The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-12-22
A REsURREcTED CHRISTMAS.


A REsURRECTED CHRISTMAS.
On one of those misty, gray eve
nings so common to December, GER
tain street corner was suddenly en-
livened by a gay whistle, boy, a
bundle of hand bills and a bucket of
paste. With the cold gaze Of the
electric eye upon him, the boy plas-
tered bill upon the tall wooden pole,
and then stepped back to gaze admir-
ingly on his work, and to give an ex-
ira dab or two at the loose edges
which thereupon clung to their sup
port in approved artistic style,
Three women were approaching
from different directions, and, think
ing to do good stroke of business for
his employer by attracting attention
to his advertisement, he whisted very
shrilly and quite off the key, as he
slowly picked up his pail to leave.
One old lady stopped and exclaim-
ed, impatiently:
eff you must whistle, why don't
you whistle in tuner"
The boy only laughed good-natur-
edly, and took himself off in haste,
but the two women approached ut
tering little expressions of surprise /;
for they were old friends, and at the
very moment of meeting each had
been thinking over bygone days, when
their lives were closely interviewer.
"Well, here we are," gayly ex-
claimed Estella three graces in un-
graceful attire Did you ever hear
such a fearful whistle as that boy
had? First he took me off my feet
and then 1 frightened him into find
ing his. Do see him rum" she add
ed, as the youth disappeared round a
corner.
"Are you going homer" she in
quired.
They simply answered: eyes,
and all turned to read the poster that
had seemed to draw them together
PROF. WENsEL, /:
Tuesday, December ID and Thurs:
day, December 16, on
PSYCHIC MEANING OF CHRISTMAS:
"Well !" they all exclaimed, what
does he mean by that p
''It seems to me easy enough, +"
said Penelope. cit is having the
spirit or soul of the season within.
l used to think of these things once,
but Christmas seems dead season
now. Funny, too" she laughed,
"when 1 have here under my arm IS
proof sheets of Atoms new Christ
mas story, which 1 am to correct this
very night"
"And l." said Estella, "never eel
ebrate the day now; though 1 am
teaching six new Christmas carols to
my pupils, and have an anthem in my
music roll to practice for Christmas
service in our little church. "
"And l." puffed Urania, "have
ten pounds of dried fruits for the
Christmas mince pies. 1t all goes
to those greedy boarders of mine, and
l am too tired to know what Christ
mas means in these days. 1t is a
dead anniversary and practical people
have outgrown it. "
A flare from the electric lamp sent
a light over the three keen, intelli-
gent old faces, and revealed three
hands clasped closely and sympathet-
ically. They were all we'll over 90,
and their faces bore marks of sorrow,
courage and well-fought battles.
Penelope and Urania were what
the world calls "old maids" glowing
friends would have another name
In youth Penelope had had family,
home, wealth and ease now all these
had passed from her. She was mere
ly book canvasser when "the firm"
required her services, or stenogra-
pher or proof-reader when that sort
of work pressed. Her ''home" was
back room in a shabby house, on a
dull street in the sleepy old city; her
only relative, brother, remained.
He, alas, was hopelessly insane; yet
the brave women supported him, al
ways spoke of him as 'my weak.
minded brother" visited him or
every holiday, and strove with love
and gifts to recall the poor wandering
mind. In this duty she never failed
remaining as loyalty true to him a:
to her young lover who had beer
drowned at sea As years ago.
Urania had been an only child
motherless from birth. Her noble
father had laid down his life for hi'
country on that terrible battlefield o.
Gettysburg, and, after mourning hin
! so sincerely many years (assisted by
numerous impecunious relatives), sh'
awakened to the fact that her money
was spent, her house mortgaged, ant
she was on the verge of ruin through
her "care and sympathy" She pluck
ed up courage, swept her house o
kinsfolk, and went practically int
the business at which she had playe'
too long. She was plump, rosy ant
motherly, with great soft hands,
tender heart and kindly spirit
great contrast to the pale, etherea
Penelope and the slight, nervous Es
tella, but her very dissimilarity wa:
an attraction to the others, their diff
ferent characteristics serving to draw
ont the best side of their natures.