The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-12-23

10 knecl before their parents ara ask
their blessing.
Yes. Us. tlat is 50. said NJ N1ll-
combe. 1t is the Old. the Very old
hahitude.'
.NVcll. its mighty different here. ro
marked Mr.. Sanders. I'm tins state an
section even The half-grown Children give
their parents a hlcssin out any Gay il
the wear. an. they are 50 superior to them
! that raised en- ,I:at they seem to sit
along mighty .ycil Wioul a blessin' of
any kind. B"t that's a gray hoss of an
ether color. This is a case whar We can't
hang up stockin's S. an even bags is bar
| red. one OF tie presents We'll haNc the
honor TO give TIE U lady las GOT -
many sharp ends and corners that i. can't
DO showed into anything losSn a hogs
head. Iayin' no ho2shcad, We'll have TO
stand it mp by the tree.
And SO the matter vas arranged. That
afternoon The tree, a lusty young holly,
with a rank growth of foliage. was
brought IN from TIE woods and concealed
in the carria2e-housc. The next day
there were various mysterious consulta-
| lions going on. Miss Johns was With
| Nan. and if she observed anything out Of
the ordinary She save no sign.
But the dav before Christmas she could
hardly fail TO note that something OK
~traordinary was on foot. Nan was not
visible, and when Miss Johns would play
on the piano She found tie parlor door
locked, and. pausinG 4 moment, she
heard EufAed and mysterious sounds
within. For a secOnd-oh, it was tn"
brietest momcnt-a sharp pang OF loneli-
,.occ Tor s1-ls IT loo IO11C1Nol seized and
| took possession Of her; and then, in a
flash, she remembered her pleasant sur
rouadines and all that had been done
! to make her happy.
There were other things she remember
ed, too-things that brought a heightened
color to her face, and caused her scnsi-
| tive lips 20 CULVER. She told herself that
though she ought to be happy. she was
not happy at all. she wanted 10 so
! away. but burst not. oh, there were
times wnen a wild and frightened heart
was Tutoring ii chat innocent bosom
especially When Randolph DorrinGton's
step was heard on the ~GraVclled walk.
She turned away from the parlor door.
Ii there was nothing else She could do.
she could finish a piece of Iace.sho VAS
making; 50 she took her work and SGT
out Of doors in the pleasant sunshine
Nan, WHO had been set to watch all Of
Zephcrinc's movements cave a sigh OF re-
lief. Thank goodness she cried.
Nov | can 90 into tile parlcr without
climbing IN at the window
Christmas morni8z 1,g~. 81 right aua
beautiful.
There was not a cloud in the SKY or d
hint Ct frost in The cir, The m~ocIinG-
birds We're singing i'll the orchard, and
the blua-iays We're vigorously ending a
gray squirrel in one Of the big oaks. An
early breakfast was the rule at shady
Dale, and Christmas morning was no
exception. The negroes were ~crowdinG
around the back door, ready to cry out,
christmas gift" to all who came in
sight. Then Sarah CIopton made her ap-
pcarance, and the negroes were soon in
possession of the present intended FOR
them; 2Ld net one was forgotten.
Following this came the justly famous
Christmas tree. Mr.. Sanders throw open
the door of the parlor. The room pre-
scented a very beautiful appearance. The
heavy red curtains had boon drawn to-
Scther to exclude the light Of day. Tho
illumination came from tho six Dis can-
dlcsticks that had done duty in the Clop-
ton family for many generations. The
Christmas tree. also. bore a burden Of
small candles attached to its bOughs, and
was furthermore loaded with packages
of various shapes and sizes. 1t made a
very brave show. indeed. 1t was placed
at one crd of the large room, being flank
cd on either side by cLstains Which com
p~!etoIy concealed the corners.
From behind one of these curtains
came Peter Nalicombe, who said that
everything was ready. Then, turning to
Miss Johns. he said in French: MAIDEN
o~iselle, will YOU please play for US
one of the song YOU heard when a child.
one that your good father taught p
Zenherine hesitated. her hands cIaspcd
together. But Why" she asked; and
then, without waiting for an answer. she
Went to the piano, drew a deep breath
and began a lifting melody that her
father had composed for his violin. II
was Very beautiful: but few among those
who We're listening heard It to the end.
The curtains behind the Christmas tree
slowly parted, a2d q stranger made his
appearance. He moved toward the piano,
smiling His hair was white as snow.
but his face was that Of a man in the
prime Of life. His features wore at once
line and strong, and his eyes were bril-
liant.
"Oh, bow beautiful" exclaimed the
impElsiFe Nan Zcphcrinc thought she
WAS enrapturcd by the melody. but Nan
Was no longer listening to the piano.
For some reason or other which hc
never could explain to himself Randolph
Dorrin5ton stepped forward and took the
stranger hy The hand and led him nearer
tho piano.
rs ilaNian Dion listened to his own
music. PLAYED by the daughter who Rad
pech all III all to him, he broke down;
Inc tears began to roll down his face.
tie tumble aWkwardly for his handker-
chief, saying: Il beg YOU pardon. Tha
oos my lii girl, That ces nv liz chl1,
| have seen her, oh, not for manv ? lone
time
When Lcphcrjae turned around tho