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

Perhaps you can tell as well as l. VIII!
Bachelor Rogers sighed, as he pushed
away his half emptied cup of the bes
Mocha; and, his solitary dinner done
took his station beside the fire. Bachel.
or Rogers, as he did so, cast a glance out.
side, where the snow was slipping white
| ly adown the December twilight, tapping
with crisp, clear twinkle against the
window pnue-proph,tc Of sleish-rides
beyond doubt.
| call him Bachelor Rogers because
that was the name he was apt to go by
especially in the neighborhood. | do
no, know why lie should have 'oeen thus
distinguished above the rest Of his fra
ternity-ticketed and labeled, as j, were,
with his misfortune unless, indeed, that
being such manly fellow, people had
come TO the conclusion bachelothood was
his misfortune, rather than his fault, and
gave him the title to show that in his
case they pitied and forgave.
Tonight is Christmas eve solilo-
quized our friend. looking hard at the
fire. Well, well; the years come and
20, and somehow every year gets duller
the gold was rubbed off of life long
time ago, the silver is going fast, and
now, suppose, | must soon look for the
iron age The prospect seemed dole
ful enough, certainly; and to cheer him.
self our friend looked into the fye-gazed
at it very hard. indeed, as if those cheer
ful leaping, cracking flames were guilty
in the matter, and could help it if they
only would. You all know Of the mag
ical influence attributed by the modern
mind to brilliant substances gazed at
steadfas,ly,
This was q Christmas eve fire, mind
YOU Shifting pictures began to come
and 20, ike these: First, little child,
in bare feet and nigtt-dress, reached out
a dimpled hand 20 hang up dangling
s;ocking-borrowed from mamma for the
occasion-in an old d-fashioned chimney
corner. Then the little child, grown old
er. danced around tall Christmas trees,
resplendent from top to bottom with
glancing lights, and the sparkle of bon
bons. and the glitter Of trinkets and toys
danced around the festive Christmas
tree that bear such charmed fruitage from
the fairy-land of Santa Claus-with 9TH
er children as joyous as himself. And
the boy. child made love to the girl-chil.
dren. Oh such beautiful girl. children
with floating curls, and dancing eyes, ant
rose. bud mouths. And the boy. children
PLAYED "pillows-and-keys' with the girl
children. But there was one he kissed
slyly in the corners, when no one wa
looking, and she was the blithest of all
Her curls were longer and more shining
her eyes clearer; and her rosebud mouth
had tempting little pOut born with it
that said, :" Kiss me kiss me evermore :.
And the boy-child was fain to compl!
with the request-only, as | have said
he did it shyly in corners; and If detecte'
. in the act, blushed exceedingly-mucl
more so than the girl, indeed; but thel
she was used to be kissed, YOU see, on &C
count of the tempting little pout tha
had such knack of asking the question
without saying word.
Was it Bachelor Rogers sitting nov
beside the FIRE, bronzed with the weathe
he had been q sailor before now-worn b,
hard fights with hard fortunes: More
p;c,ures, The oy-child, grown oide
now. dragging the girl-child-a demur
little maiden now, but the same mout
s,ill-over the crisp snow In famou
crimson sled barred with gilt, and on
written for a name, alice" That wa
the name of the demure little maid, 20
see, who sat upon it. And the boy wa
very tender of the girl, and wrapped he
closely in her cloak and furs, when b
, started for run; for above, the star
! sbone clear with the cold, and tine winte
: winds blew keenly.
Then came sad picture. Afterwar
there was storm at sea, and shipwreci
3 But the boy foated ashore, with the Gu
elenched fast in his hand. A ioreie
e shore it was-strange sights and soun'