The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1889-12-27

young centlptues, tnerc was q steamy
smell Of soap and OF scorching linen and
OF evergreen in the air; and old Nurse
Piggins added the last touch OF comfort
by grooming a coy. cheerful. canty
Christmas song through her nose.
And Il was az the door OF this room
that Miss Nellie stood with the white
bearded 81. Nicholas. gazing in at the
homely scene with shining eyes; for the
little lonely woman thought she had
never looked on any thing more bcauti-
full. And when they were discovered
lurking in the shadow. ald when the
entire elan swoopcd down on them wish
a cry Of santa Claus and Mrs. Santa
Claus. Hooray," and when the little
hands clung to her. and tho confding
little arms stole about her neck. and the
baby lips pressed her failed cheek. and
the lovely young eyes looked
fondly into hers. which were bright
now with something like the brightness
OF tears, Oh, then was the supreme mo-
ment Of Miss Nellie's life,
| Even in the happy future. when the
little woman. no longer a lonely old
maid sitting in the round-liddcd win.
dow Of the clearinghouse looking down
al other peoples happiness, but a little
wife with serene eyes, Watching at that
window where the nursery fire winked
and flickcrcd, hedgcd in with little
arms. and surrounded bya constellation
Of little heads, and beset with little
voices-evcn then this Christmas Eve
was never eclipsed or dimmed OF its lus-
ter; but shone on along the path Of her
peaceful life like the pure star that
shone in the East over the cradle OF
Child.
What. didn't tell you how they Ike pt
Christmas Day at the clearinghouse?
How all the individuals got up on that
day OF goodwill and opened their re-
spcctive doors gingerly to take in their
boots. and found that unwit;ingly they
had boon following the good old German
custom and had exposed themselves TO
the weakness OF getting gift. each in
his boot. OF. in the case OF the ladies. to
having it tied to the handle Of their hot
water pitchers; and how they suspected
an impecunious little woman in the
other bedroom; and how they came one
by one in their independent. individual
fashion to the Christmas dinner. and
were coaxed into smile by the twink
ling bits OF holly Christmas holly--at
their plates; and surprised into laugh /
at the magnificent proportions OF the
Christmas turkey, and actually plunged
int unheard-of hilarity when the plum
pudding came on; and how by special
invitation they came shyly into the
parlor after the Christmas dinner was
over. and found it transformed into q
bower Of spicy-sccnted greens, and
blushing in the light OF monster Of
"Yule log" blazing and suffering
away on the hearth like good fellow;
and how they suspected s'accrtain some
body again lbut never suspected who
had helped her in her cheerful deeds:
and how there was sprig Of mistletoc
on the middle chandelier, which was
the cause Of more mirth and
many tactics and military ma
neuvcrs on the part OF tho
Major. and much blushing entirely ir-
respective OF the fire--on the part OF the
ladies'; and how Miss Nellie sat 1t the
angling old piano and played an old
fashioned jigging tune IN an odd. old
fashioned way. while "all hands took
partners for the Virginia recl--thc iras-
:ible editor leading of gcntcelly with
he old lady in the false front. and the
INDECENT young clerk prancing after
With the pretty type-writer-girl. and the
couple siding amicably
rand in hand down the middle and back
gain. and the Major bringing up styl-
silly with the bouncing landlady and
,utting in more pigeon wings and fancy
lourishes to the square inch than any
Mortal who ever stepped out to the tune
4 Pop Goes the WEASEL" What. did !
lot tell you all this?
Well-a-day. the Christmas ire Is burn
ng low. and the lights arc out in the
reat doublc-house. and the sounds OF
pertinent are hushcd. and the day
hat dear day Of peace on earth good
ill toward mems over. dead and 4
uricd with the dead bast; bus wct !
here was . blaze kindlcd that hight .
hat'll not burn out so soon, and lights /.
hat'll brighten the way for many long
ay. and sounds Of mcrrinsent thatll 70
choing on through years to ccme-car~
wing onward the refrain Of old Nurse
iggins' song F.
Without toe door let Sorrow lie,
And II, for cold. II hap 20 dit. 3
Wei buryt IN ChriStmas pie, =
A~4XA 49,