The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1897-12-18

1t was Christmas eve, and the little
children OF long ago, who have long since
grown up and become old with the writer
and many have gone to try the reality OF
another world = were looking forward with
delight to the coming of Old Chris, just az
the little ones OF this Christmas are looking
fifty long years after
And by the way, hereby hangs heauti-
full little story. The salubrious winds were
sweeping from the northeast accompanied
by great white flakes of beautiful snow:
Filling the sky and earth below,
Over the house-tops, over the street,
Over the heads of the people you meet.
Mr.. and Mrs. Walton, for such was the
name OF the poor people mentioned above,
were prepari " to come to Elkton to Jay
out what little money they had for their
little ones to make Christmas as cheerful as
possible To be sure, mother had baked
the grand old pumpkin pies and lots OF big
ginger cakes and pop had killed old Pete,
the big speckled rooster, and he was lying
ready to be mixed with taters and crust for
the Christmas pot pie: but johnny and
Bonnie must each have jewsharp and
Betsy and Mary each doll, and the
youngest, little Ned, he was to put on
Christmas airs with tin horn.
The children had followed their parents
Al H., 10 rnaIuiIa Mptbar had
kissed little Ned and father had shaken his
finger at John and Ben, the meaning OF
which they very we'll knew. Betsey whis-
pered something in the ear OF her darling
mother, when smile and Eyes, dear, "
was returned and they vert gone.
By this time it had cleared off and the
sun had began to peep out at the five little
children by the wayside. Up the road and
coming in the direction toward Elkton,
was magnificent carriage, drawn by a
pair Of spirited horses which were driven
by well-dressed noachman. And, o see,
the other occupant of the splendid carriage,
sweet faced lady, reminding one OF the
blood washed saints already in Heaven.
She had but recently remov ed to that
neighborhood and the Waltons just knew
who she was when they saw her and nc
more. She was a middle-aged widow and
immensely wealthy. She had purchased
the magnificent mansion on the hill beyond
and her fertile fields and meadows stretched
for miles up and down the majestic Little
Elk creek
But shall | mention the name OF tina
lorious lady, for know that she is thi
ay with the white-robed throng in glory
ut rather than give that grand lady 1
ctitious name, l shall just whispe
real name, but only in whisper
1t was this, Mrs Butler Lyons.
She was devout Catholic, and we thinl
that it was through her instrumentalit,
that the little temple known as the Imma
culate Conception, was built. All! Man,
times the writer, when little barefoo
urchin watched her pass up and down thu
Blue Ball road on her beautiful milk-whit
steed "Paddy," followed by her grea
glossy black Newfoundland canine
"Mike"
don't know whether the good lady wal
Irish herself or not, but | do know tina
everything around her was Irish, for they
all had Irish names. The two pretty
match mares that drew her carriage wer,
Erin and Shamrock. But the most beauti
full horse that have ever seen was hei
noble saddle horse Patrick Henry, or as sht
called him Paddy" for short. He was Al