Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1884-12-27
THE ELEVENTH COM
MANDMENT.

one corner, and poor, shiftless tumble
down dwelling on the other. which the
law protected from the coveious eyes of
the rich speculator and reserved for minor
heirs. Meanwhile it was rented, for what
il would bring, to a class of peo,)l who
were always either moving in or out and
in the summer time, when the windows
of the great mansion were open, and the
cream of society holding its revels, such
hilarities as these would be tobacco waited
through the India null curtains
"Whack de tidell Pass the cratur this
way, an don't be kapin the bottle idle I"
sShure yees hev had mor'ns good for
yez now.
@Sthand oop and foight like mani"
"Murtherl don't interrupt whilst Pm in
joyin' meselfl"
And similar dialogues of domestic
character
But for some months preceding Christ
mas there had been new family In the
old house two young people who lived
alone and were out of sorts. The man
had n,thing to do. was slim. pale,
sickly looking young fellow and some one
had found out that he was a southerner,
well educated and of good family but
poor as poverty itself and likely to starve
10 DEATH as he was proud as well as poor.
Every day he went out looking for work
in the aimless way a man gets into when
his overcoat is gone and he has to button
his other coat to the chin. and every day
he came back empty handed or with
something that lad been acquired on the
border land between responsibility and
vagabondage-a turkey won at rattle or
a measure of potatoes that he had acquired
at guessing match.
Life was at this low ebb when Christmas
came-Christmas bringing cheer and
light, music, warmth presents, hope and
jolity to nearly everybody, but certainly
not II the poor family in the tumble down
house on one corner, nor to the patrician
people who lived in splendid misery on
the other.
What was the matter with them? Ev-
erything. In the list place there were
only two peop.e in the great house, they
had neither chick nor child. nor bird, nor
any living thing about them, except their
own two dry dust selves, and they got
mighty tired of each other sometimes
Then they both had Indigestion and lived
on diet of hot water and graham toast
Next, their servants robbed and deceived
them Systematically, and finally their chill
dren-happy little ones-were all dead.
Their young lives had been smothered out
under the capfrils and embroidered
stomachers, and they had gone to place
where there were no velvet carpets, or if
there were, they were not too good to play
on.
This Christmas morning when the
millionaire got up he looked out of his
plate glass window and cast an envious
glance at the corner opposite. Jack Frost
had been playing, tricks there. He had
sent soft white rail- of snow, which had
wrapped its benetcent arms about The
rlkflx .~flA Il
figured in the silver flood The frost
king had made each tiny pane of glass
respondent with castle and turret ana
feathery palms, and the rich man acknowl,
edged 10 himself grudgingly that it was
pretty sight; he wanted to buy that
spot. tear the old house down and do what
he hose with the lot; his neighbor had
b""s-ht one next to him for play ground
foc MS children ut heaven had give
his own little zones pay ground on which
he lad no title or presumption. While
he stood looking, his family physician,
wealthy man, who had most retired from
the procession, came out of the old house.
he was walking br,skly past. when Mr..
Markham thew open the window and
called to him:
"Good morning, Dr. Farnham. Merry
Chris mas! if you can find one, hal ha
Returned to practice, sec. ~ with a con
temptuous G ance at the old corner.
Yes, said the physician. gravely, "it
is rather sad case. -Four mouths to feed
and nothing 10 put in them. However,
the same God who sent tle ravens to feed
Elijah lives to-day"
doctor, said Mrs. Markham crowd.
ing lace breakfast tapped head out be-
side her husbands come in and eat
breakfast with u.s. Wy appetite is worst
and want prescription.
Dyspepsia be bowed" growled the
doctor who was as gent,e as a woman in
the sick room. Ii YOU want to be cured
of all the Ills of life, observe the eleventh
commandment
Eleventh comms ndmenti Why, there
isn't any. Decor, You must 60 to scnool. +"
isn't tuele any?" said the doctor,
grutfl,. Il thought you didn't know it.
Love thy neighbor as myself Tnere
A merry Ihlistmas to you both, and no
dyspepsia, if you do your whole duty.
Peace - on eartb--good- will-to-
mani" chimed the bells.
There was confus ION of tongues over
in the house on the corner. When the
good doctor had announced to the young
husband in real Christmas phrase, Unto
you a son is born the news had been re
ceived at first with natural splsm of de-
on earth am ] going to do with him?"
But when later the doctor went to him,
with his face beaming with mischief, and
SAID, nto you two sons are born, the
CONSERVATION he caused would have been
amusing, If 1t had not been so real. There
was gloomy outlook for the pale Young
mother and her beautiful babes. even
though the good doctor had left some
temporary relief.
Will she live?
Yes; care and nourishment are all she
needs: now can leave her in your hands,
Mrs. Markham. The nurse understands
the case, and is trustworthy.
Mrs Markham, the millionaires wife
sat by the sick bed and held one babe IN
her silken lap. 1t wore her baby dresses
and was wrapped in soft blankets A
wicker cradle lined with white muslin,
aud tied with blue ribbons had come.
down from the dust of the mansard roof
TO hold the two babies There were light
ana warmth and comfort in the old house.
when late at night Mrs Markham re-
turht from late visit, prior to retiring,
me lou I'd her husband standing pom
pousl before the open fire on the tiled
hearth III the library.
And how are they .now2" he asked.
with more interest than he had shown in
anything for year.
Doing nicely; but. Hiram. they would
nave died if I-if-we-hadnt looked
ailer them. Two such sweet babies-they
remind me-
And then the poor mother broke down
and cried
mr.. Markham cleared his throat
hem! lexpect we've got our hands
full he said
lie never thought of hearts; but that
was ust what it meant. With neither
en- 'ren nor grandchildren of his own. he
mas two pairs of stockings to ill every
Christmas. and this year he makes the
lame 90 ecfiqn to filling them that he did
iiSl year. They will not hold half he
wants TO put in them. and he win mot AZ.
we either with his wife or the good
"oclor' that annual pleasure. There IS a