The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1881-12-23
Mistcl lanenns.
Christmas Carols.

In q thousand homes loving hearts, happy or
sad, were filled with thoughts of kindness
and sympathy and love. Busy hands were
weaving offerings for the morrow, and busy
feet were fastening homeward to cheerful,
waiting firesides. In pleasant homestead
young girl of sixteen was busily engaged
in adding the finishing touches to some dain-
ty bit of workmanship. She formed pretty
picture herself, as she sat curled up in the
deep window sill, where the freight, bright
ening in the twilight, flashed its warm color
over her shining hair and delicate cheek
Her soft dark eyes shone with subdued but
earnest light, and the little figure managed
the dainty material of her work with grace.
full and def manipulation attractive to the
beholder. The beholder was grayhaired
man, who occupied the great arm chair in
the window corner of the fireplace, and who
leaned upon his cane and watched the pretty
maiden, fail young Rosamond, at her work
and smiled to think how like she was to an
other Rosamond he had known, and loved
and buried, in the years so long gone by.
keep gool watch, Grandpa" said the
fresh young voice. Don't let anybody scud
| along your side 'unbeknownst,' as Biddy
says Pm so afraid Papa will steal march
on me- / wouldn't have him to see this for
a pretty. Isn't it beauty? Won't he be
pleased v.;'h it? Come now, Grandie, dear,
don't look so Solemn and owlish. It's Christ
| mas Eve. What are you thinking of so
| deeply?"
The old man looked up and smiled.
II was thinking Rosie, of how good and
| pleasant it is to have Christmas come, and to
have one day in all the year on which there
| is so much good will. | was thinking how
all these love gifts that we make to each
other and all the kind feelings we have to
ward one another, go to form precious love
gift to the Lord of Christmas. Indeed, the
peace on earth and good will to man, that
prevails on Christmas Day is the "Glory to
| God in the Highest"
That's beautiful, Grandie, dear" exclaim-
ed the young girl. "It's a genuine Christmas
| Carol. l always did say that my Grandpa S
| fireside lectures were sermon and hymn all in
| one. Oh dearie me, here comes Papa up the
steps, with his arms full of bundles Let me
run" And gathering up her work Rosa
mond went from the room.
| At the same hour that Rosamonds papa
assembled the steps of his beautiful home, an
other father entered the door of an humble
cottage not far distant. He bore no Christ
mas bundles in his arms. His eyes were sad
and his manner detected. Before the cheer
full fire, whose ruddy blaze lit up the small,
| low room, young girl was kneeling while
|
meal.
ats Christmas Eve, Papa" she said with
a lively nod of welcome. "Stoop down and
give me good, sweet, cool kiss this fire is
toasting my cheeks as well as the slices -
Mamma is putting Bud to bed. He went
sound asleep on the rug and wouldn't wake
up. Tea is all ready. | wish Harry was
here"
| Maybe it was the cheerful fire warmth, or
maybe the bright young face and CHEEKY
tones of the little daughter that wrought the
charm-I only know that the sad eyes
frightened to fond smile as the father look
ed lovingly into the face ofhis child The
room was cosy and comfortable, although
the furniture was plain and the adornments
of the simplest kind. The table was spread
for tea, and the cloth, cups and saucers, and
plates, were speckless and shining, and laid
with scrupulous nicely. The teapot sim
mered ON the hearth, and within smooth
oval OF hot ashes lay the mealy brown jackets
that were to form the evening meal. The
mother entered the room and greeted her
husband with smile. At the same moment
a boyish voice was heard at the door, and a
pair of stamping feet on the doorstep kept
time to a sort of rude melody that the boys
voice sang to the words:
Now it is winter, and am discomfort
| My coat is somewhat ike an ugly rent,
And all the snow from Off the top of the houce
Came down into my -sqush-ker-souse.
"Harry Minturn, you noisy youngster,'
exclaimed the girl, gaily, as she sprang tc
open the door, "why where have you been
You are covered with snow!'
II should say so" said the boy shaking
himself.
Dame Hinkly's old slate roof avalanchet
just as popped under the eaves-hence my
c0stchun,e. | don't care, it's Christmas Eve
and I've earned fifty cents carrying bundles
and have got two jobs for tomorrow. We'll
have Christmas supper if we don't hav,
plum.pudding and turkey dinner"
"Sh-sh," interrupted his sister. "Get OF
your coat and come to tea. We've elegan
roast potatoes and toast"
Somehow the brave, CHEEKY boy, and tn
equally bright and brave sister, made TIN
homely room seem almost radiant, and tn
sad.eyed father and patient mother sat dow
to the frugal meal with q Christmas carol O
thankfulness in their hearts for the peac
that was theirs in the gift of their noble
hearted children True, they were poor an,
j., in sore trouble but the trouble came not Mig
them in the same manner that il had come T.
some of their neighbors They had not un
= grateful, rebellious children to wiring thei
hearts with anguish And they chose +
praise God for the blessings He had give
them, rather than to repine for what He ha
defined them
1--WE must lose the cottage, Mildred" MI
. Minturn said to his wife when alone wit
her. "but we must not lose our trust in Goo
Let us sing hymn of praise. Our HON
will be sold next week, but we can celebrat
= our last Christmas in the dear old place wit
pleasant sound of carols, can't we?'