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


and sweeter than ever. But the boy sh
had parted from did not stand beside her
He was lying fathoms deep she though
and her lips trembled as she spoke tn
solemn words. He was lying fathom
deep-"all on board perished." She di'
not know, with her curl on his heart, h'
worked and waited in foreign land
guarded by pure thoughts Of love and her
Two great round tears fell down upoI
the bronzed cheeks upon the bronzet
hands, that had handled ropes in thei
day, and showed for it yet. Bachelo
Rogers atarted to his feet, muttered. will
one bronzed hand thrust in his bosom
sits there yet" and began to walk W
and down. "How thick the snow falls
and tonight is Christmas eve. T1
think tha, used to be little fellow, anc
hang up stockings in chimney corner
And oh sweet faces that shone out upor
me from the fire o-night-where are you
now: Alice Alice Alice " Bachelor
Rogers sat down and buried his bronzed
face in lis bronzed hands for moment
then, raising his head, shook it like a
man who refuses to be submerged by rec
objections Of the past.
Every Christmas | get the dolefuls y
exclaimed he. "But it won't do. Ill
write to my friends up the street, and to-
morrow we'll have a regular old bacnelor 5
Christmas party. Yes, yes, a jolly-old
bachelor s-old- fashioned Christmas par
ty." Our friend dwelt on these words,
pro,racting each one as iftrying to believe
the prospect as delightful one; then he
sat down and scrbbled off this invitation ;
"MY FRIENDS: shall, Of course, en-
pect you to take dinner with me to-mor.
row, Christmas Day; six o'clock, sharp.
ROGERS"
Our friends heart not being in the in
vita,ion, he made it as succinct as posi-
ble; then touched the bell.
Ring, sir :" said s,alwart servant
man, opening the door, and letting a
stream of yellow light into the rcd radi-
ance of the room, chasing the shadows
into the corners. Blessed genii of the
freligh, !-ye are dearer than ever on
Christmas eve
John, take this note and leave it
block above, third house from the corner.
Shut the door"
John took the note and went, closing
the door behind him and the Christmas
eve shadows all came back again, gliding
to and fro old memories came with them;
a soft touch fell on Bachelor Rogers hair;
tender, clinging palm slipped in and
ou, of his, and again the cry of "Alice y
startled the silence. John set his teeth
when he got outside, and walked briskly
for it was nipping cold. BLOCK above
third house from the corner, Tain
quite close enough directions for fellow,
and John, drawing the note from his pock-
ct, stopped under the corner lamp-Post to
read the address blank whiteness, moth
ing more. "Whew :" said John, 'spos,
he forgot the direction. Well, Ill trus
to my wits won't 90 back and bother him
f)r see he's got a mood. And when
man like him gets mood on him, bette
leave him alone" Third house from
the corner" John took a view, thel
marched up the stoOp of a little brown
cottage house, nestled between two aspir
ing mansions of brick. The door open
ing, showed as trim vision Of servant
maid as one might expect to find any
where -demure- eyed, smooth haired,
touch of coquetry breaking forth in
wicked little apron, braided at the corners
| am shocked to state that John, in viey
of this vision, noddnig his head approx
ingly, remarked:
"For your folks, my dear"
"Oh :" ignoring the dear. "Will yol
walk in and wait for an answer :"
with pleasure" quoth John.
He had not expected to wait for al
answer neither had he expected such
vision of servant maid to the door
But then, nobody is surprised at surpris
es on Christmas eve, John walked int
the hall, and the servant-maid into tn
parlor-a small room, very plain, bu
altogether home-like; here, also, fir
burned brightly but it was under wood
en- mantle, not one of marble carved wit
lilies. A lady sat there knitting a pal
of scarlet snow-shoes. just small enoug
and dainty enough for child, with
flower-soft face, that lay fast asleep o
on the rug beside her, her head restin
on a great Angola cat that was purrin
away with all its might.
"Well, Jennie :" questioned the lady.
"a note, ma'am, FOR 'our folks, tn
| ~ NON What hrouubt n said II was