The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1886-12-25
Inc calmness and peace was only ~.

P"ienb however. An observer would
nave noticed that Herr Van Merk start
Gu at moments, walked hastily to the
LOOT and listened, returning only to re-
peat his watchfulness; and the mother
would now and then gaze at her children
ana SILVER. Anxious thoughts were in
their breasts, for neither knew but the
morning sun might shine on smoking
ruins and deserted firesides.
The burgher's house stood near the
gate OF St. John, q little behind the
ramparts, and was one of the highest in
the city. More than once during the
progress of the bombardment, cannon
pals had struck the roof, doing some
damage. In the fourth story there was
n OF those great windows which
many Dutch houses still have, and
through which, by means of a pulley
ana cord, provisions and merchandise
are raised to the top. The window
looked out upon the ramparts, and
above them over the country. That
night one could have seen only the froz.
en- mere of HARLEM, the snowy fields
M the white tents of the Spaniards
pitched along the river Spaarne.
The children were still looking at the
old family Bible, and talking bravely of
wars and heroes, when, an hour later,
the father arose. put on his hat and
cloak, and went forth upon the street.
tie was one of the officers of the night,
and 1t was one Of the hours to perform
a round. As he opened the door he
said to his wife: 1.-THE Prince has ex-
allied us to be vigilant, but neither you
nor the children have the charge of
guarding HARLEM. Rest will do you
good"
1--WE are in no haste tonight; we
could not sleep if we RETIRED" answered
the mother with a singular look.
Some two hours afterwards the
burgher returned in company with Cap
tain Karl. They made quite a tramp
ling RS they entered and threw off their
heavy cloaks.
is all well?' asked the other Van
Merk, anxiously.
$50 far as we can tell replied the
burgher. THE Spaniards are silent,
and their encampment lies in dark
ness"
"There lisa cold, keen air. observed
Captain Karl, stamping his feet, ''and
the night is of pitchy darkness. I half
fear something is a%raiss, but can not
tell what. If there should be a ruse-"
1--WE have done all We could" said
Van Merk. "We'vc done our duty.
What! up yet at midnight, children?"
sitting down and taking Gertrude, the
youngest, on his knee.
"Ycs. we have been talking about
Luther's tree" answered Max. Next
year captain Karl has promised us we
shall have one"
"Next year, did I say? Suppose that
l should say this year instead'"
20, captain Karl!'
"Follow me and see. Come. host
and hostess, this joy is for us all"
How the children danced and shouted!
They understood at last. That mar
velous tree of which they had heard and
which they had scarcely dared hoped to
see the next year, they were going to
see now. Up and up the long stairs
they went to the fourth story. A door
opened into the great room. and in the
center there was the Christmas tree
wonderfully decorated, brilliantly H.
Illuminated. The large window was
screened by shutters. and in front of it
stood half a dozen armed soldiers.
These men, at the instigation Of their
captain, had prepared the tree during
the early hours Of the night, and hung
upon its branches or laid at its roots
what captain Karl had designed for each
of them.
Great was the excitement and the re-
joicing. The children laughed and
cried by turns, and the older folks
joined them. Joy always awakens sad
ness; and they thought of the evils en-
dured and the many yet to come, of the
departed friends who might have been
there to participate in the pleasures of
the hour if wal had not cut them off.
The tree, TO some of those stern SOL
diers, seemed almost as if to spring
from the hearts of their slain comrades.
But joy predomlnated, and as the pres
ents were distributed by Captain Karl,
each one receiving some pretty or val
liable gift with an appropriate thought
or sentiment from their friend, they all
felt that they were truly brethren, low
- ..s:A.l e.. xo,,;Iy TLo fo,u ~o