Newspapers / The Alamance Gleaner (Graham, … / Dec. 24, 1885, edition 1 / Page 1
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A C" ) I ; ML iAMANGE VttC.XL GRAHAM, N. C., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24,-1885. NO. 46. 2TR V.'f" J? VISITOR. "tJtotoa Courier. :0U 8 There goet-ttwSell I A visitor, I gnrt,, ' And I'm rI.1it ud hTii't tiroo tl frf, Jl'in 1 Mra4iwkpi from Kmu the wy ; What put U n her hd to call to-daf'"! 2 . To sehflM.4Mi nee that' all, no doubt; That W(natjnnliiln5 but a gi-boojt.'' ' ' X bate bar.supaMlUoat airs. lfr- ' . That horrid girl U'br'.ngtng her up lair;? TU Mr. Oauhx t docUre.1 why tlili la quite a fWaiira; I am aure. . (.V kli, ) So kind of you fifiU-'tis qalts a tie'ajjj. let u.jomoyjijrnjjr shawl pray, t ike i aoat We're all upscbthut morning, it la tr4, -VutwSiikliiiif4 a test fir jotf.1 3 Pray, don'jjrlrjjrtogft-there 1 no need, i, ( I'm Tery glad you've called I am, indeed.;. :.;': v!, 11 ' ' V" TOTOfOF CHRISTMAS AS' ! There tiad-heverrjeforo beenrquSte .:' such 'a Wirtlflp M that. Not in Perry- ville. " Away back in November (n be gun to get ready for Christmas. It froze the millpond before any snow cumq-fsr- tk finest kind of skating. Theiftr blew off all the snow that fell and left the face of the pond lirtei the Krraf pWKWtrtate grass in the show wiudrot1McMuuu's jewelry! (state. : It stlyctt so"Until it was all skated into ; jipider-webjCwIth figure 8' and . great X'-, Jim Dedftke -said that the first tiling" fellow did when he weot on to that pTftdvas to sit down. ; . Tljanwr.jttfrms came along pneTaf " ter another, elejmntly, instead of rueb lug it, aadfhaleighing was laid on; a "few incheAiit "time, just as it should lie, so thirt ait the roads were in first rata vis''tif)t)rder. ) tt t BoggHiT1( harness man, said that he sold moruToaThi during" that Duoembcr than ever before in a whole yearv,You couldrWFwnTre, up without hiring a jingle," .'fl'rt- With iliBintor, Christmas ; was sure to oma- People said so. , fjot a : . soul in all ttHHval'.ey bad a doubt of it - exceXrfcButtyVpferouse. Hedid'notsay great deaf about it except to t Puns, and at Pu'ni had a bone in his mouth ' ' at the time tlieWw is no reply) made. "You see.Puus," said Batty, ?il can't coma-to you, for you're a dog. U can't - -' come f ootii'e? , and the buliy ami me, for we've ply balf enough to eaMiow, It can't cotrle to father, for hoWbeon - gone ur&oji&tuias since lastsusamer. It caarftsemim to Grandfather titariu. Yoit anhliBefc,liiiu iu the viilago.tliis WoAifrg-: ; v,;;, f Tho g. TTlilingry blue eyes of Ifatty Perou4alaed the erprcssion c(.;qnict unyieldlnjfrf le which some anple Mid Ida tuoi her hrul. They i were a child's 3EWt theywcre in ib habit of scciug gwlit dot. ThroUgli them winie reinnrkatile things were liji. $h ' ' 'Wliile "g Hw.ito his ra nd, nndH Fas ; ) jiwi so v 111 lila ears. lie hadhot; seen any CliiotwuwSo the lace of(i?nndfa liier JjtrftWcti9' hiul anyefher piB of eyae in 3 CTryville. Jtm Deuike had . aiti thi(t 0agm'&Jm that amotiat, of fmst in! if : was IBgood thing to 'lruve nround in July but it was - low imicli . ny4imeliIteVhe butternuts began to full. 'I'hcfS ws not one grown Bp per ' son in Ptirjv9te who had not made ' the reiie,i'k.that Jim talked to irtuh. - A Iktie'white a(ver- his onvprstf4ii with Jirfi.Tft-yVsat by the cradht-Tind was ovMitiullv deep study,' There was a tti iji Ie uook store near : hiih f and that and puaa and the bahfteWtS ' his only comtiuny, for bis mother - was " over m'tlid vfllujre doing oino'sfplaln-f-'' Mwipgoihtfcedoctor's wire, ant i)tr know IhRfrilteuloctor's biU ugainst'Jhftr 1 would Be' a yory long one. , Thre 'Was : a small iiarlor iu frontof the kitchen, ancfe- bedmom adjoining thnt. buvt when tuaootilage planned itself it had decided uot to have any more rooms to use up urnjture for people who hardly , iiaa an j .. v. g -,f V; .vas eating his dinner a full hour before tho right time. . There was : a wonderful-slice of cold meat bo . tweVntiie twft pieces of bread. " Ir Was notfeveYy flay that-such a dinner was left wbi lie could get at it, aud the - lgln ao I autell had been too lduch for -hira. !4WkjConly six years pld.and - "lind .1oleaMied to wlthstaud uncoui- ; v in oh taaiptattrjns. - ,- - . ... "I doo't believe the baby will ry no- - til an. m,"ae aaitl, gravely. "Mother; ' ahe'U t at home pretty soon aft er that. She",; . t- bring any Christmas with lier." Ji-n Deiyke, ha said it wouldn't ' be here ;i to-morrow, anyhow. He . - doesn't now -what's going to ftappeu to-morr -wr- Kobody knew as much as that." ' JiuiirjTyiftve takenthe general pub lic opinion for a guide, or he may have - cvnsulUxl the ulmanac. At all events, ha wasAWthat moment standing in . front ot fciia shoe shop with a pair of jtkates ft tiH hand, lie was a tat .rosy -.. fncecr.b. ick-t yed youngster of fburtaen, ' with a large mouth. Whetwver bis , eyes bea toaDorkle and dance it was ajign t "his mouth was about ' to . opeu. 'They 'were dancing now, as Grandfather -Starin came nMrching ' atilflyand icily up the street.' 8uid, Jim, with what was an uncommon so ' Jemuity pf voice : i . . . "Squire?1? " . "Well t What is it ? 8peak dtit." '"nicl-tyou know that to-morrow w I be UirisfnaH it it got here ?" "Whxf it ? What do yoi maan?" "Well; you doo't look as if you did. I USVi Batty Pt-rouse, tbia moruiii" that yoh'd iiwrmr have one." .'. "Yon Impudent young rascal !". ' - Jim Deuike. do1ged away out of the . reach T;4be uplifted cane, and the aiiire iVed on in silent but bitterly ' oiiuiid ' ii;y. . His yon ng tonoen tor turned ia the opposite direction, re- ' mark i it z : .!.!..-'. you Merry Christmas. It's coming to inflwow." -4i -i'": i . i ; ; ' The bland faee of the-one physician the Villnge oontuined since the bank ruptcy and death-Of Butty's father, btuined very "benevolently: as! lie re sponded : ' ' ' '-, : ' 'JI'wish 'you Merry Christmas, James. The same ta your father and your mother, and the whole family." "One thing I am glad of, doctor." m'Wtiat is that, James V' . 'I 'mot vtittlo Butty Perouso this ntoniiiig.' He said bis mother had al most worked out your bill, - He said she said slie could earn something to eat, tiled, if the skirts tilted.'? "Htunph 1 ' Good-day, James,' I do dnclAre !'. I must eieak tui my wife uhotit this." Exactly," mustered Jim D nlke, as he aguiu walked on. ,"3Iaybe that's' a Christmas pi-osfent for hiin. I appose I'm about the worst boy in the whole ViHugc, but I'm goiug to be liberal with Whlltl'Ve got.1' t' J ; ut:' i.i' i He was pretty nearly at his own gate when a serious but vory ploasant voice called by name, and ha said to himself: ' "He'sour minister. ! . I won't be saucy to him. He's a real good fellow-" 8 Then h answered, cheerily : v ' "How d'ye do, Mr. Knox ?" "Pretty , well, James. I hope you will havoa Werry Christmas. ' ou ft- I've, given him a Christmas rc.. ' more n b& Riven aav- lope it'll stick into him jigMin.t t.?P esn't care cent if they atarvo, iU Jr. Perouse was me irood a uiim , s be . . - A few rod- further on, Jim's eyes be-1. gnu io (innce agnin. , . , . ; , "Good moruing, Dr. Siuilif. Wuh -'Hope ho. , It it comes." , i ' ' "If it comes? Won't it? 'Have y forgotten what it meant ?;'.". ' - .','No, I haveu!t forgotten. , But then it doesn't come to some folk. I met tytyle. Batty Perouse this morning, and he said-bis mother suid that the'r Christmas ha4 come to them already. AH they' were going lo hav.", ?, 'yiiy what did she tnean ?" . ''Batty said that she said it was in the cradle, where .it should be, and Iherp wouldn't be any other kind for them;. - ,;-, ; " "I, understand. 1. Good morning, James; Biggest sermon f.vn had in a long time, I must think about that." - "Weil," remarked Jim, to himself," if he understood it, he beats me. Bat ty seemed to have so line kind of a no tion, though. -Guess I'd better try him again.. It's about the,baby,.somehow." Then he wild lie would ask h is mot It er, ami his chance for it came at the diuner table. . It Buiprjsed him a little, she hud so much too much to .say, but before she g.t ' through with ' hia bis father-had a coughing spell. ' Ho was not sutferinu from a cold cither.' At the end -af it lie said, in a husky voice : .j'1' .' I'll rt James, you go oyer uie. uui, aner dinner and cut a sled-load of ever greens." h'H "Why; father, .we've euough now to set up a Sunday-scooi celnbratiou " "Doas I tell yoik' i Bring a good load right to the home. I'm goiug to see about gome things."-' i ; Then he got up aud put on I is hai and overcoat, and went otf iulo the Vil lage. " ,ii-i.--f !': ' : :; Butty Perouse waiched. the taby faithfully utitil jt woke up and crowed, ami he'gave it the Jsoktle "of milk before it harttitne to cry." ,.(,? sf "Yott needn't let it ichoke jmi,' h said. '"Mother said it would choke her ifshetfnmk any of it.' Wlmt 1 dr"uk for breakfast didn't f.itoke mo. Uucss she wasn't very hungry." Chihlrcn whp grow old too soon only grow Old in spots, and. all. the rest of tliern stays young., B.itiy was old about some things, and pot about, some otli rr. r When' Ms molliur came home, in the middle oi tho vafternoon, and said he might go of for a playpell, he and Puns went right along, just as if they had a slod orVfomethiue to play with. He therefore did not hear his mother tell the baby,, so cheerfully : " ''I'm irlad there s oho ifood man left Th Perryviller What a blunder I made about Dr. Smiles and Ins wife." Matters in the village hftd been go ingTI.'lit atong, but 'Batty knew no more about these than about his moth er's conversation with the baby. He had pot heard- Mr. Knox repeating, here and there, his saying about Christ mas and ilia cranie. He di'l uot know that when Grandfather Stariu met Dr. Smiles he bad been assured by the doc tor that uo charge luul beeu made by him airalnslJUrs. l'urouso. 'No'ody must think so meanly, of me an mi,'', said tbedoctorr warmly. "A Man who opprtisoed a woman in her ctrou.riKlniKes, woulu nave to sKip Christmas." : r,' ; Grandfiitlipr Starin seemed to him- seirto be nearinit all the whilo. lhe frosty furrows in his face began to twisl Into an exprssion of deiiauce. Wlien a man is in the habit of having his own way he will have It, even it costs biui a little. . ."1'il soel'; be said, quite loudly. . After that he ajked the minister how many children lie had, and He put" the sane Question concerning some of bis poorer neighbors Then be marched resolutely to the toy More, aud into several other places where- "holiday goods" were sold. . ,i -,. "We'll see -about It," he growled, Ihrouub his Ions, whito beard. "I'll have a Christmas in spite of 'em all, if : mouer win nuy one." - Some of the purchases bo made were ordered to be sent at once to this place or (bat place, but there were teveml lots that were to go to bis own - Louse. 'I'll take 'em around myself," be Said, "in the morning. I'm going; to have a CbrUfmas, I uin J" ; -;. All that khotild have done bim some good, and he said so, but the face seam ed to grow barder, and all the wrin kles to freeze deeper until he set out for his bouse. He could not get there without pansinx lha cottage of Mrs. Pe rouse, and JrMt before he reached that, be all but stumbled over a small dog. "The the cur I" he exclaimed, as be recovered bis balance, and Puns sprang away with a little back-and-tao yelp He was entirely sale in a moment bo hind ' Batty Perouse, aud looked out from his refuge with a bark already to let go ' He would haveiircferred the olhai side of a fence, bu " had a deal of confidence in Batty. That was more than B4y hui in hiatseif, for he back ed Off to ward the edge ol the sidvlk, and his eye grew wider as ba looked on at UmatliMther Starin. I, The old vina a. , pauscd'and looked down, hihI a treat hoarse croak aim struggling ap: to hia hard mouth. It Iru'd twice, aad the second time it sounded like . ' - "Wish you a Merry Christmas j" ' . Biitty instantly responded? No. sir. . It can't come. "We've got oui-s. All that belongs tons. Father's got the rest where he Is.' Mother said so." ...........,-.-....; . "There came another harsh croak that Batty could not understand, nud the oll mnrr walked on. Puns enmo around iu front of Batty, and began to look brave. ' ' 1 1 ' "Jim . Deniko soys, there isn't any Christmas In him, Puns. Jim knows. He's been to one. He said so, aud he saw Handy Claws." At that very moment Jim was on his way home from Sheaver's wood with a sled-load of evergreens. At tne top of tho mil he had paused until Deacon Truvers and his team should elimb past him, So that he could "coast it" down the road to the level, for there was uot another team coming. 1 ' i ' "Wish you merry - Christmas," snid Jim, aud his eyes had a bad twinkle in them.' "Christmas," grunted Mip deacon. "You're the luckiest man around here," said Jim.' "Nobody elee'll have niore'n otio Christmas, and you'll have two." - iv ;:-r' "What do you mean, yon " - "Why, little Batty Perouse ays his mother said you never let go of any ihlng you once got your hands on. You must have stuck to all the Christ inas you had last year, just as you did of-" ' - J'Yoti saucy yonrgjrascal!" exclaimed the deacon, as he sprang from the sleigh, but as his feet touched the snow there was a heaped up sled with a black -eyed boy on it, glancing away down the hill at express train speed.- "Ho got her old house awful cheap," said Jfmas the air mado his cheeks tingle, "He might as well have a Christmas present of what some folks think about it." - ' , "Deacon Travers drove ou grumbling.- ,,;'.-.. '....v .. "Justice is justice. 1V1 no idea she hstl any hard fuelings about it, and her father's a rich man, too. Bichci 'u I am." &' . '- t .. . Beyond tho long slide at the foot of the bill the sled load of greens had to be dragged, aud Jim was a little out of breath when he met old Judge Pe tors,the lawyorpRairying a l-uge tui key in each handA A man is never more helpless than when hi." bauds are full. . - A - , "Oiiess yon didn't raise ?em4,iidge," said Jim. "Wish you insxfy Chrict inas." ' 'i - ' ."Kaise'cm? No. Merry Christmas," said the lawyer,, crustily. "I don't raie poultry." - - "Guess not," said Jim. "Little Bat ty Perouse asked me what a fee was. He said his mother said you raised 'era. Ileal fat ones. Were they fatter'u thin turkeys ?" .. He'received uo anpwer whatever,but If eiLher of those tnrkcys hatl been a a brick he might have had one, aud tho lawyer's face was ''turkey red,'! as he walked on Before'the sled was in Mr. Denike's front yard, Graudfuthfr tular in had shut his own gate behind him. He went round to the ide door, aud that cstrried him pant the sitting room window, and soinel:ow or other be Kkip;cd 'and looked in. It wasaplcus ant risy sort of room, with a bright wood (ire blaing in-un old-faBhioned, open-faced, "Franklin btove." Eight in front of the lire sat an old lady, nud her face had a withered worn-out look, hut there was a faint glow upon it that mav have cooio from tho hlu.ing hick ory, wne was Kinuing, ana ner, lips moved as irslie was singing something, nud her foot rested on the rocker of a tvrrfi wnnrlnn eradla. "Sakes nliv 1 She's crazy I" exclaim ed Grondfather Starin,! and yet be walked very slowly, -indeed, to the side door and into the houso. bho beard his heavy feet in the nnow on.thedoyr- stcpfl, nut ho did cot nenr ner suy ; "He'" coming. Oh, dear If HcS' tcrV baby were I It's all I can do." Maria." said-he, as he walked in A there was something more crunching, "how did you ever get that thing down out of tho store-room I W hat aid you do it for?" , , , ,.. i : "., "I couldn't holi) doing ft, somhow. -'Pears to me almost Rs if ij, wasn't just einnty, To-morrow's- , . Then uhe stopped, but the- knitting and rocking went steadily on. Grand father Starin looked into the cradle for a moment and then he turned silently away. It had bcu . choked- up' witj blankets nfid audi .; matters from 'the stor-room, and tbo fat little pillow was dinted deeply, in the middle, as if a small head had been lying' tbere. Grandmot her Sturln bad done all that saying to herself V "That's just tbo way it used io look after I tools ber up. Ie can't help re mcinboring. Oh, how I do wih Chrlst mhf) woulil come ugaiu to this bouse 1" The old man attended o bis dutios as usual, indoors and out, and then ho came back to sit down and wait for supitcr. His wifo had cons; into the kitchen to stir up the "help" and to take a look at the milk pans. While she was there no less than five different errand boys came to the kiUihcit door with wrapped "up parcels for Pquirc 8. aria. But she diq not open -one of them. She did but turn them over add draw her breath a littlo hard and say o herself : '-There can't be no Christmas In 'em, or tbey wouldn't ha' come to this bouse. lt's curious,, though, and be doesn't seem to want to say anything.' There lie sat by the fire, grim aod silent. II ja hoot cameoff. one by oue, at long Intervals, and hisslipperscame on, . His v ife had put them there for him, and she must have put something into tbero, for his right foot crept oi.t and out until1 the toe of that slipper ret-d upon Uie rocker of the cradle. " '.Now, I kind o'wuuder," be said, to himself, "a man's memory isn't In bis feet. . Th;'s something the matter wit ii my memoir." ami the crndlo be gan to rock, slowly and gently, as if it were Irving to stir kirn up and nut him In mind of something. : Then it stop ped and be arose. anUooked over at a book which laysttfxn abound topped work table where blsNKilvhad It ft her knitting. , , "W hat has she been a-reading on' The snectael? she had dropped unon the npeu page seemed to mark a place for Ins eyes to begin at ; but once more tbe harsh, bourse, croak, without any ' words arouse in the throat of Grand father Starin. " If the words the spectacles pointed at could have found their way up but they could not -they would have bemi: "Glory to God in llio highest. Oil canh pcacojt good will to men." At that very moment Jim Denike was saying to his mother. -Do you suppose I'm really the sas siest boy in Pi-rryville?" "I hope not, niy sou ; hut I must say that you talk a great deal." "Things must sa;- theraielve8, moth er. Little Butty Perouse, he's just like me.' He euys the queerest things." "What does he say ?" "You can't 'most ajinoflt say 'em over again. They're queer. ' Sound kind o' like a picture of something you never saw." 1 - - '. "Some small children are very old, Junius. They get ovc it as they grow oldei." ',. "It's curious, mother. Seems to me I never bad just such a feeling about Christmas, and I'm awful glud about those greens-" , - ' . Grandfather Stariu aud some other people may also have had that sort oi feeling, bin' he did not say anolheo word to his wife about holidays or thr cradle. He sat still iu his arm chair, aflet supper, until, at last, he seemed to speik without inteuding to: . "Maria, I'm getting old." "We are both getting old, Johu." "I believo my memory is failiug me. Here I've been a sitting and a trying to bring up and to think over all about Dr. Perouse, mid what he said nud whit he did. I can't make it out some how. He didn't do right by me, Maria. He was a dreadfully bitter and obstinate man. I can't, somehow, re member just how it was." i Tho old man paused and tho wife's fingers wiped a si itch of ber knitting as she responded, iu a low hesnutu.g voice : ' , "Ho was set in his way." ' "So was Hester. She isn't one bit like- you and me-' She sided with her husbaud from lirnt to last. Either sho was wrong or I Was wrong, and sho'd ought to b.ive ceu her duly." "He was her husband." He sat still again, stroking bis full, white beard, and tryimr to remember, and his foot again got upon the rocker, but even that slow and gentle motion confused him worse. Up to the hour when they went to bed, all his memo ries played bide and seek with him, aud l ho things he wanted would not come up. ' Things he did not want just then, came up in their places. It was a very curious thing, and a dread ful trial to an old man who needed to think up his quarrels. He did not re peat to his wife euy of the things he had beard in the village, and he post poned until morning saying anything about what he had dune or meant to do with his purchases. Away dowu tho road there was a light,iu Mrs. Perouse's window until about oue o'clock. She had soma sew ing to do, and she was dreadfully tired when she lay down, with the buby be side her, and Butty in his crib, ut the foot of the bed. Both of them were sound asleep, and sho went softly, just beioreshe lay down, and bung some thing at the head of the crib. It look ed like a pair of woolen stockings and a pair ot mittens. . . "I'm gtud I can do that mu b. He will see thein first thing in the morn ing." .. . Butty awoke. As soon an he looked at the window and was sure ubout being theiy, ho knew he had been dreaming, lie tried ever so bard to remember what it had been about, nud the effort kept him awake. All of it that he could get buck was what must have been a toy storo a mtlo long. " "Guess it was Christmas," he Raid, but it won't come." ; llica ho thought he heard some thing crunch, crunching upon the snow in front of tho house. Then some belU: went by, and after that but it was very fuint. He luv so still he hardly breathed, for Jim Den iko had told him that R.inta Claus came in a sleigh with bolls, and you could hear him if you would listen for hitn. Puns was shut up away back in the kitchen, and he was not an easy barking dog, Anyhow. He bad to be set it-giiing. It grew so still that Bat ty said to liimscir - . . "If any kind of .'Christmas should come 1 could he.ir it before it got here." ' Hatty's mind was evidently in a fever on that subject, but his eyelids came together aguiu after a while. Old pcoplo are apt not to sleep well, and Grandfather Starin bud morn trouble than asual that night. He knew what time the moon went down by the change in the kind of light that pourvd in at his window, but it was a, glorious night even after -only the stars were left on duty. : The Wi nter was doing its very best for that Christmas, and Jim Denike believed thnt be had done , something, for ho said so. : He came homo from somewhere or other very late. All the rest were in bed. and the parlor tnat contained the Christinas tree was locked. He went to bis own room, next to that of his father and mother, and all the while he was nndressing they could bear him chuckling out rageously. "I'm afraid he's Ixwn saucy to some one," said bis mother, to herself. "I must ask'him about it in tho morning;." Another chuckle from his room, sounded as if Jim were stuffing a pil low Into bis mouth, and then all was still. " It was so very still around the Star In homestead that Grandfather Stariu said it kept him awake, and that it confused his memory more than a good deaf- of noise would lMvearmo, ' Before fire o'clock in tld inojninir Christmas morning he garVfbe mat ter op, and arose snd dressed hiuwclf without saying a word to bis wiro. lie went down-stairs to- the sitting-room and raked the embers out of the ashes and heaped op wood for a quick, hot are. there was th cradle, and lie looked Into it for a full minute, b u there was nobody there. Theie hid not been for nearly thirty - years, aid so lar as no knew there would neer be again. lie shook bis head, nlll looked as if ha cre sbakf it at that cradle In some Rort of defiance . His face grew set aud determined, and he said : . . 'Wo will have a Chrlstmaa, any how, if money w ill buy one." ? T'len bo walked out into tho kitchen, hut he stopped there only. long enough to light another lire, and to glauco at the wrapped up' packages. Ho passed from that into open air, nud nobody could have hcipuil locking away all around tho sky to see how uncommon ly crowded it was with stars, ami how with ail, iiieir might aud mailt they were shining.- He went ou to the ham to take a look at bis well-foil stock. - Ho patted his great oxen, three, yoke of them, and threwsonin corn into theirmangers, He nnis have forgotten that there wer uo oxen there, for be stud it . was i queer thing to do, find thus he added "My memory is failing ' me. What have I to do with that manger? . It's as einnty as Hester's cradle." There were no wasps autir iu the bam in winter, but sonnjthiiig seemed to have stung Grandfather Starin, for be hurried out right away. ' 1 Xle mut tered: i : "Nobody did say it. Nobody did snv it: but I heard it: 'They wrap' tied Him in swaddlimr clollie.iand they laid Him in a manger.' they made a cradle or it." Clear and hrlirht and splendid was the winter sky above him, aud the white uplands glittered with a half dreamy glory and the morning slur shone, htmp-like and wonderful, just ahovo a white-roolcd cottago away down the road. "No, air," exclaimed Grandfather Starin, No, sir, Nobody did say it. What is Lite matter with my memory ? Is It anything I read latt evening? JNo body suid it. but I heard it. 'And the star carao and rested over wlwro tho young child lay ;' but then that star is only the morning star," . .. , That last word was followed hy an other of his hoarso croaks, of some thing that refused to be spoken clearly. All the frost of the winter morning seemed to bo gathering in bis luce. There were none in his feet, fothe walked on and on, as if he were fol lowing that particular star, lie went out at the front gate and down the road, and his lips mitred out small. frosty clouds, to tell how hard be was breathing. - Tho morning star grew brighter and brighter at first, and then be almost could not see it. When he stood still in (rout of Mrs. Pcrouse'd gate it was a full minute before he could see any thing. "It in't so." he said. "I aiu't In my right mind. What on earth can havo come over everything." There he stood and looked, and there really was something very cur ious to lie be looked at. There was a heap of evergreens on the doorstep. A barrel of Hour stood a yard or so in side the gato. A ham lay on the bar rel, and a big turkey, ready dressed, seemed to lie trying to hug tho ham. Between tbe barrel and the doorsteps lay a new sled, as if it wcrO waitiug for somebody to open tbo d..or and let it come in, with some smaller packages that were stacked upon it. i Tho fore end of its runners were prisked away up, like a pair of eager dog'4 cars. It was ail too much for the old man to believe in, aud he turned for au other look at the star. Just then hn heard something that founded very much as If a boy was trying to growl. It was not exactly so. It was only the dlsappoint'id voice of Jim Denike. There he was crouching behind a fence post, and keeping down u shiver. "You here? What are you hercfor, at this timoiu the morning?" ; "Wish you a . Merry Christmas, squire. I gt out of bed and came up here just to hear what Batty Perouse would say when he saw them (hiugs. I','s kind o' spoiled now, but I guess he'll say Christmas is come,.I'm going home." '.'Vou can go right along." Jim's teeili cha'tered as ho hurried away, but between them they mado some noise, and tbero .was a small, white flguro at the bedroom window. . "Mot her I Mother I Christina' has come. He is out there, now, standing by the gate." . Mrs. Perouso took one hasty look through the frosted panes, but she did not ui ter a word. She dressed Batty and herst-lf in a wonderfully swift way. He hardly kuew precisely how his clothes got on. "Mot her, was it Snndy Claws?" "Hush-sh ah I Don't speak I" Grandfather Hiari n must have henrd what Jim Deuike bad said, but his memory hail failed him npiiii and bo had forgotton it. He did not sup pose that anybody In the house- was up or had seen him, and ho walked into the litilo front jard and rend what wail written on ono thing after another. "I declare I Mr, Knox, Boggji, Dea ou Travers, Judge Peters, Dr. Smiles. Denike, old Pat tJilbooly. No name at ail. Wbnt's got hold of old Perry Villo? What's got hidd of me ? There, nobody said it, but I heard it. Had they brought gifis, gold aud frankin cense and myrrh? that's It, gifts.' Hiirrah for Christmas! I declare,. I wish Maria was here. I've never seen Hester's baby. It's an awful time. That there star kind o'daizles me." - Mrs. Pei-ouHo had hurried down stairs and Batty had left Puns nut ot the kitchen, so that now, wiien tho fron; door swung open, a woman, a small boy and . a dog came suddenly out and lh latter began at oiica to bark at the evergreens. "Hoster T' exclaimed Gr.n dfafhr Statin, "Christmas I Merry Christmas " and a very ureal, hoarse choking sort of croak followed, but Batty shout ed : "Christmas has come J"' and Puns danced around tbe barrel and burked like mad. Mrs. Perouse gave one look pt Grandfather Starin aud at all the things between Ihn door and tbe cats and held out both of ber haods as far as she could reach. Sob sob sob it did seem so hard for ber to speak, but at lost sbe almost shouted : ,,.c:, ; .-: "Christmas 1" Just as the old msr. got m na AnAiiirli tf, biM tier. - 11m fttjiftlMxl and kirseif Batty on the forehead,' and Batty felt a if nil the rest, of his f.tce wa oroA'uvd iu wLite beard, aud tUoii he pushed right past both of them into the house. "It's In my bedroom," said Mrs.; Pe rouse, as if she koew what he was af ter, and in half a minute more a faint souall answered ber from the middle of a great bundle that he brought out in ids arms. ;. "Father?". , .' "He'll be warm enough. I grabbled up everything there was." ' . , .. "But what are you going to do?" "Hester, the baby is coming to my bouse. So is Christmas. You and Batty follow right along. The cradle's already now. All warm, nice. . I'll send Mike nflor these things. You're just a coining home, Hester. That's all." . ; - ;. - . --;'. ' He turned and strode away with his big bundle ef blankets, and the little squall still sounded musically from the heart of it. , - , 4 "Mother," said Batty, confusodly, as be looked after him, "that Christmas Was Grandfather Starin, only his face was warm and red and shining. Will he bring back the baby ? What made him shine ?" The light was in the old man's face yet when he strode vigorously into his own sitting-room. "What is it John I" exclaimed his wife. "Where have you been ? What is it ?" "Maria I Cradle I It' Hester's batty ; Christmas has come to our house. Sho and Batty aro coining. Gifts, Mariiif don't you remember? Gold and frankincense aud myrrh. Hurrah 1 Whb you Merry Christmas, Maria !" Grandfather Starin's face looke-1 as if the Sun bad just risen in it, and be fore you could count seven the cradle was occupied. Breakfast was on the table, all the presems .except tho eatables were scattered around o:i th floor, and B.ilty sat tbere witti his new mittens on, gazing at them as if they -were n dream. Jim Denike away ove.r at his house in the village, was telling bis father and mother what he had seen, and bis mother was re marking that it made the morning feel kind of . warm. It was a pity they Could not have seen tho whole thing. just as it went on. Grandfather Starin Ik-nt down over the crairie, and the baby got his bands gripped stoutly in to the thick, white beard, and Puus came up opposite to him with a wood en soldier io bis mouth. "Mother,;' said Batty, "will Christ mas goawa'y again, now it's come?, ; "Maria I" shouted the 'old roan to his wife, although she wan sitting close by him with an open book in ber lap, ".Maria, do you hear that? No, it won't. It's come to stay. I hope it has como to every mail in Perry ville. There isn't a mean man ia tho village. Best people J Finest lot of children " 'J wish them all a merry Christmas," began Mrs. Perouse. earnestly, but Batty was saying to his grandfather "Did yon tell Jim Denike you was coming? How did ho know ?" i "He's a friend of yours BaUy?-Soi I declare. There he was waiting. Bost boy in the village. I must see about him. Skates? Gun? Cannon? Whit can I got for Jim? Maria, Bat ty cnu't use more than half the things I bought. Ono sled is enough for hint. I'll drive around with 'em, after break fast. Buy some more. I'm bound to have all the Christmas there is going !" "Oh, John, John I" said Grandmother Starin. "Please do. They won't any of 'em have a Christmas equal to ours." Mrs. Perotife caught up Batty and hugged him, and it seemed as if there was not anything left for anybody to say. - tven funs lay dowa ami gnaw ed tho woodo soldier in a sort of hap py, contented sdence, but they were all ready for breakfast aa soon as tho buckwheat cakes began to come in. Wherever trandfathcr Starin's er rands took him all the forenoon, peo ple tbat know him had to look at him twice and thoru wai something loud, I and deep and tremendously hearty iu j the way he shout! to. every m m and . woman aud child he met: "iiurra.ui Wish you Merry Chmtmas !" .Patents Granted. Patents granted to citzlcns of the Southern States on Dec 8, 1SS5, and reported expressly ' for tbe Gleaner by C. A. Snow & Co., Patent lawyers, opposite U. 8. Patent Office, Washing ton, I). O. ; '"'.'' C. It. UariiarJ, liynaiut, Miss, uay and cotton press. -- B. J. Du Bose, Lisbon, Ua. Urindiog mill. i II . F.'Dunn, Eagle Lake, Texas. Oute. ., J. M. Ferguson, Jcw Orleans, La. Boiler due cleaner. C. C. KIcrnllT, Starke, Fla. Planter. P. C. Klapocr, Louisville, Ky. Ven tilator. J. W. Addis, Tyler, Tex. Locomotive valve gear. J. I. Jiccaiop, Clinton, im. u. Velil- cle'axlu. B. Huper, Atlanta, Oa. Velocipede. J. B. Welling, Leesourg, Ky. Ani- pal Mike. J. A. Bailey, Clinton, S. C. Xialmg press. ... M. 1. Taylor, M obi e, A hi. Car. II. Thief, Clinton, Idi. Chopper. A. I). Thomas, Littlo Book, Ark. Elevator and feeder. M. Umstadter. Norfolk. Va. , Ging ham exhibitor. E. Walton, Cartcrsville, Va. Tobac co currier. T. M. Moore. Rusk. Tex. Plow. M. Dniglt, Ilotiuia, Ln. Bridge. F. N. lUukiu, Shelby ville, Tenn. Hams fastener. - W. II. Hook. Soringdalo. Ky. Churo dasher. H. O. Ilnvcll. Baton Bouge. La. Cotton planter. -' H. t'ary, Centreville, La. Auger. It. N. Debiieiix, Bay St LouU. Miss. Telegraph insulator. . The llernift of Cleveland County. -, "J.:. ., I ; (Shelbjr Aurora v 1 Cleveland county's recluse and od dity has vanished. The eccentric man who shunned man's society, whoso heart had never felt the blandishments of woman, tha etrange man who never owed any mas one dollar, who never attended a,, funeral during his life, nover heard , a sermon since infancy, and never saw a town in bis life, has strangely and suddenly passed, away, for on Sunday morning (22ud) be was found dead in his bed. He shunned tho companionship of every human being, ho was afraid of a wotnar., the startled deer of the' huntsman's tread and scent.' He lived' where his father lived and died where his father died and term-. hinted a narrow, contracted life whose thoughts began aod ended in self. ; '. He was a sober, modest, quiet', truth ful and honest man who far OR TttiN attended to hin own business and nev er meddled with any one's business fur 60 years bis whole life. This is the lesson of Thomas Burgess' life. II o never went in debt, but always had a r J . 1 1 ... l a iL . : i: . . f lew uuuara iu leiiUjW iux. ttiig?Dfr - vim left about $1,030 worth of property, which he b-td saved. Tbe Sabbaths he spent alone in com. panionsiiip witn his uod and Bible, tbe latter bi3 only companion. His deasnreas to be atone with batore, cultivate solitary and alone Lis laud, or bunt and fhh. His neighbors, whom he seldom saw, knew bis idtoVyerasiea and testify to tbe right Jife of the ec centric Thomas Burgess, who almost led a hermit's life. Better stop your cough whilo you can, live and iye nothing -will do it. It. Is worth : heeding, that Parker's Tonic is the . best thing known for coughs, holds, torpid liver, kidney trouble and wi nk lungs. You- risk your lifo in waiting. Take iljvhile there is yvHiiuc, . " ' 'An Early Xftrapapcr. WimiNOTOJT, K. C la reading; again tbe admirable address of Capl' Ashe, before the Press Assaociatioa o 1S81, for the third or fourth time, I no tice what is perhaps an inaccuracy ,and one which you might like to correct. You say tbat up to 1812 there was aa newspaper published wejt of Caleigb. I remembered bavin; read somewhere ' it. r.. 1 .tic IVIIV.lUg IKIB, WJU M ft MUIV W.IV.-0 it to-uight I thought I would give It Id you. It is , from F. A. Michaax "a "Travels to tbe Alle gbany Mountain and back to Charleston , by the Upper Carolinas," 135, p. 267. These trav els were begun in 1SQ2, and the book published three years latter.. "At Linoohrtoa they print a newspa per in folio, that comes out twice week. ' The Drice of aabacriotion is I wo dollars a year ;but tbe printer who U u : . i . ment, for the ease of his country sub scribers, flour, rye, wax, at the market price. The advertisements in serted for the Inbabitaota of the coaj- try are generally sorest profit to prin ters, Tbe fcreln newi b extracted from papers that are publifhed at tbe . i Tl . I 1 f . mn-juriv.. 4 ue jrvtcnM uunrnuicai, of which the constant svd i to propa gate among the peoplj iastmction", the knowledge rf laws, graaU tbe editors of periodica! ' p:ipcrs, t'jroughoat the Lwhole United States, the right to re- ctive free of postage, the newspapers liiittii. I uej wuwJviiic;iuiiDaiuvHn . themselves or those which ace address ed to them. "News and Obssr ver Cor. '. Datable Fence ; Posts. . The oldest fence the writer has seen, is a chestnut pevt aod rail fence on & farm in Pennsylvania which was built more than fifty years ago. It set in the following manner: Tbe holes were dug larger than is now us ual, and with the old Cnhioncl shmvel or spade ; the posts were of good size, and the holes were filled with stoue., tightly rammed down." & earth w-v put in, an I the bottom of the post was consequently dry and exposed to a circulation of air. Large stouea were laid on the top, which served to turn the rain from the ho'e. Ttis p st u.l rails have been whitewashed with liuto at intervals, aud tbia has preve'ited the growth of moss anct helped vi pre serve timber.' Tbo. feuce has never been disturbed by frost, but . remains upright. American Agriculturist. ; Rtln'Miia Ba.lMHt Well, if you have strength to pn-'i your biis'uiesis, .it is well.. ,But a nutn' business has broken down becaiv.i t -man was broken down, and had i push in him. If you want to ma';-siicc-ks. build up your system by t use of Brown's Iron Bitters. ?-ir. M. Wiufree. of PetorsSiirg. Va., s "There is nomediciueequ d to 1.. -Iron Bitters for general debility.'' cures dyspepsia, enriehes t!i and strengthens the muscles. r'ont of sorts' with beni' disorder, to'Vldllrer, pninin e. Upation, rte .neeleet aif 1" i olBtronn's Banatlvo i i v IewdiRMresUirelODew t-- . Suleribe for The a year hi advansv.
The Alamance Gleaner (Graham, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Dec. 24, 1885, edition 1
1
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