The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1883-04-21
could indeed feel that my lot had been


cast in pleasant places.
I But | have never yet been able to win
a tender or loving word from them. Ger
/ trude is respectful, of course, she knows
/ she must be that, but SO cold and distant,
while Willie clings closely to her and
keeps as far as possible away from me-
/ 1t is becoming source of torture to
me that cannot win their love, but
never complain ; such n course would be
folly. only pray for them in the silence
of my chamber, in the watches of the
night. Ipray for strength and patience
! to overcome all this.
Dec. 24th-To-morrow is Christmas
Day. | have been to the city and pur-
chased suitable gifts for each member of
my family. For Gertrude, Norman and
| | decided upon a new piano. 1t is a Stein
way, o superior tone and finish She is
passionately .ond of music, and is al
ready, for one of her years, very fair
performer. 1t is gift which she inher
its from her father.
Dec 25th-
"This is the merry Christmas morn,
This is the day that Christ was born"
How the words of that old carol went
ringing through my head as went about
my daily duties this morning. l have
heard it sung so many times in the dear
old home at Brentham-the sunny home
of my childhood.
Father, mother, brothers and sisters
all will be there to day, but | will not be
with them. Alas g.. | have other ties to
bind me now but my heart goes out to
them with Just the same tenderness as in
the days gone by, and know that shall
be remembered there.
Later.-A Christmas gift came to me
to-day-a priceless gift. | have found
the hearts Of my children, and they are
mine.
Going up the stairs to my room soon
after breakfast, | noticed that the door
of the attic chamber, always kept locked,
stood now ajar. Pausing moment upon
the landing | heard d sound as of sup
pressed sobbing, and the words Mamma,
mammal uttered as in an agony of grief.
Wonder-stricken, l went softly up the
steps and looked in. Kneelins there up
on the floor before the portrait of most
lovely lady, which rested against the wall
were the two children, Gertrude and
Willle their arms clasped around each
other and their faces swollen with weep
ing. In an instant | comprehended the
scene. This was their mothers picture,
vass, they had come to unburden their
childish grief.
At this moment their father appeared.
He, too, had seen the door standing open,
and, hearing voices, had come up.
Norman, said, touching the pic
ture reverently, is this the portrait of
your first wife,
He bowed silent assent.
Then let it be restored to it's place at
once | said, for | do not wish any
changes to be made for me which will
cause moments unhappness to any
member of your family"
So we took up the picture, Norman
and |, carried it down the stairway and
into the drawing room, and hung it in its
old place above the sofa.
This evening. as l sat there in the wan
ing freight, heard swift footsteps APP
preaching and in moment more two
arms We're about my neck and two lips
were pressed closely to mine. 1t was
Gertrude, who whispered softly
Dearest mamma, can you forgive
me -
Close by her side was Willie, and
warmly embraced them both. telling
them of my love for them, while the soft
blue eyes of their mother seemed to look
down upon us with benison.
oh, happy, happy ending of the Christ
mas day. Sitting there, with an arm
around each. | told them of that nigh in
far off Bethlehem and of the song the
angels sung and their father coming in
soon and finding us all there, Gertrude
opened the beautiful new piano, and We
all sang many Christmas hymns, for our
hearts were filled with joy and with
thankfulness to Him who is the "Giver
of all good
And thus endeth my first Christmas
day in my new home. May kind Heaven
vouchsafe us many more such.
l. =