The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1895-12-20
AMBER GLASS.
A CHRISTMAS STORY.

Copyright, 1895, by American Press Associa-
tion.l
In Louisville met old Colonel Hablin,
End he urged me to go home with him.
my people are all off on visit, and
you know what il is for sociable old
fellow to be left alone, said he. land,
by the way, you may not know it, but
have one Of the most attractive places
in Kentucky, rambling old house, built
by my grandfather, and all that sort of
thing. Wait now before declining, for
I must mention a stronger inducement,
one that a gentleman can hardly with
stand-mint under amber colored glass.
Don Z quite catch that, do you? I'll ex-
plain, and You must pardon me if l ap-
pear to ramble little In Kentucky
during the latter part of the spring, all
of the summer and the first half of the
fall, clodhopper can live almost as
well as one of the bloods. And why? Be-
cause he can 60 along the spring branch
and gather mint, can hang about still
house until somebody gives him quart
of liquor to get rid of him, and then all
he has to do is to grab handful of
sugar, 60 away somewhere and live.
But during the off time, when the sharp
teeth of the frost has raked the earth, he
can't get the mint, and therefore can {
live completely. Now, 1 have suffered
from this incompleteness of living and
have at last provided against it. l have
mint dollhouse, and more than that,
the sun rays are mellowed through am
Der glass, and"- The old gentleman
snatched out a red bandanna handker-
chief and wiped his mouth. 'Have you
no handkerchief" he asked, noticing
that had not wiped my mouth. What
sort Of man are you getting to be? But
what do you say? Going with me?"
II am"
Upon my shoulder he affectionately
laid his hand, unsteady with emotion,
and looking straight into my eyes he
said: "This world is going to the devil
as fast as it can, and when / meet man
an interest in me, why, gad it moves
me, sir. Now I'll tell you what we'll
do" he added taking my arm and turn
ing me about. well go out there and
have an old fashioned southern Christ
mas. On my place are number of ne
groes that were born there, and to them
the revival of an old holiday memory
will be-well, hardly know what to
call it, but you shall see for yourself "
We went straightway to the railway
station, the old man talking necessarily
of his disappointment at the weakness
of Christmas in the north. let him
talk. 1t was like the babbling of an old
and dearly remembered stream whose
channel is worn deep and which holds
many tender recollection, many a rem
iniscent gurgle. had known him dur
ing many years. Once he was in the
state legislature, and l as newspaper
correspondent had reported his speeches.
/ liked him, took the kink out of his SEN
fences, made him say things TO please
his people, and he warmed toward me.
On the train 1 sat and watched him,
living in the past with him. An old
mans charm is to live in the past. To
be wholly of the present makes him too
worldly, lover of money, and greedy
old man is blight upon the face of the
earth. / sat and looked at this old man,
and thought of the days when his life
was lordly; when dusky hands clapped
in welcome at his return from school :;
when the music Of his hounds aroused
at dawn his sleepy neighbors; when
proudly he led to the altar the belle of
the neighborhood. 1t was easy to review
his life In a society forever gone his
place had been secure.
1t was dusk when we got off at sta
ton. A negro who had just lighted
lantern adjusted it as he came toward