Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1889-10-11

M {: e: !; e.: !: e: !: :: !: 6:
ter of one of hi
neighbors but was destined to have but
a short spell of connubial bliss, for his
wife died within two years ofthelr we'd
ding day, leaving him baby boy. Tho
baby hourished; was sent to school, to
college, finally entered the army. and
at the age of "a was ordered abroad for
two years and probably forever. His
father was now merry old fellow OF 1G
or thereabouts: and although he had
passed the allotted age OF man he strov"
20 carry on the pleasures and excesscr
in which he had delighted thirty year.
before.
1t was now near Christmas time, ant
as Captain Jack Helstead had beer
warned for foreign service on the 18th oi
January next, the squire was detef mined
to have the jolliest Christmas imagina.
bic.
He issued 100 invitations to friends
old and young, good percentage o.:
which we're accepted, ana huge prepara-
tions for the celebration of the grand
festival were begun.
Captain Jack Helstead, with half &
dozen brother officers, who were all, like
himself, ordered for foreign service, ar
lived on Christmas eve but as the bulk
of the guests were not expected un il
Christmas morning and the day follow
ingr
"Gentlemen," the squire cried, I'VE
have the joys of feast and wine. Ind can
freely indulge in our loudest an! mer-
riest jokes. The banquetlng hall sna
ring with our hilarity, and tomorrow.
the blessed day OF our Lords nativity,
shall be dedicated to gentler pleasure, e,
when the rooms and passages rustic with
the skirts of woman and echo to the
pusic Of her feet
This hayi1. D.en cordially responded
to by the guests, the squire prer ared
them for the great banquet ne had, in a
measure, so far as the magnificence
went. retained until the last moment a.
q surprise. The splendid dining-hal
was ahlaze with light, which fell upon
TIE glittering glass of the decanters and
other vessels in a shower of pearly
CLEANS.
And so the banquet began, and the
wine flowed, and the ceiling trembleC
before the continuous battery OF shouts
and laughter.
Gentlemen" shouted the squire,
SbIubBllub W MS lccL, II dIil du Olu IudH,
but in my veins flows the fire OF youth
Ny seventy-sixth Christmas eve l have
enjoyed more than any preceding, wi h
the brave form and face OF my son, Cap
tain Jack Helstead, before me. Here
to his health, long life and happiness.
May he be as good and jolly man az
his father, and live TO as ripe and honor
abe an age"
Thrquestionable toast was drunk with
buisterous mirrh, and Jacks bosom
friend, Lieu e. ant Wymark, rose to reply,
"At rs Our Hen;al host looks twenty
years younger and his wit is as spark
gng as the best wine his cellars contain.
10th of which We have this night par
taken Of freely. Here's to another
Christmas gathering-ay, and twenty OF
them at which Squire Helstead may pre-
side T.
my friends" Jack exclaimed sud
denly, fare you aware that our company
composed of the unlucky number OF
thirteen2 II the witches oracle is to be
believed, the same persons can never sit
down together at similar gathering,
and the one who leaves the table first or
last will be in the spirit land ere we can
meet agai'S"
"And Goa forbid it may be you, nv
boy" the squire said with emotion,
the thought just crossing him that his
son was shortly bound for active service.
81 have no wish to disparage the choice
of your superiors, but l think they might
have chosen another, who was not the
only son of his father.
And he was a widower," chimed in
Lieutenant Wymark, merrily. "Away
with gloomy forebodings, and let US
make compact, one and all of US, to
meet Captain Jack at banquet in this
same room upon the very first Christmae
eve he again spends in England"
"1t shall be 80" declared the squire.
SAY, be it twenty years hence, in the
body or the spirit. Every Christmas the
banquet shall be spread in anticipation
OF my sons return. Gentlemen, do ye
all agreet"
ave dor
"Then all stand up, and with clasped
hands repeat after me what shall say"
The entire company at once rose up,
and having formed circle by clasping
one another's hands, the old squire con.
tinued:
I'VE hereby solemnly swear to meet
again, either in the spirit or in the flesh,
on the first recurring Christmas eve upon
which Captain Jack Helstead returns
home from foreign service. let it be one
or fifty years hence, In the same hall
and to feast according to the custom OF
the place."
With the advent of Christmas day the
full complement of guests arrived, with
plenty of pretty girls, and then followed
filrtations and kisses, and dancing and
Skating, and the 18th. of jan when
Jack Helstead had to Join his regiment
The gay party broke up, and soon after
the young soldier and Lieut.. WymarE
were on their way to India. ~ fsf !
A severe engagement was reported be.
tween the British and the rebel tribes
whom they had been commissioned to
subjugate. and the terrible news came te
the old squire that his gallant son hae
been killed. That was the last that hit