Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-12-24

q shipwreck. But tue ooy no"'ou
ashore, with the curl clenched last
IN his hand. A foreign shore it
was-strange sights and sounds
but he would stay there, and come
home rich to Alice. Then there
was a wedding. Alice was the
bride-fairera and sweeter than ever.
But the boy she had parted from
did not stand beside her. He was
living fathoms deep-"all on board
perIsbedr She did not know, with
her curl on his heart, he worked
and waited in a foreign land.
Two great, round tears fell down
the bronzed cheeks upon the bronz'
cd hands. Bachelor Rogers started
to his feet, muttered, dts there
vet" and began to walk up and
down. elbow thick the snow falls J
and tonight is ChrisU'has ENe'
"Every Christmas I get the dole
fuls :" exclaimed he. "But it won't
do. I'll write to my friends up the
street, and tomorrow we'll have a
regular OLD bachelors Christmas
party.
"lIy Friends Il shall, OF course
expect you TO take dinner with me
Tomorrow. Christmas day six
o'clock, sharp. koGEkS'
"Ring, sir ~ SAID a stalwart ser
vantman, opening the door, and
letting a stream of yellow light in
to the red radiance of the room,
chasing the shadows into the cor
ners. Blessed genii of the freight!
We are dearer than ever on Christ
mas Eve
"John, take this note and leave
it block above, third house from the
corner. Shut the door"
John only lifted an eyebrow at
the quick yet broken tone, quite
unlike the mellow ca!l2lneee ee..sissszssF tt-h
his master gave orders. For all
the RIBS and hard thumps Bache-
lor Rogers had got in his life could-
MT knock the sweetness out of his
temper. nor the mellOg ring out OF
his voice. John was new to his
place-.had never, in fact, "taken
ordersr-been his town boss" as
he phrased it, till now; but said
below stairs that a man might be
Bachelor Rogers servant Gall the
davs of his life, and never feel It,
John took the note and went,
closing the door behind him; and
the Christmas Eve shadows all
came back again, gliding to and
, fro; old memories came with them
a soft touch fell on Bachelor Rog-
, ers' hair; a tender, clinging palm
slipped in and ont of his, and again
, the cry of "Alice~ startled the ST.
lence. John set his teeth when he
got outside, and walked briskly,
for it was nipping cold.
"TBlock above, third house from
the corner 'Taint quite close
I. enough directions for a fellow,
and John, drawing the note from
> his pocket, stopped under the cor
; uer lamp.post to read the address
|, blank whiteness, nothing more
: "Whew! :" said John, "spose he for
got the direction. Well, III trust
to my wits; won't go back and
bother him, for | see he's got d
mood. And when a man like hin
gets a mood on to him, better leave
: him alone" John took a view
then marched up the stoop OF III
tie brown cottage. The door open
, ing, showed as trim a vision OF
servant-maid as one might expec
/, to find nywhere-demure-eyed
smooth.haired, touch of coQuetr!
breaking forth in a wicked litti'
apron, braided at the corners
"For your folks, my dear"
, "Oh!7 ignoring the dear. "Wil
YOU walk in and wait for an an
swer? 2"
"With pleasure quOth John.
He had not expected to wait 10
an answer. But then, nobody
surprised at surprises on Christina
eve! John walked into the hal
and servant-maid into the parlor-
a small room, very plain, also,
fire burned brightly; but it wa
> under a wooden mantle. a lad
= sat there netting a pair of scarl'
. shoes, just small enough an
dainty enough for a child, with
=. fower.soft face, that lay fast aslee
. on the rug beside her, her hea
- resting on a great Angola cat tn
, was purring away with all its Nigh
~ "Well, Jennyp
m "a note, ma'am, for sour folks
G. the young man what brought
It said it was and he's waiting
~ answer.
"Take him down in the kitche
Jenny, and let him get warm"
Jenny vanished.
. "My missus says you're to cor
b" down in she kitchen and get war;
:. slr.'
20 \ very saucy "sir" that last wo
70 y, was, for the coquetry that lurk
," in Jenny's wicked little apron, WI
y its braided corners, had dictated
- $50 your names Jenny, is itT
" elbow did You knowf7
81 guessed it,"
-" "HOw ~
w "Ohl Jennies alwal,s wea
g." : ,.,'a - and los smo,