The Portland daily press., 1886-02-17
OUR FOREIGN LETTER.
Moving Under Difficulties How
Christmas Day was Spent-Cinde-
relIa and Christmas Pantomin1es at
Crystal Palace.


On bn6 morning Oh Oec6inDtr l4Jn we ndQ
some expressmen come at an early hour to
take our luggage, when a warrant was thrust
in our faces which forbade us to remove our
trunks. At first we were stunned; and find
ing it impossible to make any amicable set
Element, and that we were fairly in the grip
of the poor debtor law, our patriarch flew
out of the house to seek some friendly adj
vice in the choice of a solicitor We knew
now what lay before us and realized that our
prosecutors appreciated strangers diff
Guilty in securing anybody's help the day be-
fore Christmas, or during the rest of the
week, when the stiffness in business circles
is deeper than that of any holy day. After
the pater familias had departed, his better
half, supposed no objection would be made
to the removal of her nurses personal effects
and package of manuscripts belonging to
an English clergyman, the labor of whose
life was bound up in these writings. there
fore she yentured to have them placed upon
the hand-cart, when they were ordered back,
and she was told she had already committed
an illegal act in allowing the nurse and chill
dFen to take their dollies and hoops to their
new home. As your correspondent had neither
blS lOSdA huOWlcuSo VI LuuSSoA"A
to resist the combined force of the three
junior Bounces, who supported their mother,
she submitted to this arrogant uSurpation OF
rights and courtesies, and quletly sat down
to keep guard over her goods and chattels
During the day she had ample time for re-
Election and speculation as to the probability
of her gathering her little ones under her
wing at night. The nurse came once during
| the dav and reported the children crying and
| imagining all sorts of horribles that had hap
pened to papa, either in Jail or some dark
room with trap doors and sliding walls; and
that they were sure mamma was lying sense
less with chloroform. Toward night nature
asserted her claims for sustenance under
this affection; but there seemed no antidote
for her hunger, as spies were peeping in at
the window and guarding the door against
any exit of valuables. About supper time
kindly-faced lad was seen passing who
quickly responded to a tap on the window
and accepted commission to spend six
pence at pastry-cook's. He soon returned
with fourteen blessed, brown bouncing Bath
buns, part of which were devoured with
relish, and the rest kept for the midnight
watch. When hunger was appeased the
matron then and there vowed to give Bath
buns an honored place in her Christmas
menu in all years to come, should she ever
again keep Christmas in Christian America.
AS the shades of night deepened; and your
friend grew weary of her loneliness, there
came to her tender memories of many Christ
mas ewes spent in filling little stockings with
goodies, in tying up all manner OF mysteri-
GUS parcels, and of tucking up the little bun
dies of down in bed, and kissing them hur-
ried good night to finish before midnight ST.
Nick's glad surprises; but on this Christmas
eve, in foreign land, bed time had come,
and six of your respectable citizens had nel-
Their nightgown nor toothbrush. While the
mother was picturing this sad contrast, one
of the deserted children rushed into the
house to learn the cause of his parents long
absence, determined to defend her with his
youthful muscle. At sight of his mothers
forlorn aspect, seated by few dying embers,
he burst into tears, and could only be COM
forted by the thought that God would not
forsake us if we were truly his children.
The little fellow was resolved not to leave
his mother again at any cost of sleep or dam
ger, and cuddled closer and closer to her
side as the clock on the mantel licked louder
and louder, striking the late hours with sol
emn tone. While this ominous cloud OF
doubt settled heavily upon them the door
opened and the triumphant and defiant face
of their natural protector appeared in the
doorway, Both sprang to greet him saying,
"What are we to do? Why? Can we?" and
so on when he said, resolutely, ''Pick up
sn%1
as possible will manage the rest" With
out waiting for one more word we obeyed.
and hurried breathless to the other children.
What a scene! The little things had already
begun to feel the horrors of the Babes in
the Woods" Nobody could talk fast enough
or stop to hear what anybody said.
After a while the father appeared and re-
lated his days labors. After walking seven
or eight miles, being misdirected, and hav-
ing been baffled at every turn by the rush of
Christmas preparations, he had found
friendly solicitor, who told him the warrant
was fraudulent instrument and the whole
proceeding illegal. On presenting a letter
from the solicitor to our oppressor she quailed
at sight of his name, being well-known
member of the Queens council, as title and
knock down" arguments are the two most
effectual weapons in subduing wrong doors
in this land. She agreed to release our bag
gage, but her son used the most abusive
language, and when he was commanded to
hold his peace or take the consequences he
declared "You have made technical as
sault upon me, you have touched my body
with your finger; but unfortunately have
no witnesses" The scene was so ludicrous
it lost its power to terrify, and after while
our friend left with full consent to take his
property. Our pater familias despatched
men for the luggage while he was engaged
in completing further arrangements for his
BARNS Christmas When the men failed to
return in due time, the mother grew impa-
tient, and being sure of having English law
on her side, she made bold to start without
the fathers support for the scene of conflict
On arriving she was told by Bounce himself
thatthe male proprietor must appear in per-
son to claim his property. Turning to the
waiting porters she said Take these trunks
from the house." They obeyed and no re-
sistance was offered. Late that night the
mother of your young citizens might have
been seen marching as vanguard behind
three Englishmen of balmy breaths along the
streets of London, who meant to keep Christ
mas on the fees of this unexpected job.
When half way up steep hill the boss of
this expedition coolly stopped his team in
the gutter in front of drinking saloon, say
ing, "We must take a moment for breath,
and will overtake you on the brow of the
hill" mot so" unused the owner of the
boxes and bundles, my gowns and chill
dren's frocks shall not be entrusted to the
mercy of London crowd" Imagine New
England matron posing herself with great
dignity behind hand-cart, while these truly
English men pass around their pewter pints
of beer, and with that extreme precision of
speech with which half tipsy man always
speaks, to prove he is not drunk, they drink
each others health; wish a merry Christmas
to all their friends, bless their Queen, and
strike up a lively tune as they help each 9TH
er in the most loving manner I'D the hill