The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1895-12-21
, A 1TR1ILBY REAR1T.
TT is A MAD DECEMBER DAY


from the standpoint OF observation of
the imam in the tower" | am gazing
intently through a double window into
the street, few feet below, where the
wind, ever and anon, comes scurryine
round the corner, with n roar and a
force that sends the last relics OF de
parted autumn spinning before IL. II is
one OF those intensely dreary days OF all
the ycar--one OF the sort that sends men
OF my station into moods Of discon-
which is almost invariably n momentary
disgust for themselves and their SUR
roundings AS the twilight comes steal
ing upon me, the mothers, the sisters,
the brothers and fathers OF my neighbor-
= od, as | suppose them TO be, are
vArrying past my window, each OF whom
is ireightcd down with from one TO n
dozen parcels, the nature Of the contents
OF which is easy guessing, when one stops
TO consider that next Tuesday will be
Christmas.
"Wonder what I'll got Tor ChristmasP"
i think audibly, with n smile that CON
tains no merriment, as conclude a
mental canvas ofiny situation.
Possibly, as much as you deserve,
and as much AZ all miserable, misguided,
piping, old bachelors deserve" Is the
unconscious response to my own query.
"What can you expect?" ] continue in
an irritable way OF self-accusation.
"who ought to care for you Mt
Christmas time, when you care for no.
body the whole year round, but go from
your business TO the seclusion OF this
abandoned den as regularly as the clock
in the city hall tower tells the hour.
Ought anybody to care for you2 Can
anyone think oiyou? Did anybody ever
remember your
Aye, here is my defense. Memory
takes me swiftly back TO n happy cot
tagc home, be,ide the shining sea, where
Christmas without its attendant visit
Of Dear Old Saint Nick was thing !
never knew. It was in this far.off east
ern home that father, mother and baby
sister lived 10 make my boyhood days
- lone grand, sweet song" But the evil
llays cnme aso, and that father and
mother were, within few weeks OF one
another, waited TO n better md a
brighter worn. Little sister was taken
into the hour of distnnt relative and
installed irto the domestic circle OF an
aunt, with mn iron will and despoiic
mein. ThatI still owe this aunt OF mine
debt Of grstitude which will never be
enabled TO lepay, the refiection.oi my
riper years yields no doubt. but our
natures wen so wholly Incompatible an
increasing crstastc for my adopted home
soon developed into an uncomfortable
hatred. Il is not strange, therefore,
that southt freedom from these uncon-
genial boids. Az ] learned TO hate my
new abode learned to love the sen.
For houb hta time would stand ON
the beach and watch the white-capped,
heavipg IDsom OF the ocean, with only
one wish and TINT, that one, OF those
dove-likecrait that dotted the rugged
highway, here and there, against the
horizon, bore me. away from the place
where nothing but woundng recolec'
tions nov remained for me. The desire
developcl into action and on the morn
ing OF my fourteenth birthday shipped
.as cabin boy ON ireighter bound fol
the Orih,. Two yenrs later, returned
repontaht OF my waywardness and thor
oughly ,ured of my sen-charm. But my
aunt hed left her old abode and from
that day unto this, no trace oi her have
ever been able Co find. Together Will
all myuthcr known relatives she hnC
disappeared in the surging mass @
humanity, and | was, indeed, alone in q
cold aid nnfriendly world.
Wine these thoughts arc waTtoc
throulh my mind. | have unconsciousli
draw nearer TO the window ahd stan,
4 with i,y. forehead pressed against th'
pane. A female figure passes by
battling against the fierce onslaught o
the winter wind, and turning PARTIAL,
aroupd to stem an aggravated gust
dicclly opposite my window, she turn
her lace upward. have seen her pas
before, aud what pretty luce IL is
Now, marvel at my sudden fall iron
the dignity that years OF bachelor-hoo,
have stamped upon me. But again, an,
nsan the imnge Of that perfect form
those regular features and that roundc,
----fnce. the roses OF which take new nm
vigorous life from the frozen breath G
winter, flash through my mind.
Perhaps do not merit the scathin
rebukc | administered a lew moment
ago. Did ever stop.to inquire whcthe
or not was willing TO mend m
bachelor ways. should opportunit
present itself ia such figure and lace a
this?
Another day has passcd, ,.and again