Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-24

cIear waters parted like liquid amber.
lnCo winch dreaming idler could stand
gazing by the hourg Don't you remsm.
Der the other fellows who used to come
out and watch for the pretty armies of the
girls schools? 1t was like a grand re-
view DAY very often. OF course they saw
US; knew we were Americans; and l am
sure we Yankee boys looked as we'll as the
Engnsh and German fellows who used to
De on the bridge also. Ah, we came pretty
near several duels with those foreign
chaps! That they should so much as dare
LOOK at our girls! Ours were the fairest
races IN those schools. The English girls
hao more color, hut they walkt d more like
oxen. There was some pretty Egyptian
misses In the school with my Dulcinea.
but such bright, clear and flashing good
looks as the American girls had We
ankee boys used to boast OF it. be-
lleye did not mention that | was in old
fierre L0mbard's boys school. Dear old
GENEVA, L salute thee! So does many an
other who reads these lines. BY the way,
boys, old Pierre is dead. He died last
year. l was in Heidelberg at the time
and went down on invitation.
Well, well. ltwas in old Geneva tbatl
lost my heart. | met Mary often later on
RS the family began to travel a couple of
years after her graduation; met at rail-
tier dignlhed father introduced me at
last, one day n Brussels. W e travelled TO
Paris together. | knew then that she
might some time love me il | behaved.
Sull there was never any ything in Galg-
nanrs about me. | candidly review my
lie this moment, and in all my continent
tai residence there was never ANYTHING
Deastly bad about me. 4 lone fellow in
the world, mere boy when my guardian
mr. h.,,,n -.
money, with lots OF health and no more
religious training than 1 had had--God
forgive me. I'll not reflect on the devil
why did think that Mary's Presby byterian
father might look further and fare worse
for son-ln-iaW. Still, was surprised,
you may believe, on their return 10 Bos-
ton and her coming out to receive a card.
But to my Christmas present. We had
got on the point. heaven bless her gracious
condescension, that felt free TO risk it.
1t must be rich, rare and very quiet.
There was nothing loud ln that circle.
And thai was always my taste, too, as
everybody knows. | think | never in my
whole existence on this mundane sphere
gave to any subject so much profound
thought and weary search of willing feet
and eyes. My happiness for life depended
upon 1t, then thought, and 1 think SO
still. L tried the best stores here; | ran
over to New York. plOdded up and down
stairs in sl0w-and-sure Philadelphia.
Exquisite, quiet rich, rare, COSTLY" l
kept repeating. Ii had had time | would
have cabled over commission, but | was
afraid of the steamer in its winter voy-
ages, you know. | was at my wits end. 1t
is astonishing how singularly cheap all
the Christmas presents are in our Amerl-
can shops. 1t is very difficult to spend a
| good round sum, sum anywhere near
what wealthy person wishes TO spend, a
| sum at all comparable with the heart Of
| the sivsr, not to speak OF the desert of the
| receiver. Il hear 10 said that poor people
always feel very poor at Christmas time
Singular, isn't 1t? Why, it is the gifts
that seem poor to me- You can't buy
anything hardly that Is worth buy
ing. You have to apologize. You
have to fill your arms up with 50
many things, like toy wagon at a chari.
| ty fair, in order to make any kind of an
exhibit of affection, My experience is
| among our set, that it is avery rare thing.
a present that makes any one laugh right
out or brings tears of joy, or even makes
| pretty languid eyes open wide. You try
| it. You can't do it! They know you are
rich and they expect a fine thing. But
| the fine things can't be found.
Well, in this state of mind-I am going
to tell it just as it transptred, for am tell
ing this at distance and can't hear you
| laugh or sneer-I threw myself down in
my room at the Fifth Avenue in New
York, on my way back to Boston. dis
gusted. 1t was bitter cold night, re-
member The very wind was frozen. The
electric light was frozen as IL beat against
the outside of my warm window panes. |
was tired enough to drop to sleep waiting
for dinner.