The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-22
The Holly.

Christmas is coming, And 10 the chill
drcn Christmas always seems 10 come as
something rare. They cannot count up
many i'm their lives; and to them II seems
but fitting that the world itself should
wear a different face at such festive
time. But some of the children enjoy the
mince pies. the glittering trees, and pretty
presents, the puddings, and all the rest
of il, only by proxy, as IL were. They
can see them. and hear of them; but alb
solute possession must be for others more
fortunate than they.
In the city of York a carriage was
waiting at a shop door 1t was a very
handsome carriage; 'all bay horses drew
it. and tail servant waited near The
shop was one Of those where all kinds Of
fancy articles are sold and it's windows
were gay with decoration, bright with
the glow of color AMI the glitter Of gild-
ing Close TO the pllte-glass stood an old
man and a child. The man leaned as II
weary against the frame work of the
window: IL was easy to see that he cared
nothing for the show within-it was only
TO please the boy that he fingered there
Eut ne glanced with interest at cne car
riqge and horses, and touched his hat as
a lady. accompanied by two little girls,
came ont Of the shop.
"Grandfather, who Is it?' asked the
bow gazing after the carriage as II drove
away.
THE lady Of Roveden Hall. She has
come TO buy Christmas-boxes for her
young folks, / guess.
"Ahw
The monosyllable had long-drawn
sigh-like sound on the boys lips. He
was thinking how glorious IL must be 10
live at Roveden Hall, and 10 possess
mother like that: a mother who could
nurchase a selection Of those beautiful
thnigs in the window. Poor little Tom
Dimond pushed his cold fingers deeper
into the pockets of his threadbare coat.
and turned to give a farewell look at the
fae.ipations behind the plate-Slass.
Come. Tom"
Tom nodded. Then he reluctantly with
drew his gaze from the window. and walk
ed on beside his grandfather.
Tom Dimond was the eldest OF three
children. who lived with their father ana
stepmother in dark and narrow street
in the old part Of the city Their own
mother had been dead about eighteen
months. and their father, more Tor the
childrens sake than his own he said,
had married again. But the new wire
was very young: sharp of face and sharp
Of voice. She was harsh TO the children.
especially 10 Tom, who was old enough
IN remember his own mother with pass
tomato love, and TO contrast her gentle
memory very unfavorably with the new
state of things in his home. After school
hours. and on Saturdays and Sundays,
il was Toms chief consolation to steal
away 10 his grandfather's
"Grandfather" was capital company
Tom thought-worth score OF the lads
with whom he might have played mar
hlcs in the streets. And erandfather's
small room seemed 10 Tom decidedly
pleasant place.
''Grandfather's' name was William Pot
ter. lie had lived in Nottingham In his
youth. and worked In the great lace fac
tories there. Even yet he made his liv-
ing by the lace.
He bought parcels OF 'oddments'
of edgings and trimmings; damaged
width of lace and blonde. curtains, old
I'm fashion or frayed at edges. And OF
these he made caps. and collarettes, which
he sold to his neighbors' wives and
daughters Some OF his very best and
most tasty" things went 10 miliiners
shops in out-of-the-way city corners.
He could earn quite enough for himself;
but he did wish sometimes that he had
spare shilling or two for his dear dead
daughters little ones. He knew thaf
things went rather hardly with them.