St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1893-12-21
SeIrrteh Stnru.
THE CHRISTMAS ROSE.

mAUllS VI HIN WiHtSi' OHOW Hdu
been falling all day, and as night
approached, large flakes were Still
being driven hither and thther by
the furious wind, which howled and
roared in the chimneys, shook the
carefully closed windows, and died
away in the distance like the last.
despairing wall of a lost soul.
In one Of the most miserable
houses of wretched street, in the
worst quarter of the town,
woman by the dim light OF flicker
ing candle watched beside the sick
bed OF her last remaining child. She
was weeping bitterly, but strove to
stife her sobs for fear of disturbing
the 6tlul slumbers Of the sufferer
As the furious tempest shook the
dilapidated tenement, she trembled
as if she already felt The dread
presence of the Angel of Death.
No Christmas fagot blazed on
the miserable hearth, the happy
voices Of laughing children and kind
friends had for her long been stilled,
and the cold, sorrow and poverty
which reigned within seemed but
counterpart OF the desolation which
regned without. Behind the low
cred curtains OF the bed could be
heard from time to time the short
cough and labored breathing of the
child, who at last, suddenly awak-
ing, raised herself on her elbow,
and looked across the room, where,
as in vision, she again beheld the
Christmas trees of her earlier years,
with their accompaniment of tapers,
bon-bons, toys and golden stars,
cleaning amid the darkness OF that
sombre room. She was a young
girl OF twelve or fourteen years Of
age, and the sweet pale face, al
though in the last stage OF emacla-
ton, still retained traces of delicate
youthful beauty.
With her dying voice she still con-
tinued to talk OF the iete-days OF
long ago, when she was a rosy,
healthful little child, and her bro
theirs and sisters Eric, John, Anton,
Hilda and Bertha, crowded around
her with their pretty Christmas
offerings; when her father danced
her on his knee, and her mother sang
sweet lullabys by her cradle. Those
days seemed far away. Eric and
her father had persisted in ship
wreck then, one by one, the other:
had followed, till death had left be
hind only the grim sisters, sickness:
and misery, as the sole companion:
Of the widow and her child,
The vivid remembrance of pas
happiness had brought strange
light into Greta's eyes, and soor
these childish remembrances gave
place to hope. She spoke OF thu
spring which would bring back thu
birds and flowers. and in giving life
to all else would surely not entirel.
forget herself.
you know, mother, the docto
said that, when the roses came, m,
suderings would be over. Will tn
roses soon be in bloom ?"
II have seen some already" re
piled the mother; "the governor
wife and daughter had them in theil
hair when saw them get into tn
carriage, but those roses, think
only grow in the hothouses of thu
rich"
There was silence, broken only b.
Greta's short cough. All at once
carried away by one solitary txe'
idea, such as often haunts the brail
of the sick, she began again to tai
about the roses, to pine sorrowiull
for their possession, and by alter
nate beseeching, coaxing and con
handing she at last induced he
mother to go out in search of som
for her
The poor woman left the bedsid
possessed with the one desire
pacifying her child, and traverse
the streets with weary steps, debatln
i'll her mind what excuse she coul
make on her return for not havin
procured that which she felt was el
tirely beyond her reach. With boy
ed head and sorrowful heart 81
kept repeating to herself the wore
of the physician, so full of hope f'
Greta: AT the coming of the FIR
roses she would suffer no more
and well as she guessed the mour
iu meaning of the prophecy, s.
could not help being inspired for &
instant by that spirit of hope whi'
buoyed up her child. Quickening h
steps, she took the road as II
sudden inspiration towards t
governors mansion, hesitated
She reached the brilliantly light
mansion, but at last, taking COT
age, knocked timidly at the doc
which was Immediately opened by
manservant.
What do you want, my go'
woman?"
ITO speak to Madame Patterson
II cannot disturb Madame at su
an hour of the night"
"Oh! l implore you, let me
her!"
The servant repulsed the pc
mother, and was about to shut
Joo 80, Lar fore when MadaI