The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1919-12-12

| hoW III lne Olu DTlck mouse
d. the mellow light Of innumer
IN able candles gllmmered GU
into the night, and soft
voices and light-hearted laughter min
gled with the vibrant notes Of a 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. NV own
name was written in furnished letters
upon the cover. The date was 1865.
one hundred years before a girlish
hand ha0 traced the faded words.
and ]. the great-great-grandniece and
namesake, glanced with tenderness at
the little story therein written.
II was love story, sweet and whole
some. The spelling and peculiar use
OF capital letters made 1t difficult to
read, but | soon accustomed myself to
the writing and my interest grew with
every word.
1T is a white Christmas, the first
have ever known, and | have slipped
away to look once more upon the won
derful outside world. For hours the
snow has been coming down in great
flakes, covering the pansies, the crocus
and the hyacinths blooming in the shell
ter OF the box hedge. l am wearing
a 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 to-
gether under the hedge, as the snow
was hiding them from sight, and
Charles-dear me! could not help 1t.
lie so fills my thoughts that l have
thought for little else, and before me
is his beautiful miniature, his first gift.
lis pretty fancy-gift giving and
how proud | will be TO wear his be-
fore our world. Yet It's 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 swear eter-
nal devotion upon their knees. but It's
dlsgraceful to be not wed before eight
cen, and when love comes all the world
must know. IT'S full young to be
wife, but Charles begs for an early
wedding day; yet know not-still-
perhaps
christmas Jay. The slaves awak-
ened US at daybreak. their soft voices
ringing clear in the old songs so dear
to them, and, shiverlng, | crept from
my warm bed into the clothes Nanny
had ready for me. There was a roar
Ing fire in the dining room, and out
side our people waited for papa and
Tor me. Il is good to be loved as they
owe us, and twas d pleasure to see
heir black faces as my hand went into
ny reticule to papa's into his waist
'oat pocket. But none were so glad
Is old Uncle Phil when he opened the
package that had come all the way
rom England for him. II was a I'D.
lie. A beautiful, shining fiddle. that
,apa had ordered after hearing him
'lay on the long-necked gourd with
lorsehair strings that he had made.
n very JOY the old man danced hoe
Iown, with the tears streaming down !
lis wrinkled face. ! thought once he ,
would hug papa. but instead he caught
liz hand and thanked him over snd
yer again. He will play for us to
ance tonight.
"Such a day as II has been. knew
OF had so many kinfolk. | felt SO :
orry for the tired and hungry little
hildren that | took them into the up-
er hall. where Uncle Alec had made
splendid. fire. and they played blind
lan's bun and hunt the slipper until :
'orn out. Then Charles told them the
rollest stories. He must have been
mIschievous boy. and he certainly
good to look at. Jack Rogers also
elped amuse the children, and doubt
ot he, too, Is full of old nick.
December 26: There Is something .
the air that keeps us all aquIyer .
It'll interest. The gentlemen are grave \
I'd there is talk Of war. In one OF :,
e towns the people carried a HACK :,
FIN through the streets to show the !,
ng they despised his commands .,
'out the stamp uct. But we young "
TX still make merry. Yet my heart
filed with fear. What IL there m
ould he war. and Charles-l N
Il told him Of my lack Of courage. IL
d he but laughed and pInched nv m
eek and took me In his arms, as II n
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