
as for him and for this young French as
ell. When the dinner was over and the
ERIK was taking his leave, Ellison noticed
I'D damp weather and that lie wore no
IercOat.
"I will send him round to my tailor to ,
It measured for AL OvercOat Tomorrow
fought Ellison, as the door closed upon
10 young man.
When the morning came, however, it
Ii :a1,