HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times, 1889-12-12, Page 5John Rawiston's Two Christmases,
" Fred, youne an idiot I • mar Whigh the Enid line remit peen Ann watch -
Thank you, father," • ed tobe heavy melee out of eight, only dimly
And the two men regeeded each other for oonsolous ef the pie° mourner, sitting bolt
oometitne in thence. The younger, cool, upright) in hie coarriage, hie lips oeuvres/0.i
dethemined, not defiene, but resolute. The lihe a vice, and his eyes Oaring straight on
elder, boiling with rage and apnoea. before.
Whet was the cause of thle moiled Ocos baok in ,hie cliental lodgings, Fred
between father and eon? Nothing uew, began to realied how much his efforts to
nothing novel—only the oict, old story, quell ha mothern amebae' hed helped to
almoot as old as life itself. The miry of sustain hint; he etserned now 0:11)terly alone.
love—only thie, and the story—almost as Hie inabitity to aceurnulato e ine had hoped,
•old—of pittereat itsaporoval. the little requIred to warrant marriage, die
-
This father was one of those men who are eouraged him, He felt like a criminal in
nob to be trifled witb, and ide non knew it. - permitting Nellie to love him and waib foe
John Re -widen, stook-hroker, was aof him, an, if he was to be a failure, now WAS
knowlecitteel by his atemolaters to be one o the time to release her.
the shrewdest men "on the street," A man He tried to my eti much to her, but a
who never made mistaken Hie own opinion firm little hand barred the words, and a firm
of his attributes did not coefliat with the little vokm assured him, in ements he
popular one. And so, when he had mapped could not doubt, that that could never be;
vent a career for his only son, he expeoted that by their mutual love, by all that WAS
him to follow it. • best worth living for, they were alreadynne
Bat the boy preferred bootee to buskins, for better, for worse. She was net afraid of
and clung to his &Mice so temoieueiy, that poverty, onlyso that they might bear it th-
at lash he had his way. gather, and singe they were so wedded in
Bat this was riot the bitterest draught for leetert they ought nob to wen) for prosperity.
the father. He was ambitious for him And, in spite of his better judgment, he
modally as well, and now that he had reached accinieeoed. •
an age when he might elegise a partner for And so they were married. "And lived,
life, hi a old perversity reasserted itself, and happy ever alter 1" Hardly. They were
be exhibited an exaaperating indifference to married,. and he paid the penalty of his
the bevy of moths about him. weeknese in 10f -condemnation, as the
His father understood only when he dim. woman he : toyed went her dull round oe
covered than he carried in his breast pooleeb work ; paid it in guilby qualms,as
a oarte-photo of little Nellie Fry—a nobody he eaw the roundneee and color leave
—who had been ha olasemate aro eohool. her cheek; •cursed hlinself as unworthy
Be had counseled him not to involve him- to be the falter of the big boy -baby Joliet
self, and now he had the effrontery to tell came and took posseasion. Almost felt
him that he expected to make her his wife. sometimes like ohallenging him as he so
He bad been too easy with the boy. He coolly, so preeumptnously, togged his
would rectify the error now, and, if poesi- mother's tired life away by Hales, seeming
ble, save him from tide real apt. to thrive off hor very weariness.
Had he looked bonen& into his own Through it all, Fred never SAW her disoone
heart he would have found Another motive tented nor complaining, though every thing
than fatherly solloitude—a atubborn pride. he tried felled under him.
It was bemuse of this that he etood there Hie bookish, absent ways, so mysteriously
now, grasping and choking with choler, and to them, so plainly to everyone else, failed to
said again through his clenched teeth, find out success. Somebinies his self -hate
"That s what you are, brainless idiot." would rise so dominant that he would break
To which the young SUM again quietly out in self -chiding. At such times she woulol
snplied. "Thank you, sir." say: "Do. not blarae yourself. Indeed, I
The !abhor thought he reed anew meaning am happier so than I should be in ease with-
in the words, for he fairly exploded, What out you. Keep up your courage; ,we will
do you mean, you inaoloab ingrate? Heaven win yet," •'
knows I have tried to best some senee into At last he found a hobby.' The abstract
7our empty pate. Heveren I lavished money problems over which he had pored so long
upon you ? Given you every importunity to took pritotioal ehspe.
mingle with men, that you might learn to He conceived a new application of that
read them through and zhrough ? And yet wonderful form of force of whioh we know
you have chomp to waate emit chances. so little. He explained lb ali to Nellie, and
And now you agree to nap the climax vvith she grew emenielastio over ie
this mad freak, Your mother has farmed • Tuenthey began to spend a part of their
this. Ib will grieve her deeply." poor /earnings on ite regale -talon.
He made this lase appeal with a sense of Fred would come home With beaming
its unfairnees. He knew the bee love forf a0439 oenrYing mYsterieaunnoking packages.
his mother to be his most vtlinerable point. There were weeks of marenbibliing work, and
Bat his son saw the trick, and it did not then a table, loaded with strangle devices,
move hie,. that vintated, al:Ides/hied, and clicked, and
"I am terry, sir," he said, " but I cannot hammered under tho potent wiluence
that orepb up the wire from the strong
think it just that you should condemn my
choicwithout good grounds. I am 'sure, box in the corner. There were great times
e
father, if you would look an this matter of trying and testing, and finding it almost
fairly—" • right and then more anxiows, mger work,
" Beh 1 D31170 he a boli I know my own eihetigiegi modifying, keening up hope;
t
always, too, the scany fare; then, amain
mind.", a
"And T, sir, rnuat lay claim to a like holding of their breathe and—disappointing
sagacity." failure; a tired head lad on a pair of
"Well, sir, it is your own work. ou, are
nerveleen ATMS. a ltghte ottressing hand upon
Y
it, tender words of ern:management and love,
vaunting your own prospects. You must
gage ine „eetqueeoen 1 hope yon mem. a shower of kieses, until ehe faiott heart
tand ."
gathered strength to lough ib all with her,
sme
"es, sir, 1. go out again to earn means for further
Y
"Well, dI. think I do. you persist, you must go your experiments and further failure.
wn gait." And so the days went by, until they
,o
seemed to him a line of ghostly ADOSIIOS that
"Father," the young men said," I have
looked the matter iquarely in the face. I cried, each as ib paned, "Failure 1" until et
am ready to meet; thewley your own con-
last there oarae a time when even his wife's
.
ditions I shall not see you soon again. It brave cheer could nob redly him, and,
may seem impertinent, hut when you make siok at heart, he sank down in titter despair,
hearing the swelling cry of "Failure 1" as
mot/heed happiness a lover to turn me from
my purpose, I muse remind You that you the dreeei army named to trample him and
have it in your power to make her happy, his under foot, and faintly, but olearlr,
above the turaulb he heard his fathel'a
You know how fondly she reverts to the
happy days before you became eo engrossed words: "Follow your impulses, and see
where they will lead yon." Then all seemed
in money -getting. You forget everything
in the maddening excitement of speculation.
over.
And what dem it all amount to? Who is But what of John Bawlston during all
bettered when you win your wager on the these years?
'
rise of wheat? If there is any good in all Not much worth the telling."He hew
this piling up of genii it is thee yen may shut his firm Bps a little tightly day by
enjoy it, and help her to eejoy while day ; leaa frezen his old assoolates little
there is yet time."• further sly; has plied his gaming at . the
"Very pretty, sir, vexy pretty I But you exchange a libble more anicluously ; has
are a foolif you, think to convert me to your °sided a million to the great bulk of his
nhallow ways.'' oredits, and hopes to add another. And is
" Anal must say, sir, that you do not content? Well, poisibly non
rem to me to exhibit the wisdom of Solomon He gets on well enough the six days in
in your persistent efforts to make me belie the week with their bum/ whirl; bub the
my beabimpuleee Sabbaths, with their .stillness and their
"1 shall try no more, you impetinent in. memories, are very dreary.
grate. Follow your impulses and ase where Sometitnes the nights will not bring hira
they will lead you."
rest, and the waking dreams, as be lies all
"And you, sir, stick to your gambling, and alone through the long hours, are' harlot to
see where it will end." bear than the troallous ones he. encounters
And �o they parted. when he falls asleep.
,s1.110 staing mit getittineg under itie gtme One night is unusually fan of terror.
I
roof only long enough to say a manuringt is on Christmas Eve, and he is tossing
end turning on his pillow. trying to evade
good-bye to hia mother—a weak, gentle we -
man who, through yeare of submit/don to a the pientrea niertiory conjures up of other
stronger will, bad come to have none el her
own. Her mother-hearb cried out against
this putting forth of her boy, bub never
doubting the wisdom of her husband, the
tried to believe that, somehow, ib was for
the beat.
1
And then Fred Rawlston went forth pen-
niless to take up the burden lova laid upon
him—to fight that antenna' fight Made ao fen -
t come by bis former circumetancee.
His father sent hie effects after him, in-
cluding his purse which he found had,
somehow, grown purse,
he lei 13 it on
hie droner. But Fred sent them baok with
thank.
It was a strange thing to him, this dwell-
ing in garret, subsisting off ouch employ-
ment at he found among dreamers. He
would accept no aid from former friends,
fret he felt that it wee proffered in char-
ity
tfe paid frequent visits to his mother, con-
cealing from her his want, telling her harm-
less falsehoods of eticoete.
Oaly once did he see hie father, and that
was when he came to look, for the last time,
ripen hie mothet's face—nob on the dear
eyes full of mingled anxiety, and pride,. end
love ; but on a cold face of clay.
Neem had been sent him of her sudden
death—heartedirteabe, the physician said. It
might have been a thunderbolt for any pres
monition. And with like terrible force it
emote the hearts of husband and son. Ite
cruet fire ought to have welded them, It
mud have done so but for the demon, pride,
thee would nob let the son leave the. poseible
imputation on. taking advantege of the
calamity to Orem' baok into hie father' s favor.
Pride that would nob 'dee* fether, broken
by his bereavement, for he, loved leis wife,
Jean for consolation on hieherea, whoin he
began to feel he had mibused. And ON AS
by common consent, they tithed their
wren:led feces from each other as' one yield-
ed his place at the oldie of the relent; figure
to the only other snorted who amid Aare his
woe,
Fred took his lest leave thete alone. He
would not thrust himitelf in hie way on the
cow they bore her to her rest but, he hang
eJA the shadow* of e, clump Of ohnthborlf,
yet searoely able to believe, that it is Quiet- on the cart, nd then tin Otero putt the tele
out ab the new-felion enow, uoablto tolornet, Then ins ri t over thia way roviaore I rode
window, and etanie there, AtariVg drearily stone horae, where I got into peer eleigh.
Elliy° nieo,(feliniziegm' 1 i
pty life it ia 1 What is there hie shnhinT
market,' n loafing the zigzeg (mimeo with
hoe on the tateelated bee.
in it to oling to? WhY not end it. ? Ain "Why, you rascal, that's five milee away,"
he dare nob. How he longs for some one "Is 49 Well I canfind it easy enough.'
love. If he only dared go to Feed. Too "Sit up here and then we'll eons," and the
Jabs ; he cannot. , broker putt *inch hemlock on vi ohair at the
Hie gloomy reverie is interrupted by the table and, lifts the boy oto it. 0' Mary,
eignt of hie epankIng span dashing into the oreother plate--breakfaet for two,
4 ive, Ah, the morning despatches, Yet "Whet are you gobig te be when you're
why ehould he ore what nem, they bring? a man ? ' he alike.
He does nob 'epee into his former dlinnal " Ohi 1 pone, I'll be what „nay father is."
state, for his ourimity is euddenly aroused "And what's thet 14
by the strange appearance of a bundle . " Bele a crank,"
rolling out of the °atter and sticking °Fight • "A what te
in'the snow, a' A crank."
He cannot} make it oub at fist; but in a " Whatta a crank?
moment it begins to move, and he then fiude " Oh, he'd getting a great invention and
it to be no lege then a litble, round, apple, making epperatnees and neperiments, and ell
,
faced urohin, knee-deep in the downy kinds of funny maohinee like that."
covering. . "And they cell him a orank, do they n
The little fellow looks about him wonder. " He calls Memel! that. Mainrea says hen.
ingly, velth an indescribable air, In whioh a scientific or something, but, 1 grebe, he
are mingled timidity and antirance. , knovea."
His binds are thrust deep in hie pooleste, The old mite sinner, as heflonrishos a mul-
es when he rolled plump on tolls feet with- fin,temptittgly on his for, and tays : "Have
out their aid, end as he takes hie bearinga, another —er-- ethane— your—neme—what
he chafes one of his bingliog eons with his shall I call you ?" ,
thenider. "Ton can cell me Johnny. Pdy nanm'e
• "Here, boy; whet are you doleg here ?" John Rawbston."
the broker shouts at him. Down go fork and muffin onto the teble.
D.SWIIROOIS John Revehnon, broker, into his
°heir in a heep—olatohing at the tablecloth
in a hepleas way, gasping and staring at the
appletfoned boy m if he were an intruding
demon. When at last he gets his breath he
stammers, "Wha'z=what is your father's
name 1"
" Frederick Rawlston—we call him Fred."
" Dicl he send you here 1"
"No, sir."
"Did he know you were ooraing ?"
"No, sir; he's too sick to know avythink.'d
"Did your mother know it ? '
"No, sir.: why, 'didn't know it nyeelf till
the sleigh stopped.'
"And they named you after"—the old
man °beaks himaelf. "'Who did they name
you after ?"
"After my grandpa."
"What for ?"
" 'Oeneamy pspa said he wanted DSO to be
a, man."
"But you all hate him, don't Yon'?"
"No, or. I wish I could go and see 'dra—
in(' going, too, some titan Pap can't go
'oarree my grandpa's so rioh and he'd think
we were after his money. But we wouldn't
tench a cent of ib Uwe were starving."
For e. moment the email boy le confranbed
by a picture of confused indecision he cermet
ander/nand, then his hoot dives through a
door and attacks the telephone, ringing it
frantically,
•"Hello I Give me three-thirty.one—thtee-
bhirty-orte I Doctor lioworth's reeidence.
Doctor Eloworbh ? Don, this is johieRwels-
The animated dumpling stares In a.b,ewil-
dered way at the house, and catehieg sight
of the stern facie at the window, manages to
ejaculate, after a oaurageons effort to swali
low the lump in hie throat.
"Don't you went your walks °leaned?"
;$o I" is the gruff answer.
"1'U ,
Glean em cheep," the boy persists,
"No, I tell you. Where did you pick up
that gamin t" he asks the coachman, as he
hands in the package of telegrams.
"1 denim, sir. 1 didn't see him till you
hollered."
"Well, then will do. Keep your eyes
open hereafter. Do you "appose I want
these rag -bag, dirty imps taking posses:
sion of my cutter? Now, put out the horses,
and then °bar anew the snow from the
walks an soon as poseible, or we'll be overrun
Nettie theee begmere."
" Hex, boy 1 • Whore are you going 1"
he calls ie seers him moving off.
The boy, hands till in his pookets, mokes
a compound gesture of head and elbow,
meant to indioate the next house, and
ploughs away down the drive.
Perhaps the bright, rosy hem reminds the
broker of the long ago—so dim, es long ago
—when a Snowfall was a joyous thing to
him ; when it wen pure fun tio kick about in
the feathery deplete.
Perhaps he foolish' fancies that in calling
back the child he will cell back the blithe-
some spirit of his own childhood.
Whatever his motive, he eseanot ieb him
go, so he raps upon the window pane till he
term about, and then beckcats to him.
• The little figure ploughe beak again, and
coming to a halt before the window, fires
another ronnd: .
"De you want me to alettn:'em ?
"Oome in here," the broker says, and
pens the door. -
The child hesitates: "Yen going to give
me the job ?"
"No. I want to talk to you. Come in."
••aI he ;mon gob time, unless you give me
the job,"
linemiles at this perniebaney, and at the
eager face eurned up to hien ; "Well, come
andril give you ennething to do."
The boy pulls off hie Ingle oap, and,
climbing the step with elacrity, statnpe
bile snow off his shoes on the mat and enters,
naming about for a motnenb in pleased 8sMAZt-
naent at the eplendor all .around, then goee
to the window and looks out upon the
snow.
"lustienn at' y shovel," he says. Have
you aot a shore?"
"Never mind the shovel," the broker 'm-
ini°.
"Come over here by the fire."
"I ain't cold."
"You're. non"
"No sir."
"Then what makes your hands so redl"
"1 dunno. Oen I do it now ?''
"Donn be in:a berry. Come and warm
your feet. •
"They are warm." '
"Then why, do you stand with one on tap
of the. other in that way le And tee broker
sees, with 'somehow a sense of responsibility,
that the litele thoers are full 'of holes,
• "Ob, Net to keep 'ern warin. HOW much
ynti going to wee me in
" Oh, a dime."
"No, sire wortb more than that."
"Well, 'how much I" .
This is a puzzler fewithe young eontractor ;
bubhe melmatheneeet of
"How much do you pay other boys ? I'll
do it for that.'
The old MSS'S hearb warms at the guarded
manner of the boy. ".h," he thinks, "1
could make a financier of Mime' What if he
could persuade this boy to stay with him?
Maybe he has no home, and would be glad
no come " Have you had your breakfeeb 1"
Chtletrnae Fees, he ask, as the bell gs.
At last he bile asleep, and dreams a
dream—e. sleep -memory of the early deys, Nei sir." rin
when he and Jennie vvere living ih the little
three -roomed house, and Fred was a baby in
frocks hid coming home from his then
work, bringing a big basketful of bhe things
to delight a babyei heart, for it is Christmas
Eve in his dream asevell--einuggling it into
the closet away from his curious eyes ; sin
ting down with hie cheery wife and chubby
boy to a plain nipper that tastes so good ;
romping ,Freddie tired; helping him to hang
up his stocking; tuoking him ewayeintonnis
little trundle bed bringing oub the batket,
end,tiptoeing about with Jeniaie, filling
the little stocking, and putting the rest
of the contents of the leaeket', here
and there, where they • *ill greet
the wondering eyes, a succession of
baby surprises; looking again and again to
make sure those same eyees are nob
ahannning and now—he laughe a merry
dream -laugh over it--eaoh hanging up a
abookbeg for the other, and taking turns at
hiding their eyes and filling therm
And now they are (Ailing to Freddy, " A
Merry Christmas 1" It does not wake bion,
and, in hie boyiel exuberance, he hangs the
new drum othout his neck and marches to
and fro, beating it laud! y--" rub-a-dub-11bl"
While Jennie watches for the lifting of the
hertvy eyelids, he sees her fall fortvara in a
swoon. In an indent the light and joy are
gone. Ho gropes his wan through the dark-
nose—so slowly, so laboriously, it mune an
age to reach them—only to find that both
are dead I
And then he wakes in an egony so inter 50,
so real, that he springs up involuntarily,
looking for the figwort and the trundleledi
and sinks bath in a paroxysm of weeping as
he realizes that waking does not mend the
dream.
And so he lee there, till be becomes
aware it le only his poor old heart pounding
away in Mt pain. ties there until be earl
endure it ho longer e thee rises and drones,
and, tinging for the hoUsekeopet,, , orders
breakfent, linen nti
to give% ordorri far the ootiehman to drive
th the pato for "despabehes. TN tries to
Then come with me."
'I don's want any," tbe boy. insists.
"Pie leb me have the shovel; I'm in a
hurry.
"See here. What are you in such a hurry
about ?' the broker asks.
• "'Cause I want bo get as mane jthe as I
can before they're all taken up, Won't you
please get nib the shovel ? I could 'a' had it
moat done."
"When do you want to dolt for, anyway?"
. "For the money."
"What do you want of money ?"
"Buy medicine."
"Medicine? You young reseal! Yon don't
need any medicine
"For my father.'
• "Ain" the htoker thinks, "only a profes•
alone" beggar alter alt."
•"Ilere, youlibble scoundrel 1' he says, toss -
Ing a coin onto the carpet. "Now out it."
• But the boy does not heed him. He is
looking from the window in disappoliated
surprise; after a moment he turns, and wibh
ail the withering, contereptaone reproof of
Whit& hid little being is capable, says
"'Therein a man cleaning neri" and moves de.
jeatedly towards the door.
"Here, take this 'the broker says, soften-
ing a little, and Won/eating the men wit/ his
foot. ,
"I douno want it unless I earn it," the boy
rePelilie'41 Where did you get that nonsense?
Here, come back and led give you a °henna
to earn it."
"Will you ?'' tied he eagerly picks It up.
"Yee. Cbine in here and get your breekt
fern, and l'il go and see your father. I want
to telk to hirceii
"he (Janie talk, heie too Oak. Is this
ertotigh to get some medicine ?"
"Yes 1'11 go and see him anyway," With
O wicked half hope thee he may die and
leave the boy on his hand, "Where do
you live ?"
"I clunno the name of the street we Jed
moven there, bee it'e right etraight down
this way and then up thici way bill you come
read, but oanucitl; and at lad hit goers to the , to that place Whete the big statue it on the
la met by A Matronly little woMen, her eyes
red whole weeping, who faille ea her knees,
her Arms aboue hint,
"Oh, aim, how On 1 thank you enough,
You naughty boy, where have you been?
Where did you gad him r
Tee noy evidently thinks both question)
addrened te him and only the latter worth
notice for he replies
"1 lound bim et his own home, and he'o
my grandpa, and this is the cloothr for
.1/
pa• p.
"Yes, maiarrai true," bhe breiker say;
briefly. '"Where le he? Show us to him."
"It needed no showing but the inoohereat
muttering of the sick man in his delirium to
guide the doctor.
He hi already at his side. "l3rainefever,"
he says, es they enter, "Overwork and
worry.'
y.
Tho man turn e uneasily, and mutters
"Failure, failure—money, money., money.
It ought to work, bub it won't it won't."
His father betide over him, touching hie
burning brow with his fingers tenderly.
Ho °peeler+ to him and his voice le quiver-
ing an4 broken.
Oh, nay boy 1 Fred—Fred 1"
• The sick map fizzle his fireyeyee upon him,
then bhe wildnese seems to fade and die out
of them. Rio hende reach up weakly. Els
father takes them in hie and robs.
"Fred, have I killed -you 1'
. The utak menn eyes close reeteully, and
muttering, "It's all right," he 19als asleep.
And Itis all right, Dr. Howarth says NO.
HO Wig get well. Bub -ho must have care
end miming, and be has them, from fatherly
hands that, after all, have not forgot their
ounning--from a little woman who never
time, '
The cutter files back and forbh, bringing
the long liat of thinge the doctor and the
broker have ordered for the patient's corn.
fort, for neeenities and luxuries as won, and
them while the sick man sleeps, three people
sit down round a little, rickety table to a
very sober, quiet little Chrietmae meld, and
in epite of the' watchful eyes of the young
snow connector, Rawiston, broker, for the
second tonne in lie life, fella deeperately in
love —so deeperately that he waits impatient-
ly till Fred is well enough, that he may bear
his second love aucl inoenebrances to kik+
home.
Another ming of this little hell around
the sun, and again the broker —not In a
fading dream thief time—tiptoe e but,
filling little nothings, and pleybeg happy
surprises.
And now, again, it is Chriabrnss morning,
and again the snew filen as it deers on all
wellwegalated Christmas mornings, and
ones more the animated bundle (returned
from a round ef ohariteble oldie with his
father) rolls out of the cutter. Nob now
with patches and mitteriless hande—and as
he looks up at the window, the broker meets
him with a merry "Hello," and fliers
ton, Meet me in the park—at the mown I wide the door, for he is monarch here.
mettle. Heh ? Yes—corner Rag Alley and Theholiday runs= in the great heuse—not
Louba lane, yi underatend ? Quick es oho broken houee now, burs the inventories.
you can drive there. Don't spare
leoreellesh—it's a OASIS of life and deem—goo
weeny fail rae ? Right 1" And the old men
darts through the room again.
• "Mary, where're Thomas 1"
"In the kitchen, sor."
"Send him here quint—get me my hat
and boots—yes, and my overcoat—never,
mind I'll gat them myself. Thomas, why
don't you come when 1 oend:for yon? Are
the horses ir the cutter 1"
"No, eh— I pub them out."
"Whet did you do thee for?"
"You told me to, sir."
"Well, den's stand there nharleying—get
them up q click read —drives round to ths
door. Don's be all day about it."
The boy dont not understand why ths
meal is so suddenly terminated, nor why he
Is plied with questions so 'thick and feet ;
but he knows ie means help for his father,
and he is glad to be burried into the cutter
and span along at that lishbning speed.
Away they go down the avenne, John
Rewlston, stook broker, and john Rewiston
the apple -faced, sitting silentlyside by side;
both with thee compressed, leaning anxiously
forward; both unmindful of the cutting
snow in elude faces.
The child and the man, like shoots from
gthroewbeb.ame feroily tree, only of different
Final time to time the old man breaks forth
in impatient urging of the horses and driver,
bobb already doing their utmost.
• Fortunately the streets are unusually clear
this early holiday hour and their course is
uniametled.
"Which way now ?" he asks, as they near
the corner.
"Right clowa that way."
He passes the direction to the driver, and
they turn the corner with PA swift, swinging
slide, that ploughs up the snow and envelopes
them in a whirling cloud; e,s they emerge
the boor rises off hie seat, and beckons
wildly to a muffled figure sitting °composedly
among the robes of hie light cutter, before
which a Span of flyers with red, flaring now
trila and steaming coate,are pawing and pran• Then of cinnamon, nutmeg, and mace, each
oing, and now the two are tearing on toward one ;
the Bowery, ignoring the wild gyrations and Yon take a teaspoonful ere you are done.
voolferous protest of the policeman who
vainly tries to intercept them. Next apices, sugar, eggs, pumpkin, and
"We'll soon be there, my boy," the broker • milk, -
says; " It'il be all right yet," and, then, as Yon mut beat together till " emooth ae
if under a eudden !reptiles he cannot repress, . rink"—
he pun his arm about him, hugs him close—
sake itto you know whip 1 am 2,2 (That is the cation; homely phrase,
"No, air." My grandmother used in awes old.time
'a I am John Rewleton, too. I am your dialia.)
grandfather."
Now a dozen of raisins, more or less,
A look of amsztment from the big, round To each pie will add flavor, you must cove
eyes, then a little curly head slipe tuichr an fem.
old elbow, a little hand comes out of a thole
trousers pocket, and releasing in grip oa a The whole must be baked in a shell-like
shining coin, drops it among the wraps. crust,
The animated bandie rolls for the second And, just as it hardens, with sugar you dust.
time out of the cutter, regard/en of ibe apeeci,
which ends in thrahling over and over in the
snow. It rights itself like a beetotrun,
however, and its pair of little logs go bound-
ing away down a by -street.
The broker stops hie outter, and leaping
out gives chase to the fugitive. It ie anABew Explosive.
amusing epootaole, this dignified old man
ohasinre this chubby urchinthrougle the The Australiane, lb would seem i have
snow, overtaking him, falling over him, boon hold of a new end valuable exploeive
and, at last, breabhlesely, but triumphantly, called earaaite. It is the invention of tWo
bearing him back to the miner. • engineere named Lierseh and Kubln, It is
" What's the matter, John ' the docitot impervione to damp, shook, or fire. Its
asks. • power is to dynamite as 100 to 70, and it
"Never mind, come on," he pante. And can be oerried from place to place with the
again they are flying on. utmost safety. It enaits a thiek, black
He mon succeeds by force of arms and smoke, and the detonation is louder than
argument in convinoing hie prisoner of the that of gunpowder, but shorter, sharper,
wisdom of yielding gracefully and pointing and dear. It oan be used for rifle oartidoes
out the way. • or as priming for OSAIMOta A hernia/len
By tawnier landintarke he guides them now loaded with it enplocled with such tereifie
Ilia way, now that, now they dip into the force that experiments ageinsb palisades
regions of dilapidated tonomenbe and narrow representing 100,250, and 5C0 men at rangee
noisome stream Where the Wir seems thick of 300, 750, and 1,200 meters reameled
end dark, and the snow is darkened with ; market in very division of Me palisade/a
where it would seem the moral atmosphere standing for a noldier.—(11.Y. Times.
e*
nand be as foal. •
Here it is, that's where I live," the boy
exclaim/3, and they rein rip suddenly before
one of tee gloomiest of the row.
"Get ohb and come in quick, Dad, I My
boy is in here, alak, dytim maybe
"Its up two stairs," the boy says, and
he loads the way up thwitigh the dark pas -
00508.
'The boy berate uttostemoeloinly into a
TOMS at the fettled end of the hallway, and
For the wheel of fortune (as well me the
wheal of time, has gone round.
Disastrous. investments have pauperbed
the broker, while memos loupes:ling hope
orowned the inventor.
His scheme has worked at last, and a
great emidicete has paid him his price. He
rests to -day, and as the preparations go
forward for the Christmas dittner, his eyes
follow, in e. vrorshipfal way, a happy libble
woman, whe was so horodut ansi true in bhe
dark hour, and bustlde about, fall of bra
portant business and hopeful words, end
good generelsbip. While a very grand,
very happy old man sits in a cosy corner
and exchanges wisaora with an apple -faced
by, nestlingthe while on his breast
Mole belay girl than for his eake, they
cell "Jennie." • Helens his face caressing -
by against her warm, silken head, and as his
bosom swolb with a measureless content, he
Lelia her oonfidently then sometimes even
einarb men, like himaelf, make mistaken
The Pumpkin Pie.
Take a sharp knife—the best of its kind —
And pare off the peampkihn golden reed;
Than cut into onbenhaped blocks of buff,
And elowly simmer till soft enough.
Run through a sieve—the bast to be
Till
—
Till you have of the sifted pumpkin a quern
Oh, the "cropple-orown" hen will mourn to-
• day
For her rifled nein in the scented hay.
For ere yoar pumkin eies you oan bake
Oat of her nest you musb nine eggs take. .
Beat yelks and whites -in a separate diele
Till both are foamy and, light 05 700 wish.
White sugar, one eup and a half you take,
And two quarts of milk your pies to make;
II you follow this mile, when done you'll
cry :
"Here's a genuine, old-time pumpkin pie I"
LIZZ/E M. HADLEY.
Very Luk,
" Dint's."
" Phwat le lb ?"
"Toll rao wan ting
2'-
"11 oi man"
"Is it leaky to foincl a horse shoe V
"Be the 'towers, yite—ft ins in a bit
of a diillaulty yes happen to be wid no
shilaleh handy 1" •
At Daybreak in lanidon.
We doubt not there are many people
Londonthat bane never wonted Ito mile
streets at daybreak; end many residen
out of town thee would like to lenow wh
ospeot the streets ofthe groMeat city I
the 'Rorie! present Oa thio early tinte of -daY
hence tale paper, wile/ WA5 wrgbtan aft°
8, ramble through the abreets rime Sunda
reoeibieg. Sieepleeenees paid a had head.
aehe induced us to turn out of bed, dreas,
and slip quietly out into fohe etreet about
!tali past) three o'olook. Petylighb had fair.
iy broken out upon the sleeping 'city; and
inhaling the keen morning air We went in
the direction of the river. eis we passed
deven SouthaMPton Reel? and Drury -Lane,
we mot four peranne, ewe cabs and thirty
oete. Cate end waste paper seemed to have
teepee, ponesition of' the streets; and witb
whet a reproethful look these oats eye you,
as if they highly reeentidg you irttrualort
upon their domains at thet early hour. It
was a trifle nnoanny walking down Drury
Len° wibh only bleak can, 'tempts paper,
a clerk form huddled together th its
here teed there up a !aide comb for acme
]Prom Drury Lane we reathed-the Sbrande
What a °entrain, the 'Sbrend presented
now to what it was at midnight, when the
theabree had poured otrt their thousencle,
and the resteurants or bees had diegergeil
their votaries into tells important -highWitY,
teemlog with human beings, some hurrying
homewards °is foot, others trying to obtain
O Beat in an ornhibria, or hail se web, or bur -
0113g eff to canoh e train, &estate) *towelling
end eboating of men selling extrawneciah
editiona, and the whistling' and shouting for
ciarriagee end eale. Now the ettilhiess and
the derierted appearancestrike one -vevidly,
for you' see the nevem .elevetiene, or
declines of the roadwaw, -which it is impesi
bible banotice when covered -with teeming
life and Waffle; and no life to be seen except-
ing anew men busy 10 carting the Sunday
newepaperre and a slouching man or two,
the inevitable man in blue, and 8, very
sleepy -looking ceb-horse, enneched eo its
vehicle, wherein the driver was feat
steleep.
We turned down Wellington street to
Waterloo Badge, where we stopped at the
coffee gall and awake the old lady bhere,
who was snatching e shorb period of sleep.
How well practiced thew women must be to
be able to sleep wad awake every few min -
so hearing the bon/tens of customers!
Her helpmeet wee tonere also, and we tried
ro ennage him in oheorful conversation; hub
he would not be wooed that way, for mum-
bling an incoherent reply in grumbling tones,
he fell at lance into the arms of Morpheus.
Dickenei fet boy should have kept a (toffee
We descended the steps of Waterloo
Bcidge and walked 011t0 the Ensbeetkment.
There, an interesting soone—.ab the same
time inconsistent with. our advanced 'PLOWS
of humanity—draw mu attention. Reclin-
ing en the aerate by the river, in allisorts of
position:I, wore men who could not afford to
pay for a night's lodging. Some seats were
owe:pied by pardons sleeping irt a perfeotly '
-upright- position ; ethers were shaked by
sleepers retire fortunate than thein 'f
oat -oasts in annexing pirioes, for emne
half a seat to lay their oareiworn bodies n,
and hugging their rage, endeavored to cleats
tip the airilsolee. As we paned by each
same of outdoor Bleeper; who preferred, or
had to prefer, the cool shroud of nature's
covering to the etifting rooms of AOMMOS
lodging -houses, some of there wore Moretti). -
bag their arms and logs; and one yonn
man was Acta/ally &beetled b the pret
lyrics of the einem "Derothy." One 's
was occupied by fear awakened polibicia
engaged in an argument on the eunount
German blood in the mend family. Would
OUP queen feel flattered to know thab four o
her humblest eubjeote, with hardly a °Opp°
in their pockets, hal still interest waongh in
imperial affeirs to criticise her family Vil2a
court at four a, to. on the Thames embank-
ment?
Westminster bridge was now in oar im-
mediate 'vicinity, and stepping on to the
bridge, we looked away out to the far East,
end watched the rieing_ of the men behind
tile great, dam& a 05. resin. Hero was a
modem, day plower@ lor eny artist to paint.
A. cold gray oolering parradee the whole
aeons, rho gray rbeasworlt of tits br.idges and '
embankment, sae gra g attiring of water:
touched np with Ikea reeeetten of the littlei e,
ileeny golden clean/ etreeentee; worms tine ' .
pale. blue sky, viable reativeA veer deliglein '
fat tint] front see gelds* rays ate' tip fie*, ,
behind the sombre demo at So. Peel's.. TO. ' ,,
whole seen° waa indeed clearisting to hermony-`:
of color—cold gray, lit up with geld. in
this study of early neerniag itbstif,, Of artist
who will prober tide some mast nisi torgeti
the human aloreant- in it— a scene more
Impressive than coloring of light, stone and
setter ; for there, agsbet. the .eatt of the
stone parapet of the Embankment, on the
top of the steps leading down to the river,
stood a haggard.looliing young ime, and ay.
his feet SAO his wife and two braises. He
looked as if he had stood ,there en guerd the -
whole night, with °entreated brows and now*
fiercely staring at the tieing of the Den in the
east. Perhaps then goldeli ray of lighb was.
the only sign to him of God's preeence in the
whole world. Bat it was touching to eee
how this herd, fieroe-looking man, oub of
work and moneyless, gently propped up his
infanb child as it showed signs of dropping
feoward in Bleep against the cold and hard
buttress.
Should this meet the eye of some thinking
philanbhropieb, we trusb he will see what a
splendid opening there is here to effect a
real and testing good to the poor outcast/
htimanity of London. A large building
mighb be emoted In this city with washing
faoilities, so that these poor persons might
obtain a inighb's lodging for a penny and a
thorough wash in the morning. This heal-
thy arrangement might relieve the work la
London hospitals.
Turning our baok to the bridge'we pass-
ed by the Houses of Perliament and the
Abbey, and so emerged into the sidewalks
of Sb. James' Park, where everybiling looked
beautifully froth end green, and we passed
through Spring gardens, and ignited tent into
Tritialmer Square. Hero, too, had Men and
women been /sleeping, tend eome were now
performing their morning ablutions in the
fountains ; and some twere Mouthing' in
,dia,
all directiona. • Bob where do they itch i
to? We must say sleuth, for Yea e ' ' y
do slouch, dragging one leg wearilyt
, ter
another, with hands imbedded in the hotton
of their pocket/without seemingly the least
Wee or care where they go to.
In the Strand, me our homeward way, we
craw a pitying sinht—an intottioeted women
well advanced in years, with haggard .faea.---,
and bleared eyes, and dinned la bleak rags
and orepe. Drenkennese end vide were
writteri in every line of her face and In every
curve in the fettle of her drete, All the men
mid women we lied twat title meriting hoed an
appearanoe Of health and street/be enotigh to
go on battling with in this world; but on this
poor aged creature, hopeless deepeir in thito
world wee branded.
One pleating sight we must mention in
conclusion, and 'that was the little bird.
eages hong outside the windows Of the
Indirstrial -Buildings in Briery Irene ; there
the little innagelabrli Were weleernIng the
coming a day with thtilliug delight,