The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-20

doorways, deliberately carved, the lintels
In many cases supported by the classic
Ionic or Doric columns effected by the
builders Of 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
were an exception. They had withstood
the general exodus and continued to
live in the house which had been their
family rooftree for nigh a 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 Dickp' 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 on 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 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 ont with his
two eldest nephews, Alex and Sam, to
see the shop windows, and when they
returned all three had their arms filled
with presents. He was very happy. II
some of those married fellows in st.
Louis could see him now! Tho sense
of loneliness which had haunted him
for years was gone, and yet--in a
week he would be back again in that
quiet house of his in st. Louis, with
no other occupant save the faithful
Sarah Burns
1t 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 q glorious sight 10 behold. The
children had never been so happy. All
of them had gotten an 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 it to
hold the overflow exhibition.
AS the evening waned Uncle Dick aud
Papa McCray lit their cigars and went
out for walk. They had been gone but
few minutes when there was a 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 handsomer The IL
years which had passed since her early
and only love affair had touched her
lightly. She was now 85, 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 Uncle Dicks
home," they said watching her face to
see reflection there Of their own de-
light at the return of one whom she had
SO 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 tho
names of her Sunday school scholars in
the pretty, cheap books she had bought
for them and practice the offertory she
was 10 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 10
sing at st. Brides, "Whilo 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 it.
but il was not a song for Christmas eve;
il was too sad.
As Richard Jennings and his brother
in-law re-entered the house, the sound Of
...l. .l.ol q lsos..