Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-03-26
Epcning Story
AN OLD DIARY
BY SUSAN cLAGETT
Copyright, 1917, by the Mcclure

Il was Christmas Eve and weston
was alive with gayety. From every
window In the old brick house the mel
low light of innumerable candles gl1m
mered out into the night, and soft
voices and light-hearted laughter min
gled with the vibrant notes of violin
as 1t scared above the deeper tones OF
the piano.
In my secluded room the music
reached me as turned the leaves OF
yellow, time-stained book. My own
name was written in furnished letters
upon the cover. The date was 1865
One hundred years before girlish
hand had traced the faded words, and
II, the great-great-grand niece and
namesake, glanced with tenderness at
the little story therein written.
1t was love-story. sweet and whole
some. The spelling and peculiar use
Of capital letters made 1t difficult to
read, but l soon accustomed myself to
the writing and my interest grew with
every word.
ut is a white Christmas" read,
"the first have ever known, and
have slipped away to look once more
upon the wonderful outside world. For
hours the snow has been coming down
In great flakes, covering the pansies,
the crocus and the hyacinth blooming
in the shelter of the box hedge. am
wearing cluster Of heartsease picked
by-no matter whom. Not even to
you, my diary, who knows my dearest
thoughts. can / whisper the happiness
that Is in my heart. But we picked
them together under the hedge, as the
snow was hiding them from sight, and
Charles-dear me I could not help it.
He so fills my thoughts that L have
thought for little else, and before me
is his beautiful miniature, his first
gift.
"'Tis pretty fancy-gift giving,
and how proud l will be to wear his
before our world. Yet tits strange
custom, that all young maids must
wear the miniature Of their betrothed
when they appear in public. do not
think maids more tickle than those
charming gentlemen who wear eternal
devotion upon their knees. but it's dis
graceful to be not wed before eight.
cen, and when love comes all the world
must know. IT'S full young to be a
wife, but Charles begs for an early
wedding day; yet know not-still-
perhaps
Christmas day. The slaves awak.
ened us at daybreak, their soft voices
ringing clear in the old songs SO dear
to them, and. shivering. l crept from
my warm bed into the clothes Nanny
had ready for me. There was a roar
ine fire In the dining room, and out.
side our people waited for Papa and
for me. 1t is good to be loved as they
love us. and twas pleasure to see
their black faces as my hand went into
my reticule or Papa's into his waist:
coat pocket. But none were so glad
as old Uncle Phillwhen he opened the
package that had come all the way
from England fo- him. 1t was fid
die. A beautiful, shining fiddle, that
Papa had ordered after hearing him
play on the long-necked gourd with
horsehair strings that he had made
In very Joy the old man danced hoe
down, with the tears streaming down
his wrinkled face. thought once he
would hug Papa, but instead he caught
his hand and thanked him over and
over again. He will play for US to
dance tonight.
Such day as it has been. knew
not had 80 many kinfolk. felt SO
sorry for the tired and hungry little
children that took them into the
upper hall. where Uncle Alec had
made a splendid fire. and they played
blind mans buff and hunt the slipper
until worn out. Then Charles told
them the drollest stories. He must
have been a mischievous boy. and he
certainly is good to look at. Jack Rog
ers also helped amuse the children
and I doubt not he, too, Is full of old
nick. The other night he caught pref
ty Lucy Keen under the nlistletoe. She
made q great to.do. but I'm sure she
liked 1t. Her betrothed did not, how
ever He glared and glared, and went
off In q corner and sulked.
December 26: There Is something
in the air that keeps us all a-QuiveY
with interest. The gentlemen are
grave and there II talk Of