The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-12-25
A Christmas Vigncttc
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By A. P. Taylor.

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| the Roof Garden, where the melodies
| OF Hawaii nei would be sung and play
ed by dusky singing boys, music that
haunted the ear ever afterwards and
caused the feet to become merry in
the waltz and deux temps. And so
he addressed dainty little notes of in
vitation to Marie; to Grace, so tall
and 1.-THE and golden haired; to Stella,
so merry and pretty; to Allie, petite
and such splendid dancer; to Edna,
favorite among all; and few more.
Then there was TOD, just blossom
ing into a newspaper poet; Chris, Alma,
Harry, cold Dave''-well, it was the
"erowd.'' They were stamped and
addressed, merely, city" Of course,
eventually they would turn up in the
Dead Letter Office, but that did not
matter, as long as they were sent.
At o'clock the following after
closed and the lights burning in near
by room, but not in the Christmas
tree room, Hardness in evening dress
lighted the candles on the tree A
small buttons assisted him in this
operation, his face aglow with anticipa-
ton. Gradually the tree became
afiame with the Pickering of dozens
of candles and at length the pleasant
task was finished. Hardness surveyed
the tree from distance and it pleased
him. "Just like the one at Ford 81
he said aloud. eyes, sir responded
buttons dutifully. Hardness bent
an approving glance on the youngster.
Now, young man, bring in those
other packages, commanded Hardness.
Buttons brought in from the hall
way many other packages. Hardness
opened them and lay their contents on
the table. They were the dance favors,
tiny silk parasols, swagger- sticks tied
with gay ribbons, little silk flags and
bonbon boxes. How the "crowd'
would grow merry over the pretty
ihCy HCiO JuoI AAhO thOoO
given at Ford IS that night.
Now, Buttons, stand ready and
usher the guests in Buttons went |
out into the hall, and returning quick
ly and finging the door open wide, !
he bowed in some imaginary persons.
'"Ah, it s Marie and Too, the first to
arrive, and doubly welcome; and there 8
Alma and Edna, and Stella and Harry; |
all the old crowd, come i'm
And so the old "crowd' gathered |
around that Christmas tree,
and for each Hardness had a present.
Each box was opened and its contents
shown and discussed-mostly by Hank
ness and Buttons, who entered into the
spirit of the occasion in a manner
which gained for him Hardness ever
lasting gratitude. Time flew, and |
as host, did everything pos
sible to make the occasion a memorable |
one. 1t was. At last he sunk into a
reverie. Sweet strains of music, Ha-
waiian folk-song, came stealing down
to him from the garden-like Roof |
Garden 1t was a waltz and his
thoughts went backward over the |
years. He saw the brilliant ballroom at |
Ford s and the beautifully dressed |
throng of women. He saw the crowd -
there and all were dancing. He saw |
himself Waiting with Marie, sweet |
All, if it could only last. 1t |
struck a pang in his heart for he |
realized since then that Marie and |
he had become parted as time swung |
on. She-well, she married another, |
and newell he had drifted about |
the world, and he knew not now where
she was.
He opened his eyes and saw the
tree again, and he realized once more
his lonesomeness in the world, how
utter stranger he was even in Homo
lulu when Christmas-tide came, for he |
was far, far from the good old |
crowd Then it was happiness, and !
now loneliness-even though the world !
seemed merry in gay Honolulu.