The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1882-12-20

KT~-F%LIfEfe Hi 1-lyI --DLtCiA 4INl-AI4tAt "
sSsSX3ImeI1dy, comes from and
49, how it happens to chant IL
Tsl self to him 80 ptrsistently
~ I tonight. II is a dismal
sht. Outside high cas-. wind shrieks
4 squeals skirmisnes around corners
Il echoes away dolef1lIy in every stray
ge.nous retreat and nook. Within
fs t 81 ' iaTny and Scarlet fame light
bachelor BrindIe's favori'e apartment.
4 low-ceiled, and comfortable, yet
/ airing the air Of careless disorder Pc
/ Jar to bachelors apartments.
f md bachelor Brindle, listening to the
nd's boiserous whistlings and plain
e minor chords, becomes c'oss-grained
/ i sven 1oisantrophical,
/ fsong and feast" he nutters grumbly.
ply etc! Humph. Cannon!
nere's any holly, and who'd go drag,
ne round in this glush and sleet To
ng it in? What's set me to thinking
i-
SChris,rnag eve" chants the tca-kettle
inzing briskly over the blaze.
tCrickey,m is bachelor Brindle's rep
ssaensible exclamation, $50 it is. / like
4 have forgot it." t
As if sprinkled with some subtle,
d sgic powder, the freight, Pickering,
ivering, dancing, suddenly lights a
h across the floor, through the cottage
lis, beyond the murk and mist, FAR in
the past, where CHEEKY Christmas
y is burning; there are busy hands
Ia huIrying feet and merry voices
re is an Intoxicating flavor Of holiday
Der; there is song and gladness; there
bright eyed cousins, troops of rela.
es and friends, and radiant among
a romping, black-eyed girl with a
Fined up nose, who wore scarlet
ket-.
And had temper enough for two,
b nts bachelor Brindle. There is dim
II in the path Of light. "Half yout
IT," sings the tea-kettle cheerfully
ore than half" snorts the wind bellig,
unity, coming in puff down the chin
b TO back the tea kettle. "'Twas
las, twas"
a momentary lulling of the aggressive
nd, and soft sputtering in the red
Ills brings bachelor Brindle's mind bach
Jiis present lot,
fSnow," he mutters with a shudder
ime was when the idea brought only
tlishly bright visions Of sleigh-ridet
fh her, Of froiics and fun, and oh
fats the use? They're all gone, she
}ong the rest, and Pm forlorn Ole
4 Il with no one to SO much as cook +;
lristmas dinner for me-unless Z CoulC
TX Aunt Nancy over. Christmas eve
ss us. What an old wretch ] was b
get it,"
Bachelor Brindle gives the fore stick {
lcontented poke, and turns to light tn,
lamp on the shelf, then brings forti
old-fashioned brown Bible, and ono
IRE follows the sweet story of the beau
IL Babe and the first Christmas morn
!, while without, the wind losses am
iris its flcecy white burden about q
own erratic will.
ugh what depressingIy un-Christ
Is evening, Christmas evep
at Nab Lacy caught her breath, an
Il gtched at her veil with both hands, q
rampant gale charged with million
sleety needles swooped around Co
and nearly blew her off the steps {
grim, tall, narrow-chested hous
eh its gray-green shutters, the bit I
bite paper tackled against its door bea
the faded notice furnished Room
Rent" revealing its nature an
aracteristics.
fShelter is shelter such night as thi
u is the waste and desert gloom of NJ
hes establishment with its mackera
ented halls and roachy corners" 81
SIS ptinued, plunging into the shadows
elong, dim hall, and feeling in the dai
her door knob; with all its faults
iF haven of refuge from-MerC
gyy! What are you tumbling n
II H.niture about and stopping my o
9th up for? And whose is this big ba
"a trunk"
4 1.-The stout maid-of-all-work, on h
ees by the desolate little box-sto'
,sc with red flannel floor-cloth
e hand, and a bar of yellow soap in
her, eyed Nab doubtfully, tried
atch her eye with her elbow, and "a
90, gave her broom-like head a randc
b with the soap and answered:
d New Teller comm to morrow; a
fss Malone sayed as how you had
lid yer rent this week, an bein' gent
slSlAn preferred-'cause they don't m
sings up acookin' in their rooms,
10 wantin' to lose q shore payin' room
tsa3I'-an'-."
HBut, Peggy, to-morrow's Christina
IS ab sat down on the strange tru
Asping her damp, gloyed hands in he
IS bewilderment.
'That's what l know" said Peggy +
ing her ear with the soap, "but n
alone she says how the rent amt p
-"
'But was going to pay it next we
"a would have last week if l had
len sick and. not able to work, as t
r."
'sThat's SO. But / reckon the a
8 use in raisin' a FUSS" said PEG
ailosophically, "he's done paid her
onth's rent AMI she's tuck it.
yed anyhow, she reckoned you '
ffts4o.o IF N Io6v'n tn want tn StaV wh