Year: 1876

He was very lonely man, this Gid
con Grindem, in spite of all his wealth.
Years ago he had married woman
much younger than himself, but such
woman as one meets but once in life
time, and having seen can never forget.
Had she lived, he might have been hap
pier and better but she had been dead
twelve years, and no other living being
had filled her place in the merchants
heart. She had left only one child, and
despite his coldness he had lavished
upon this little one q love only less
strong than that he had borne her
mother. AT eighteen this girl had mar
ried against his will poor clerk that he
had taken into his employ. He had
cast her off forever, and now her name
was never mentioned in his hOuse. The
refreshments by his side remained un-
touched, and the merchant sat with his
hands folded YEARLY, and his eyes fixed
absently on the fire-so still, so tranquil,
that one might have thought him asleep.
And as he sat there, through the storm,
and through the closed and curtained
windows of the room, came the sweet
tones Of the midnight chimes of Trinity.
The music of the bells filled all the air,
rising and falling with the wind. 1t was
glad and solemn song they sung and it
was glad and solemn tale they told for
they sang that the Christ-child was
born.


"Gideon Grindemp


The voice was so soft, and yet so dis
tinct and sweet, that it thrilled the mer-
chant to his inmost soul. Gideon
Grindem," the voice said, care you glad
that Christmas has come again?"


The voice came from the fire, and the
merchant glanced down at the hearth.


There, standing just before him was a
strange but beautiful figure. 1t seemed
like an angel, for its face was radiant
with purity and beauty; and its gar;
ments were of spotless white.


"Listen to me-" said the little figure,
softly, "I am Conscience, and l have
come to speak with you. We have been
strangers for long time, but l have
come back TO you again. You must hear
me tonight, for you can not drive me
away until morning; and o, if you are
wise, Gideon Grindem, do not drive me
away thenW


The merchant sat silent and trem-
bling. He knew he was powerless, and
could not take his eyes from the little
figure on the hearth. But it was little
no longer, for it grew in size every mo
ment, until it assumed gigantic form,
and mien so stern and terrible that the
merchant almost shrieked with terror as
he gazed at it.


"What do you want with me ?? he
gasped. 81 will show you" said the fig
ure, solemnly. "Come with meW


The merchant felt strong hand grasp
him by the shoulder, and the next mo-
ment he was borne through space with a
speed so rapid that it deprived him of
the ability to cry out. Suddenly there
was a pause, and he opened his eyes.
He stared in astonishment at the scene
before him.


1t was little, plainly furnished room.
Everything betokened contentment,
though at the same time an absence of
riches. A woman, neither young. or
old. sat by the fire, and at her feet knelt
a child, with his little hands folded in
PRAYER. The merchant gazed at the
scene in utter bewilderment. Then his
ewes grew misty, and great sob
swelled up from his heart. He had rec.
ognized the two-the boy was himself
and the woman was his mother. 1t IL
terrible thing, Gideon GriDdem," said
the voice of conscience, for a pa
rent to turn away q child"


The merchant shuddered. He was


thinking of his own. child, and how he


had turned from her prayer for mercy
} The figure laid its hand upon him and


drew him away. He knew that they
were now in New York again, and thai


they were hurrying through the city in


the midst of the storm. The figure lee
him up long flights of stairs, until finally
they entered a chamber, 80 wretchet
and mean, that the merchant shranl
back in disgust. A Pickering talloy


dip shed feeble light through the room
adding to its misery an hundred fold
) On low bed a man lay, wan and ema
ciated. A woman sat by the candle
, sewing busily, her pale, wan face seem
, ing even more ghastly by the uncertain
light; and on a low pallet two childre


Law asleep-for the while unconscious 9
, the suffering around them. AS he gaze
the merchant saw that, in spite of tn
: marks of care and suffering which
r bore, the woman's face was wonderful
{ like that of his dead wife. Ne wonder
for the woman was his daughter. A col
sweat stood on bis brow, and his hear
seemed 10 stop still. 1t was fearful I
stand thus and gaze on such dreadf'
scene.
Gideon Grindem groaned, and turnin


10 the figure, cried imploringly;