The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1882-12-30
UP THE CHIMNEY.
a Christmas Story.
By J. ". W.

christmas Eve, the day OF all lays IN the
year when g~ladness and JOY fill all hearts
where unalleviated misery has not too strong
a foothold to deny them admission Hap
pier even than Christmas Day, for anticipa-
ton is the keenest of delights unclouded
with the shadow of disappointment which
too often darkens the reality of anticipated
pleasures.
The streets of the city were thronged
with people of all ages, classes and condi-
tons, all animated with the same motive, all
bent on brands of preparation for the NOR
row. Yet there were many faces in this
throng in which the lines of suffering seemed
to deepen at the sight of so many ones with
whom they could hold no fellowship. The
comforts and luxuries which were so prodig-
ally displayed were not for them to enjoy,
but for more favored, though not more de.
serving ones. The cup of adversely has
many bitter ingredients, but its bitterness is
never so thoroughly realized as when it is
ptrtaken of In the presence of a feast of uni
versal Joy and merriness.
Some of this bitterness had entered the
heart of George Howard as he sat modify
before the fire, needless of the prattle and
sport of his little ones, and apparently I'M
mindful of the presence of his CHEEKY little
wife A very decided frown had settled
upon his face, and his meditations were evil
IDENTIFY MT of the pleasantest character. His
wife soon noticed this. and for a moment her
face indicated a slight cloud of the contagi-
Ousmelanchol; Veryslight, however. for hers
was a sunny nature and very soon dispelled
the clouds of trouble which at times DER
shadowe1 it. She scanned her husbands
face for a moment, and then said:
George, what day of the month is this?"
o pooh !" answered George. peevishly.
why do you ask such a question? You
know it is Christmas Eve"
Then with tomorrow comes Christmas"
responded the wife, ''and | think it's near
enough at hand to justify us in being merry.
Come George, drive away the blues, for [
know you are entertaining these visitors,
and let us forget for a time that such things
as troubles exist"
"Ah, Nelly" said George, sadly, it IS
easy enough to say, 'begone dull care!' but
not SO easy to keep disagreeable facts out of
the mind which force care to remain. I have
tried TO bear up against the pressure of our
troubles; l nave tried to nourish the hope
that better times would soon draw nigh and
bring us relief. 1 have tried to content my
self with the reflection that greater Affections
have been spared us. You and our darling
little ones are blessed with good health, and
1 should feel myself a wretch who deserved
punishment if | did not think of these things
and be grateful for them. But 1 must ac-
knowledge that when | went out on the
street to-day and saw so many happy faces,
saw the hustle of preparation for Christmas
day, and saw on all sides, abundance to
satisfy the most prodigal tastes and desires
when l saw all these and reflected that |
sra, n III l4.lk1,, -.
out of work, and in debt-well, melancholy
claimed me for her own."
Nelly was sufficiently a woman to drop a
sympathizing tear taking care, however, to
conceal it from George.
"Well," she observed. our situation is not
the best, but we must remember it is not
yet the worst"
Il don't know about that" answered
George, modify. 81 have been out of work
six months, and that too, seof2 after my three
months of sickness. Our money is gone,
our credit has followed after it. The times
instead of revivlng are becoming every day
more stringent, and they tell me there will
be no chance to secure work before spring.
Now, here is Christmas at hand. 1t has al
ways been a gala day with US. The little
ones-bless their darling little hearts--have
always had something to make them happy,
but now they must be told what they CAM
understand, that Santa Claus is bankrupt,
for their hearts will be as empty as their lit
tie stockings tomorrow morning"
Don't be sure of that said Nelly, in a
very wise manner, Where there's a will
there's a way."' Now. | have a little secret
which | didn't mean to tell you, George, but
you are so very, very dismal tonight that |
will try and console you a little with the
intelligence that Christmas is already pro-
vided for, and we are going to celebrate it
tomorrow in the good old-fashioned way.
We shan't stuff ourselves to death, nor swill
egg-nog. but we shall have good food to eat
and plenty of it, and moreover, the children
lin a Whisper will nave their stockings full
tomorrow morning"
But you mistify me. How are you 60
ing to work such a miracle?'
We'll. that's the secret | was going to
let out. You know am very handy with
the crochet needle. Well, those beautiful
p,tterns | donated to the orphans fair were
purchased by a lady who wanted half a
dozen more to distribute as Christmas gifts.
So she called on me and wanted me to make
them for her. Of course | got up on my
dignity and told her that l was not doing
such things for a living, but if it would be
an accommodation to her, I supposed | could
do it So there; now you have my secret,
which | assure you you wouldn't have had
had | not regarded it as a forlorn hope"
My daring" said George, " it pains me
to think that have brought you to this; but
oh, it's a sweet consols ton to know that the
fires of "ffliction only make my treasure
shine the brighter. When l married you
little thought that my circumstances would
ever permit you to have a want untitled, a
wish unqualified. 1 supposed l was brl ging
you to a home which you could always call
your own | supposed my fathers estate
would leave me in comfortable circumstan-
ces, but my expectations were not realized.
The unh 'ppy fate of my poor father de-
stroyed all those prospects"
George" said Nelly, "you have never
told me the circumstances connected with
your fathers last years. | have never liked
to ask Won because knew the Subiect wa :