The record-union., 1895-12-28
A CHRISTMAS MEMORY.
written for the "Record- Union" by A. P.
HallA


crowding the memory with pleasant
thoughts of childhood and all the
sweet things belonging to that joyous
period, we sometimes linger over
other and soberer thoughts connected
with our lives, and also the Christmas
time, and not belonging to the days OF
childhood, but rather to the time
when we are entered in the race Of life
as men and women.
1t is of the latter time I have been
thinking, and as the usual story for the
1reside and for that particular time
must be forthcoming, 1 will endeavof
to arrange my thoughts and place
them before you, plain and unattrac-
tive though they may be, yet bearing
trust, the impress of truth.
The exact time of which I write you
must not know; and, indeed, you have
no right to ask; for it is your duty TO
listen attentively and not ask ques-
tions. If, however, you feel a real anXl-
ETY. in the matter, will condescend TO
tell you it is within the bounds of the
present century, and that some OF the
characters mentioned are not yet gray
headed women and patriarchs-put
where they are and what they are now
L
which everybody has, or thinks he has,
in disposing of the characters IN every
story he reads, or, as they put II, see
ing through the whole thing.
For years 1 had been a regular vis-
itor during the holidays at my frleno
Hale's, at Bausett, and the invita-
ton had come to me as usual on the
particular year Of which I write; but
from the tone of the letter which hau
received / more than suspected that
things were not pursuing their Wonteo
harmonious way, if, indeed, there was
not serious trouble.
when you come," they wrote, we
will explain what we have vaguely
limited at; and, although we feel we
shall be unable to make the time pass
as pleasantly to you as in past years,
still we promise to make 1T as agree
able to you as possible.
What more could 1 ask? And L was
the more anxious to go, as 1 hoped, IL
there was trouble, that l might De Oh
some assistance to them. On the Whole'
there was something mysterious to me,
and 1 wondered why-intimate as had
been in the family nothing had trans
pired before to create even suspicion
of anything wrong.
So pondered as to what the trouble
could be, for I was satisfied there was
trouble, and although 1 could only
speculate, did that with a will
The family circle consisted of six,
and was really made up Of two faml-
lies. Lawrence Hale, the head OF the
household, was a widower, somewhat
over 80 years of age, a plain man OF
Quiet disposition whom no one could
say he disliked and many liked He
was tall and slim with dark complex
ion and hazel eyes, fond of old friends
and not familiar with new ones, rather
REGULAR and headstrong in his manner
and independent and a little reckless
in his opinions. We had been warm
friends for many years, were old school
mates and chums, and I fancied that
50 far as he was concerned there could
be no mystery. He had two children,
a boy and girl, Ettie and Joe, Elite ut
tie less than and Joe less than years
of age This composed one branch OF
tie household. The other was composed
of, first, Mrs. Grayton, lady of 30. who
gracefully managed his household,
whose opinions everyone respected, and
whose quiet, firm manner and sound
Judgment made the machinery Of the
household move like the clock upon the
martel.
Next was Nelly, her daughter,
young lady on whom something more
than a score of years sat lightly, ana
whose sweet and kindly disposition
made her the envy Of all the young
ladies of the village. She was OF me-
dirm size, attractive form, graceful
easy carriage and a manner that
showed refinement, which was quite
in contrast with her surroundings in
the village. She had been educated at
Cne of the female seminaries in the
East. and being of a somewhat indie
pendent nature had engaged at teach
ing music. She had most lovable ma
ture. and without being beautiful was
what almost anyone would call love-
1y girl.
While visiting there I had often Won
dered how it was that my old
friend Lawrence could be associaed in
so many pleasant ways with her and
still be heart-whole. IncOrrigible old
bachelor as I was, I felt-although l
would not for a moment have dared to
own it-that if I was much in her COM
pany I should lose my heart in spite of
myself. and yet I had no means of
knowing definitely whether either cared
for the other, excepting in friendly
way. and vet I could not help suspect
ing that in some way these two had,
directly or indirectly, caused the
trouble in the household which my dear
old friend, Mrs. Grayton, had vaguely
3linted at.
The last of the number-the sixth
was a son of Mrs. Grayton's, a youth
of 20 or less, who presided at a mercan-
tile desk as bookkeeper. Bob was a
Jolly young fellow, kindly in disposi-
tion, yet like most young men Of his
age, thoughtless and easy going.
I am aware how tiresome all this is to
Won. but how is one to convey TO you a
correct idea of the situation without ex-
Dlaining it. 1 was to spend two weeks
at Hale's and in that time I felt sure
should be able to unravel all the mys-
ferry. The time soon came round, and
one cold. clear morning I set out on my
Journey. Everyone seemed in excellent
epirits. The stage-driver whistled and
the passengers chatted merrily as we
drove along. Now and then as we
passed some ranch and saw the plow-
man blowing in the newly-turned
furrow and saw the neat cot
aages and the vineyards and orch
ards surrounding them 1 could not help
thinking that the old song I had heard
in my boyhood was truer now than
when I was a farmers boy myself.
A farmers life is the life for me,
I own love il dearly.
And I fell to thinking of the different
occupations of men. Each believes
rOuno nthnr a r,none agreaa hle and nrnfit