The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1895-12-21
Seasonable Stories.
CHRISTMAS rs COMING.

How brilliantly the level winter sunshine
2lowed and sparkled along the snowy road
the genial Christmas morning. If every
leafiess tree that was in the woods had been
a New Year belle hung with diamonds.
they couldn' have scintillated more bright
" in the blue radiance of the purple cloud
less sky. while the corpes Of dark, mys
terious cedars. clinging together like solemn
old monks, tossed then taper crests at every
breath Of the wind. The very faces, rough
and ragged enough even in the golden
slmmer-tide had been touched by the en-
chanter wand. and looked as if they were
carved in glittering pearl, while here and
there clusters Of scarlet berries cleaned
through the network Of the old woods like
pendants Of fame And there was some
thing strangely harmonious with this sweet
rural landscape i'll the silvery twang Of the
old siagc-horn. waking all the echoes Of
the snowy hills and dying away among the
dusky-ccdarS, as the ponderous relic of
antique days rolled heavily ON the road.
..Oh. isn't that beautiful exclaimed
little Fannie Steward, leaning out Of the
stage-window to let the bracing breeze blow
her curls. .See that lovely slope of snow
up among the black tree stems Of yonder
4len-t looks like white velvet-and there
goes Il flock Of snow birds Q. | can
hardly breathe enough Of this exhilaratin@
air! Thank God for Christmas time,
The only other inside passenger-a merry
ous-looking old gentleman wrapped up TO
the nose in costly fus, uttered an indis-
tinct grunt Of dissent
Don YOU think it is Il delightful sea-
son. sir?' asked Fanny, modestly.
Very delightful, - returned the old
gentleman. sarcastically. Snow up to
your eye>-eyerythmg frozen stiff, blue
nosed boys bawling songs which they have
the assurance to call carols. through the
roads. and rheumatism and toothache in
every Gust Of wind!
Fanny could not help smiling Still, "
said she hesitating, Il think we ought to
be very thankful,
Il tell you what. young woman, said
her companion, Dramatically, when you
have lived to be as old as am-sixty two
this very Christmas day-you'll Il probably
discover that we haven many things to be
thankful for after all.
Fanny Steward was silent. She was
very thankful for the brightness Of that
Christmas morning and the blue smiling
heaven above. Yes, though she was only
a poor little dressmaker, and her father
worked for his daily bread, there was some
thing at her heart always warbling per-
petual psalm of gratitude. And the grim
misanthropy Of her chance companion was
an inscrutable riddle to her simple nature.
she veHtured 10 more remarks until the
stage emerged from d soft Of hollow in the
road, revealing brilliant landscape. with
a superb mansion towering up on the dis
tant hill, and cosy looking village nesting
near.
There it isl can see it through the
trees exclaimed Fanny ioyously, for
getting in her ecstacy the presence OF her
companion.
Seq WHAT
Ny fathers cottqge-there, beyond
the tail cluster of pine trees! He Is hr.
Melworth gardner. sir, and Mr.. Melworth
owns that tall house with the colonade OF
pillars on the hill They say he Is very
singular gentleman. sir-he is scarcely ever
at home
Shows his wisdom, | should say, re
marked the old gentleman.
1T is lovely place and cost q great
deal of money to build, pursued little
Fanny thoughtfully. "Oh, if were only
a. rich as Mr. Meiworth.
''Well, what would you do?
.'What wouldn' do? said the young
girl, her eyes sparkling and her cheeks
tiuged with varying color. Il would make
every one about me happy on this Christ
mas day | would send fifty dollars to
Mr.. Gray, the minister, who Is working
himself to death on a salary OF just nothing
at all would send present to poor Mr..
Uiooins and his wife. and