Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-12-23
BESSIE'S CHRISTMAS !;
OR
A SAD LIFE MADE A HAPPY ONE.

n
It was the eve of Christmas, just such
Christmas as we have in mind when we
picture to ourselves perfect one. The
ground decked in dazzling whiteness, the
trees and shrSbbery hung with sparkling
crystals, the grand moon shining serenely,
and the little stars blinking and twinkling
in their most mischievous manner. All
day happy children were coasting and snow
balling, filing the air with the shouts of
delight; but as the darkness gathered, the
little ones scampered homewards to bang
up their stockings and wondered and talked
of what they hoped to find in them on the
morrow, "Merry Christmas" so dear to all
and especially to the loving, innocent hearts
of children.
AT the window of a fine house little girl
stood looking out. She was dressed in
black, and her face had a sad, wistful ex-
preston tears shown in her dark eyes,
trembled on the long lashes, and dropped
on her thia hands pressed nervously to-
gether. The children knew Bessie Irving
well, q little motherless child, too frail and
delicate to join much in their wild sports,
but loved by them all for her gentle ways.
She stood there in the twilight, like a little
sorrowing spirit, so frail and fair, her long
blonde hair tied with black ribbon, falling
over her shoulders, and her white face
pressed against the window pane. II shall
have no merry Christmas, like the other
children" she thought. "Father is so busy
he will not think about it, and Aunt Susan
says IL is all nonsense for girls as old as l
to hang up stockings and talk about Santa
Claus. But am only ten years old. She
has bought hymn book for me and she
says | must learn hymn every Sunday; it
has been lying on her table in her room
for week; there isn't picture in it. Oh /!
ifmy dear beautiful mamma were alive how
happy I would be! She used to have such
lovely Christmas secrets for me, and one
day, when I came home from school early,
l saw her making something bright
and pretty, and she jumped up and
pushed me out of the room and laughed
and covered my eyes with her soft hands,
and said it was Santa Claus workshop,
and l mustn't look And the tissue paper
used to rattle so Christmas eve, and every
body in the house had such fun. Mamma
always let me help fix the servants presents,
and 1 used to hide them in some odd place
to surprise them Christmas morning
Bridget said Mamma was born lady,
for sure,' and SO you were, my dear
mamma. Oh! am so lonely without youp
and the tears fel fast again. Poor Bessie,
it was hard indeed to pass from the tender,
loving care of a mother who almost idolized
her only child, into the hands Of Mr..
Irving's half sister. Aunt Susan was one
who might be called in cant phrase, can
excellent good woman" She was thorough
housekeeper and meant to, and believed
she did do her duty by the child under her
care, when she looked after her diet, and
kept her wardrobe in order. Her ideas
and principles were puritanical in the ex-
treme. Bessie was required to commit
whole chapters of the bible to memory, and
long hymns often kept the child in from the
fresh air and gay sports that other children
enjoyed, So many rounds of knitting
must be accomplised every day; SO many
words in the dictionary spelled. She be-
lieved in bringing children up by rule, and
utrict one at that. She was we'll meaning,
Vi not at all understand the c''ild's af-
a e, delicate mind ; her bodily wants
w..s a red for, but her heart was starv-
Mr.. IrFs ls & We gloomy and ms.
ancholy after tn 80 of his wife or was
growing better IL ndar I ber % ;nt,uercs y
he would say why sba taken awav
from me?" He immers( ;msa1f deen1v
in business, to drive, if pos his troubje
from his mind, and in his sel orrow did
not see the suffering in the~ of his
child, who was intelligent andS S;tive
beyond her years When Mr. Irving 80
home to tea that night he looked -
troubled and tired than usual. So BessN
who had dried her tears, and had deter
mined to be brave girl and comfort papa,
tried to be very pleasant and cheerful =
But when she stood by his chair to bid him
good night, and he kissed her absently, with
out looking up from his paper, she could not
repress a sigh, as she walked slowly out of
the room.
1t is pitiful to hear a child sigh. Mr.
Irving heard it, and, dropping his paper,
passed through. The sound set him to think
ing, and in his thoughts could not but con-
trast his pale, sad, quiet child with his rosy,
joyous, healthy daughter of two years ago.
1t dawned upon him then, for the first time,
that he had been neglecting the tender
heart committed to his charge, and as he
sat thinking with closed eyes the mothers
face seemed to look reproachfully at him.
Meanwhile Kathleen, a faithful servant
who had lived many years in the family,
was tucking Bessie into bed. "God bless
you, Miss Bessie" she said. CANCELS
watch over you and give you merry Christ
mas" Thank you, Kathie," replied the
child, ''but it doesn't seem like Christmas
any more now mammals gone" Kathleen's
kind heart was wrong as she kissed her
hastily and left the room. "What can the
child's father and aunt be thinking of ?'
she said to Bridget, the cook, as they sat
together in the kitchen that night. ''She
looks like wee faded flower. My heart
aches for her. Why don't they cuddle and
pet the young thing! A child needs brooding
the same as the chickens do" "The
wonder is that they DON'T" said Bridget
"Why, when l bake her little biscuits or
fry her doughnut boys, she is quite pleased
like and happy for hours afterward. It is
grieving she is for the mothers love, poor
child p Lowering their voices they talked
for while, and then looked very mysteri-
Gus. Kathleen put on her bonnet and shawl
and went out, while Bridget stoned raisins
for to-morrow's pies in a brisk and cheer
full manner.
Up stairs, in her pretty room, little Bes-
sie's cares were all forgotten in soft, child
like slumbers. Moonbeams flooded the
chamber with soft radiance and the good
God sent bright and happy dream to
cheer her heart. She felt the soft arms of her
mother enfolding her as away in dream
land they wandered together. The sweet
familiar voice sounded again in her
ears, singing the songs and rhymes of
her childhood. The bright smile beamed
upon Bessie even more fondly than
in the past. Fields of brilliant flowers
were spread out before the delighted gaze
of the child; and, as the perfumed zephyrs
swept over them, they nodded their heads,
as if bidding her welcome. Pretty birds
darted chirping and twittering from bush
to tree; but sweeter than song of birds was
the mothers voice to the happy child as
she spoke words of comfort and cheer
Peace stole into her young heart, and she
felt strong and comforted. *-* A
sunbeam shining on Bessie's pillow awoke
seeming to leave sweet melody and fra
GRANGE behind. ''Oh, it was lovely Christ
mas dream P' she cried, starting up in bed;
then her eyes opened wider as she looked
wonderingly around. Her little room was
all trimmed and festooned, with evergreen
wreaths hung in the windows, beside her
hoI vuh ta bxuitb