Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1885-12-26
Christmas At Iontsweag.

Oh, that dull, lonely, little farmhouse
Those endless green meadows. or snowy
:lelds, stretching far to the fr trees on
The hillside! Oh. that dreary monoton-
oup life; rising at dawn, going to bed at
dusk; that treadmll of sarmwork, that
narrow. bookless existence! No house
in sight, no neighbors, only quiet or
lonslinesf. Once in awhile visit from
fhRmen whose lives were alike colorless.
The men who cracked feeble jokes, and
talked crops and local politics; the won-
q Who talked work, or new patterns in
patchwork quilts. The girls who tslked
ofsinging school and beaux; the boys
who well they never talked at all, hut
maintained bashful silence.
AL this and more. pretty Milly Baker |
had thought and said. looking wistfully
out Of the kitchen window of that lonely
farmhouse, two long years ago.
Her fair, round face, its big brown eyes
red. defiant mouth, and the short, curly.
brown hair. made pretty picture in the
vine clad framework of the old window.
She had secret, this bewitchiDg little
maiden, that day, ard with the secret
there was grief and wretchedness that
then and afterwards made the piqnant
ice wofully sober. She struggled be-
tween love and genius, duty and anbi-
tioD, and then and there she
resolved to take the step. In the after
time she often wondered at her calmness
that day. When the old home was
closed TO her, the loving, fond parents,
elAneers, she sadly weighed this loss
with the fame aud honors she won so
easily. They were dear and precious.
But oh, TO go back to be forgiven, to
- them cnce more before the gates of
the Eternal shut them from her young
lie.
The city on the oath of December is
alive with busy purchasers. Every smil-
ing parental visage hides an embryo
ferta Claus. Every motherly soul,
bmrying along with her big bundles, is
sChristmas angel TO the little ones at
home. Ofall the sweet customs handed
down through generations, there is none
better than this holiday gift making ard
giving. The great heart of the people is
stirred, and from palace to hovel sweeps
awave Of the great Christmas tide.
In the country there is no crowding OF
turmoil, yet the village streets wear 6
holiday air. Turkeys hang before the
butcher shop in close proximity with
the venerable, alas now fatherless gees,
they % often metin friendly converse OF
the public road, where they discusse,
NE respective merits of the potato bu
and cabbage worm lrcidly and eloquent
Y. The window in the toy shop is fu1
q naryels, and the village boys are er
vied BY the out hackers, who hear concis
accounts from their fathers, as tie latte
shght from their farm wagons, stiff wit
TIE cold, their pockets bulging wit
enckling bundles. These accoun
Invariably end with "Sse what San
Claus brings you to night and 20 TO bt
night early" So sublime is the faith
childhood that semi somnolent visi,
cfthe maternal nishtcap, or the pattern
spectacles peeriLg in at the door, arouf
no suspicion regarding the reality
Eanta Claus.
50 happy in city or country is Chri
mas with a houscful Of merry little Sol
be they children c: q. ndchildren. I
neeful chorus at early dawn, the tooti
Of horns (some relatives always o
musical instruments, peace 10 theirash
the beating of drums, and the wild v,
e each new toy is unearthed from
seocking (always papa's biggest), form
eoristmas psndemonium that no ch
over would forego. Perhaps in &C
nouae there is q solitary child, how ss
parents " 70 nsts IT, Christ