Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-12-25

SanOr. the baby. She's little anger!
The street where Richard Jennings
home was. where ne was born and where
his married sister lived, had once been
fashionable. You could tell that ~6m
the houses-big, broad, roomy, old-fash
Toned brick residences Of a byg0ne day,
with quaint colonial dOorways, elabOr-
ately carved, the lintels IN many cases
| supported by the classic Ionic or Dor!c
columns affected 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 had built
| them had moved TO finer and more mod
ern homes.
But the Jennings and the Kents were
al exception. They had withstood the
general exodus and continued TO 1--we in
the house which had been their family
rO0f-rree for nigh 100 years. They were
plain, quiet, conservative people, and not
Of the smart" sort, like the gay, fash
ionable families who had all moved
away.
Here's Uncle Dick 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 a few sweet
memorial tears. He had grown so Ike
his father she thought. All. if moth
err could see aim n0w-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
MIN up 10 tle same room in the old
fashioned house which he had occupied
when a boy, furnished with the same
h-Sn-oacked rush-ssated chairs, and the
low bed, with tall. carved corner posts;
the OLD prints and kntch-knacks and
books. And over the fireplace was
photograph of Eleanor Kent.
lie threw himself into chair. over
come with emotion at the many memo
rles OF ais Younger days that arose be-
lore him like ghosts from the pas.
III the afternoon he went out with his
TWO eldest nepheWS. Alex and Sam to
see inc shop windows. and when they re-
turned all three had their arms filled
Win presents. He was very happy. If
some Oh those married fellows in ST
LOUIS could see nm now! The 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 oocr-
pant save the faithful Sarah Burns.
1t was Christmas eve. All the lights
were burning brightly in the McCray
mansion. Uncle Dick and the children
ne mad never realized before what
goOd companions children were-had
Deen busy all afternoon decorating the
huge Christmas tree. Against evening
II was a glorious sight to behold. The
children had never been SO happv. All
Oh 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
hOgahy 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 IL to hold the overflow exhibit
ton.
As the evening waned Uncle Dick
and Papa McCray lit their cigars and
went out for a walk. They had besn'
gone but few minutes when there was
ring at the door bell, and Eleanor
Kent and her aged mother entered
both bringing presents for the children.
Although dressed very plainly, Flea
nor never looked handsomer. The
seventeen years which had passed since
her first and only love affair had touch
ed her lightly. She was now 80, but
looked much younger.
She was q great favOrite with the
children. who called her Aunt Flea
nor. They showed her the tree. the
presents and then-"UnCle Dicks
home they said, watching her face TO
see a reelection of their own delight at
the return Of one whom she had so
often told them about. But only a lit
tie nervous smile trembled on her lips
and died. And very soon afterward
she must return home. She must write
the names OF her Sunday School schol-
airs in the pretty, cheap books she had
bought for them and practice the offer
tory she was going 10 sing on the NOR
row, 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 a
lusty chorus that old Mrs Kent was
afraid they would awaken the baby
whose wrath when angered was terri
bic. but Mrs. McCray treasured her and
begged Eleanor to sing the offertory
she was to sing at ST. Brides while
Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by
Night" But Eleanor did not know it
without music. Her hands strayed
over the keys, making little imprOmptu
chords and cadences, and then struck
the prelude TO TOsti's Memories one
of those songs that play upon the hui
man heart strings. Many time when
alone she sang it. but it was not.a song
for Christmas eve: it was too sad.
AS Richard Jennings and his broth
er-in-law re-entered the house, the
sound of her rich, sweet voice reached
their ears.
who is singing?' asked Richard.
Its Eleanor Kent was the reply.
Low and clear and sweet the words,
molten into music reached their ears.
There is no note of all your songs of
yore
That does not speak to me of you once
more.
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