Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-07-04

"Why, John, bless your heart !" cries
his master, "you went to the wrong
house. 1t was gentlemen l expected
not ladies -
The tone of Difference again. "Well,
sir" says John, with solemn demeanor,
I" / cam call back, sir, and say it's all q
mistake"
"Call back again and say it's a mis-
take! Are you wide awake, John ; Take
back an invitation to ladies' Not if |
know myself. No, John, they are CON-
ing--actually coming to brighten up
these stiff rooms with their presence.
Yes, yes, John, we'll get ready for them.
Oh I'll have Christmas dinner, I'll
promise you How many are there Of
them, John =
"Well, there's lady-you can't call
her old, but she's older than the other
one, which is her daughter? and there's
little one likewise, the daughter of the
other lady, and her name is May
a little child is coming too /: says
our friend with reverence in his voice.
"Yes, sir and her mother mentioned
that maybe you was going to have
Christmas tree
"Well, so am, John, of course. And
if you think Of anything else, just let me
know"
81 will, sir; goodnight, sir"
Good night, John-good-night.
think-at least something seems to tell
me that it's going to be lucky Christ
mas for you, john
And then our friend upon retiring for
the night falls asleep and dreams like
child of Christmas trees, and holly ber-
ries, and mistletoe, and something strange
and sweet yet to be. The little brown
house on the block above, where the man
tells are wooden and not marble, falls
asleep also. And the princess that was
sorrowful when awake, is very happy in
her dreams. Oh lovely dreams she has,
wherein Cu.hbert her lover comes home,
and holding her fast in his arms, says he
will go away no more! The mother
dreams also-far back into the years of
childhood. A slender stripping, who
wears a girls bushes on his cheek, ever
rose red when in her company, draws her,
a demure little maiden, on vermillion
sled, barred with gilt, over crisp ex-
panse ofsnow-9olden lights in the horl-
zon. Walking. Mrs. Lee hears the tink-
le of snow-c crystals against the window
pane, and whis pers to her heart, " Yes,
he never came back. How could he,
when all on board perished :"
As for chill d May it would be useless to
undertake to describe her dreamings.
The story Of Aladdin were tame beside
child's dreams on Christmas eve. Dear
old Santa Claus himself is the only one
fit to rehearse them
1--WE have heaps of work to do this
morning, John" remarked our friend
the next day; land You know the stores
close early"
But a well-flled purse, especially if it
be on the Fortunatus order, can accom-
plish wonders; and at ten minutes before
six our friend, entering his drawing
rooms, was almost satisfied with the re-
suit. Not quite you know, for as Bach
elor Rogers had remarked number of
times to John, as they prosecuted their
lebors, q am expecting ladies. you
know, john
"At six o'clock, sharp"-with what
utter contempt did our friend now repu-
diate that odious phrase, as he called it
TO himself-the ladies came. Jenny
demure eyed, smooth-h haired Jenny-was
with .hem. John led the way up stairs,
and watched her as she, intent on busi-
ness, deftly removed wrappings, set away
oyershoes, etc. When her task was ac-
complished, the result was radiant.
Mother, Princess Alice, and Child May,
seemed the lovely and loving spirits of
Christmas time, bringing hope and glad
ness wherever they might come.
When John, throwing open the door,
announced to his master the arrival of his
guests, Bachelor Rogers came forward
to receive them, with the air of knight
paladin. Sir Grandson himself never
made a bow half so profound, or so de-
voutedly deferential. When he lifted his
ewes, and the winsom vision of the three
stood completely disclosed, our friend be-
the victim of bewilderment so profound
and complete as to be beyond words to
tell. He seemed like man walking in
| labyrinth perplexed, however, not by
fear, but by some strange, delicious hap
piness. ;,
"Your invitation was a surprise TO us"
murmured Mrs. Lee.
"Oh I've been acquainted with YOU
all this long time," declared our friend
and his laugh rang out joyous and mel
low as the chime of Christmas bells.
Though no one disputed this extraor'
dinary statement of Bachelor Rogers, yet
il was noticeable that after that he SEEM
ed incapable of uttering one choherent