The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-12-23
ON CHRISTMAS EVE.

Good evening, Joe, and merry
Christmas to you.
"The same to you, SIR, and many
of 'em, too"
As came along B street on
crisp, sparkling Christmas eve, | en-
countered the old night watchman
Joe, standing on the sidewalk il
front of brilliantly. lighted man
sion, gazing up at the windows
through the half raised curtains o
which were to be had glimpses O.
Christmas tree.
| had lived only six months in
B street, not long enough to be
come acquainted with any of its in
habitants. But 1 had made friends
with the old night watchman before
| had lived week on the street. He
had come to my door, as Is custom
airy toward a new resident, to inquire
if | wished his services, and L was
SO struck with the appearance of the
man that ] had ever since avaiied
myself of every opportunity to talk
with him. Rarely have met one
of hiss class who possessed SO much
intelligence and good sense. he
was tall and muscular, with a grip
like iron, which l had seen tested
severa. times when unruly boys OF
uspicious-looking loungers came IN
his way. He was very proud OF the
character Of his street, and often re.
repeated that in the thirty years he
had had charge of it there had beer
no robbery and no disturbance O.
any serious character. A strong
hearted, noble man he was, too. His
rugged. kindly face, with its crown
of gray, tangled hair. was worthy o.
painters study. Even the proud
residents of the street esteemed him
highly, and befriended him in many
ways.
As Joe stood on the sidewalk that
bright Christmas eve | noticed that
he was much more serious than u.s.
ual, and less inclined to talk. Aftel
my greeting he turned and began tc
move slowly up the street, letting
his club fall on the sidewalk with
dull thuds as he walked. AT this
instant the door of the great house
was thrown open, and bright
stream Of light came out, IN which
stood sweet little girl.
Joe" she cried-"Joe, are you
there?"
"Yes, Miss Nell, he answered
"this' me-
Here. joe" she said. I'm not tC
come in now, because tha. would bt
off duty you Encw, but | found
this on the very top of ihe tree ; ano
see, it has your name Oh it"-hand
ing him a neat little package-''anc
it's such splendid tree, and every
body is so happy. We are no
strangers tonight, Santa Claus ano
| |, are we. Joe?" And with merry
little laugh she vanished.
BLESSED little mite" said he, in I
choked voice. Then, after going a
block or more without speaking, ht
added: "Sir, if you don't mino
walking up and down my beat Int
tie, III tell you a story as makes
this the merriest Christmas eve o
my life. 1t isn't any family secret
or | wouldn't be the one To tell 1t
It's history as everybody knows
and tonight it's over, happily, bles'
sedly over, so far as it can be, con
sidering him that's gone.
l walked quietly at his side un
til he was pleased to speak.
THE gentleman as lives in tba'
great house" said he. sis Mr.. Chaun
cey. He is one of the richest mer
on our street. When | first came OF
here, thirty years gone, he was {
Young man with a handsome wifi
and two as pretty children as evel
you saw. Miss Alice, she was the
ol1est, a golden haired little beauty
and master Frank, he was fine boy
almost a baby then, sir. From thu
very first Mr.. Chauncey was kind tt
me. When the family would be OF
in the summer. ne used to give M
the keys, and | was to look in every
night and morning to see thht moth
ing went wrong. When the family
got back / always got handsome
extra, fol- Mr.. Chauncev never wal
mean. 1t wasn't his love of money
that brought the trouble about, bu
his pride-his pride. sir; for if tina
old gentleman was king of England
he couldn't be more stuck up abou
his name and family than he Il
now. When Miss Alice was abon
ten years old. Mrs. Chauncey died
remember the night well, cir; bu
that's many a year ago. After tina
/ didn't see the family much, TO
the shutters they was always KEEP
closed, and when l met Mr.. Chaun
cey he had his head bowed and nev
er seemed to notice me. | used Il
talk with David, the Butler, some
times. when / was passing up ant
down O. nights, and be told me a
Mr.. Chauncey paid no attention t
anything but them two children
and especially to Master Frank, an.
how he'd always have the little fel
low on his knee after dinner, findinI
out what he'd been learning througl
the day; for they had governesf
them children had, although 'twa