Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1895-12-26
7HURMONT Frederick County, Maryland Thursday December 26 1885,

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had once been fashionable. You could
tell that from the houses-big, broad,
roomy, old fashioned brick residences
Of a bygone day, with quaint colonial
doorways, elaborately carved, the lintels
in many cases supported by the classic
Ionic or Doric columns effected by the
builders Of a century ago.
But their glory had departed. The
spirit Of decay had fallen upon them,
and the children Of those who built
them had moved to finer and more
modern homes.
But the Jenningses and the Kents
we're an exception. They had withstood
the general exodus and continued to
live in the house which had been their
family rooftree for nigh hundred
years. They were plain, quiet, conserv-
ative people, and not Of the "smart'
sort, like the gay, fashionable families
who had all moved away.
Here's Uncle Dick!' shouted the
boys as they grabbed his big travelling
bag almost before the hackman had
time to carry it into the hallway.
Hugs and kisses, were exchanged all
around, and his sister wept few sweet
memorial tears. He had grown so like
his father, she thought. All, if mother
could see him now-that mother whose
patient, loving face was pictured on
canvas in the quaint old fashioned
frame hanging Oh the parlor wall.
His nephew, Alex, handsome lad,
led him up to the same room in the old
fashioned house which he had occupied
when boy, furnished with the same
high backed rush seated chairs, and the
low bed, With tall, carved corner posts;
the old prints and knickknacks and
books And over the fireplace was pho
tograph Of Eleanor Kent!
He threw himself into q chair, over
come with emotion at the many memo
ries of his younger days that arose be-
fore him like ghosts from the past.
In the afternoon he went out with his
two eldest nephews, Alex and Sam, to
gee the shop windows, and when they
returned all three had their arms filed
with presents. He was very happy. II
some Of those married fellows in st.
Louis could see him now! The sense
Of loneliness which had haunted him
for years was gone, and yet-in
week he would be back again in that
quiet house of his IN st. Louis, with
no other occupant save the faithful
Sarah Burns!
It was Christmas eve. All the lights
were burning BRIGHTLY in the McCray
mansion Uncle Dick and the children
-he had never realized before what
good companions children were-had
been busy all afternoon decorating the
huge Christmas tree. Against evening
it was a glorious sight to behold. The
children had never been so happy. All
of them had gotten all unusually large
number of presents. Uncle Dick alone
had bought three and four each, even
the baby In the big sitting room the
presents were displayed on an old ma
hogany table that reminded you OF some
wild beast Of the forest when you gazed
down at the formidable looking claws
which served for its feet. But the table
could not contain them all, so several
chairs were placed on either side OF 1t to
hold the overflow exhibition
As the evening waned Uncle Dick and
Papa McCray lit their cigars and went
out for walk. They had been gone but
few minutes when there was ring at
the doorbell, and Eleanor Kent and her
aged mother entered, both bringing pres
ents for the children.
Although dressed very plainly, Flea
nor never looked handsomor. The II
years which had passed since her early
and only love affair had touched her
lightly. She was now 35, but looked
much younger.
She was great favorite with the
children, who called her Aunt Flea
nor" They showed her the tree, the
presents and then-"U Uncle Dicks
home" they said, watching her face to
see a reflection there Of their own de-
light at the return of one whom she had
no often told them about. But only
little nervous smile trembled on her lips
and died. And very soon afterward she
must return home. She must write the
names of her Sunday school scholars in
the pretty cheap books she had bought
for them and practice the offertory she
was to sing on the morrow, and, and
But the children would not hear of it.
They dragged her to the piano and
forced her to play for them as they sang
"Jolly Old st. Nicholas. They shout
ed the rollicking song with such lusty
chorus that old Mrs. Kent was afraid
they would awaken the baby, whose
wrath when angered was terrible, but
Mrs. McCray reassured her and begged
Eleanor to sing the offertory she was to
sing at st. Brides, ''While Shepherds
Watched Their Flocks by Night. But
Eleanor didn't know it without music.
Her hands strayed over the keys, max
ing little impromptu chords and ca
dences and then struck the prelude to
Tosti's Memories" " one of those songs
that play upon the human heart strings.
Many time when alone she sang 1t,
but it was not song for Christmas eve;
| it was too sad
AS Richard Jennings and his brother
in law re entered the house, the sound OF
her rich, sweet voice reached their ears.
"Who is singing?" asked Richard.
cts Eleanor Kent" was the reply.
Low and clear and sweet the words,
molten into music, reached their ears:
There is no note of all your songs of yore