The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1892-12-22

New York.
Baby Marshall was in her grandmoth~
er's la and smiling brightly in her face
Katr.ne piled the table with hot grid
die cakes, fragrant tea, sweet butter ard
golden honey.
Farther and farther the stage carried
the wanderer from his old home.
Christmas bells ringing over the LEND!
Christmas sunshine glinting the far
reaching carpet of snow, and picturesque
tree boughs hung with icy diamonds.
In the churches music and song swelling
out on the clear, f.osty air.
Unto us q son Is born,
Unto Us a King is given,
Christ the Lord.
Old Mrs. Marshall always walked to
church Christmas morning, and as she
listened to the sweet tide of song her
head bent lowly down and prayer
went up from the poor old mothers soul:
Lord. I have waited so long. Let ME
see my boys face again before diei"
In that moment the church clock
chimed 70 meridian.
In that moment, as she recalled after
ward, peace spread its white wings above
her, and an angel voice seemed to whis>
per, "All is we'll" When she returned
the family had assembled for the Christ
mas dinner.
There was Rube, who had a good farm
in the ighlands-Rube, the steady go
ing-a broad shouldered, sturdy Saxon.
with his pretty, dark eyed wife, dressed
in a new black silk with real lace col
lar and cuffs; Marianne, the belle of the
family, and the Youngest, lass of eight
cen, blonde, debonalr and roguish, with
her good looking fance lowering beside
her, the son of well to do farmer in
the vicinity, whose daughter Marianne
had just been visiting for a few days.
There, too, was Alfred, the doctor,
portly, we'll meaning man, and little of
a dandy in his dress, as became physl-
clan and bachelor popular among the
invalid ladies of Westminster.
The deacon trudged in from his own
meeting house, where minister and dea>
con had been holding a private session
of two hours over the backsliding OF
some poor soul predoomed according to
their belief to damnation. There was a
general handshaking of father and kiss
ing of mother. The deacon did not be-
lieve in kissing or INDUCING in the pro-
fame luxury of o smile on the Sabbath
day, but Christmas, even according to
his creed, was made for rejoicing.
Among all the family that day a queen
had been enthroned-the waif who had
arrived the night before. A big box had
come for her by Sam Dolan, the carrier,
and it's contents showed that the wild
Texan rover had not spared expense on
his daughter. Gay in blue silk and lace
and ribbons, the little thing tossed her
curls and beamed delightedly, first on
one, then on another, conscious of being
the object of eyerybody's admiration.
At last she cuddlad mp in her grand
mothers arms and fell softly asleep.
Poor grandma! She felt repaid for those
years of waiting aud WEAKNESS as she
Graded the little ones head on her
breast and brushed her pale face against
the fluffy, silken hair. Just as every
body grew keenly hungry Katrine rang
forth welcome peal from the dinner
bell.
After the deacon's grace what chorus
of praises went up! Was there ever such
delicious, fat, brown turkey as mott er's?
Whoever made such clear jelly? And the
tiny pig-roasted whole-with the apple
in its mouth! And the mince pies, and
whole pitchers OF russell cider, ice coId
The perfumes OF Araby the blest arose
from the banquet.
But every feast must have it's end.
The day lowered as evening came on;
gusty clouds chased each other across
the sky, and Rube, full! to repetion,
pushed back his chair and said he must
be ''gettin up his team pretty soon, as
he'd promised his wife they'd stay at her
mothers, seven miles farther up, for the
night Just at this moment Katrine,
who had gone to the well for pither of
fresh water, looked in at the door and
beckoned mysteriously to old Mrs. Mar
shall, which caused her to make excuse,
and leaving the room to seek the spot to
which the girl pointed.
In the cleaning, beside the old "moss
covered bucket that hing in the we'll, ;"
stood a tall, stalwart man, who, as his
L j LIZ.
tain, held out his arms.
''Mother oh, mother!'' he said with
hoarse sob in his voice.
With such a cry as only a mother
could understand, the poor fragile crea-
ture threw herself upon the broad, stur
dy bosom of the man before her-her lost
child of so many years. What prayers,
what silent tears, what longings of heart
had drained his mothers life of strength
Cor his sake.
''Mother, told you l had lived an
honest life."
willie, do you think I did not feel
hat to be sop
"Well, mean to say that / am asham
I'd to face no one; but when | went away
shat day expected never to return until
my baby was a young woman. l wan
.iered down to the city and felt lonelier
amid all those strange faces than would
On leagues of prairie with not a living
thing in sight. I heard the bells of old
:,rinity Ginning and pealing, and just
because was SO lonesome I turned into
The church. had not been in such
place for years. The music lifted me
right out of myself, mother, and as l
thought of the old home [ bowed my
head and said a prayer, the first for
many year, that might return there
ard find ,uelcana I will alwaxs