Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-12-21

ing seemed to make a smile ens Old
Snarley's face; and so comfortable was
the chair that he forgot himself andwa
really contented 80 - esy~gs
81 am glad you came over, sir-glad
you came over, said Mr.. Twinkle to his
guest, when the conversation had Jagged
for want of a topic. ssI pity you from
the bottom of my heart, living over
there all alone. Mr.. fSnatley; indeed, 1
do.s Lifeshasns5 so many pleasures that
we can afford to throw any away.
don't understand, Mr.. Snarley, why you
should shut yourself up from all your
fellow-men, as you do. If you were a
King in exile, it would do; if you had
lost all your money and friends, you
might have some excuse; if your heart
had been torn out of you By a faithless
wife and unn aturA children, or if you
were troubled by some great remorse, it
would be pardonable bnt You ought to
get out more, and cultivate. folks, and
let the sunshine into your heart.n Isl IS.
Old Snarley gazed INTO the fire.. His
eyes were fixed upon the jolly, dancing,
Christmas flames, but his mind was far
away. Mr.. Twinkle had touched a key
that his whole memory vibrating, and
the glowing Goals and the cordial at
mosphere of the room seemed to thaw
out his frosted heart. = SEQ -
S Somewhere down on the sea coast of
New England are quaint inscriptions
carved upon the rocks, that are never
seen except at dead low tide. The bill
lows of selfshness and greed had pound.
ed Snarley's heart so long that the scars
of remorse made upon it years ago were
almost effaced; but the tide was low
now, and Old Snarley saw them very
distinctly.
Mr.. Twinkle continued: SCI can't i'm
agine, Mr.. Snarley, what you think life
is. I don't understand what kind OF
stuff yousare made of. I should die in a
fortnight, if lived assyon dol know
should. BY the great tycoon, Snar-
ley, / want to stir you up little to-day
We're going to have a good dinner, and
some little folks and some fun. / don't
believe ever saw you laugh, Snarley.
don't believe ever did - s.
s OldSSnarley made no reply -
Mr.. Twinkle turned around and looked
at him, thinking to himself: 81 don't
believe the old beasler heard o word ]
said," but the amused smile that was
playing around his lips was chased away
by shadow, as he saw what he thought
was tear rolling down one of the gut
tiers in Snarley's face.
The kindly old gentleman pulled hard
at his pipe, and blew the smoke to the
ceiling, wondering to himself what in
the world had touched Old Snarley now.
Soorlox, 1o6 into tho f. 70 ctill
Miss Maria entered ssWillY the gen
tlemen walk down to the dining room p
Mr.. Twinkle took Old Snarley by the
arm and led him down to the basement.
There was the dinner-and such a din
ner! A brown turkey was lying on his
back, with his legs in the air, and, be-
side him, a rich, ripe ham, stuck all
around with cloves, as ST. Sebastian was
with arrows; a steanling coffee-pot, and
pyramid of bread as white as snow.
heap.
Old Snarley bowed to the hostess,
and silently took his seat.
Mr.. Twinkle twinkled all over with
sunshiny smiles, and talked necessarily.
Miss Maria sat silently; but her eyes,
which seemed always to be looking at
something far away, were bright and
beautiful; and Mr.. Twinkle, who al
ways did like to look into Miss Maria's
eyes, noticed that they were particularly
beautiful to-day; and then he looked
into the sunlight for relief.
- Scarcely was dessert served when
there was a rush of childish feet across
the floor above and murmur of child
ish voices came like a gush of melody
down the stairs. - f>-s
, "There are the little folks, Maria -
said MIR. Twinkle; 'sthey better be
looked after, Iguess.'''. .,EsAtser,
Old Snarley started nervously. He
didn't like children, nor did children
! like him. Old Snarlev always forgot
that he was once a child, and the chill.
dren always forgot they owed,respect to
age, even though heartless, like his. But
Mr.. Twinkle popped off again. -
-" Never mind the little folks, Snar.
ley; never mind 'em. Maria has go1
some fixin's upstairs, and want you to
see 'em.. It viii do you good, Snar1ey-
it will do you good.'' = rvF
| Old Snarley sat. uncomfortably in his
chair. The conflict of emotions that
was going on within him was something
new. People who have lived in dun
geons say that sunshine is painful to
them when they come out. Old Snarley
had been living so long in the dungeons
of discomfort that it was with difficulty
that he could breathe this air of pure
happiness, and he was bewildered by
hospitality. Old Snarley felt very queer.
When the dessert was finished, and
Mr.. Twinkle and his uneasy guest had
slipped their coffee, the host led the way
to the parlors, where Miss Maria and
her music class were busy with some
mysterious preparations. When, the
children saw Old Snarley they talked in
subdued, dismal manner, as people do
when there is coffin in the house; but
Miss Maria closed the doors between the
two parlors, and Old Snarley sank into
the easy chair again, more bewildered
than ever. When a burst of laughter
came from behind the panels he would
move about nervously; but he watched
the clouds of smoke that rose from Mr..
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