Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Herald, 1908-12-24, Page 7.0.........................„............ 1,.................,_...,,.............,.............. .4., ..., SIR ANTIIONVS CIIRISTMAS 6W (Elton lards, ;;n the "British Weekly.") eekly.") v 11:e had walked moodily into his lib- ner, almost as ifenti y rary, and without troubling to turn Young children, two streiigo enddsturde itp the lights, had flung hirn€elf into an boys, beading between them a white -rob taey elzair, threat his bands into his ed baby girl, a vision of bobbing yellow pockets, placed "his much eplashecl top- curls, smooth, dint .pled pink boots on the club, end with head sunk wondering bine eyes, then thehdoor �dand os - on his breast, sat gazing into the fire. ted quietly again, Hale:wa • up . Yet even eo, with the hgzroup, then as they hard, dissatisfied walked the pretty3 the room look on his dark, somewhat haw -like met the sombre, almost fierce eyes fixed face, Sir Anthony Amhurst was a hand- on them, they wavered, and stood hud- some man. Tbe" flickering rays of the died together as if uncertain how to pro - greet fire cast long ehadows into the seed, motherless Iambs at whom the distant corners of, the charming old wolf was glaring, And so on this Christ - room, with its endless bookcases, its mac Eve, Anthony Amharic and his ne- highly polished floor, and lighted into gleeted ehildren silently regarded each vivid patches cf oolor the scarlet teat other, while the belle rang on, now far, that proclaimed hint Muster: of Hounds, now near, ringing for the Christ ono the his temples, dark hair rhturxzing grey said, "Suffer the little children to whoe P , could not unto Me come have been more than six and thirty, , and forbid them not, for of Two years ago, there had not been a such the Kingdom want?" of God!" bgrey hair in his head, nor would 7•,e have What do you want?" demanded Sir ering hew he was to sitting 'desolate and , alone, won easily a, shortly, much amazed, and un - time f rejoieingespecral eet specially tti$hfrrt` easily aware that if the children were afraid of hien, he was equally so of had tome to ata as had loolteft hitt too themt a . "Leek here, go away; you cana�aot likely when he had ridden home through apaul: he this room) you know—vanaw., the gloaming just now. Of ut q.ony, his sir, -year-old son and course it B pointed toward th doo , would stay, he told himself with deep. p ty; ryas not a marl gallop after heir, lead straightened out his ranks, and hounds the sole thing left that; could cheer adeanced eo the rug, to stand in stir his pulses, make him forget,. -a of line before him* course it would stay! Bitter eneUgh We have not come to play; we never were the man's thoughts as he watched do here," 11e said, in a clear, solemn la- the embers fall; it was the lot of others - tle treble, his beautiful dark face, that to be widowed even as he had been. would so surely one day be a repetition but what was that to hint, he reflected Of his handsome sire's, drawn into an angrily, what consolation was he to anxious frown. "But — ,ve — have — find in that, pray?—they were but the brought you this," and Sir Anthony be- 'wives M nica.fHeher had idolised her to and his he ex eame aware that he was holding some - elusion of everything else! his five yearsthBut for towards him. a hos it would have been of married Iife had passed as a dream. a ' comic scene; the man's face, as he Sardonically he smiled as he reviewed took the proffered envelope, and drew a the two years since she. Ieft trim, the cabinet photo of his three children there - various forms of consolation offered to from•• the children, as they watched him him. Well he knew how people were say- breat}liiessly, half to see how he would ing that he should marry again, knenv receive their gift, half to be prepared why certain sweet and pretty girls were . to beat a. hasty retreat to where their dined Cu. and he 'went through these faithful guardian awaited them, should ordeals with grim amusement. Perhaps this mighty personage before them show once or twice, in shear desperation and. signs loneliness, he had tried to believe that stllsittingwrath.of Butandremaed quite lie liked ane of his dinner partners, hitt ictnre which. Tony had thrust into his 'the deception would not work. Beneath , ogazing at thed his iron self-oontrol was a na•tore rare- and at arm's his up Igor he guessed ly faithful, and lie dimly guessed that that, despite his upright bearing,the his elioniea, who understood shim--lau Lin gallant attempt at nonchalance, li sunny 31onicn—had carr e g gx fie heart was beatingoruncomfortably, with her to the `land of the Leal,' fast. Tony knew more than the others, 'i On his o ting table lay Lies, Hes therefore feared more, and somehow the invitations to writing festivities, thought cut his father like a knife, and glanced towards them with the sauce he raised. his head with a jerk. A y • emelle, merry Christmas indeed for "Why neve you brought me this?" he one whom theAlmighty liad so sorely asked, quietly. smitten and deserted. He was alone, sot "lbou seeyou are our father; it is a what were three small children ih a nepristmas reeetit," the boy explained distant nursery at the top of the house? nervously. ".Toe's childreat gat Ili. one love - and hrca carefully en hardly whenever by sight, ly enoughe h toldeserve his nursery name of Ile had been proud of his boys, it is "B°autm%. rloddtd his head en rave con - true, when he had watched the lovely firma tion. cherubs in Monica's slim white arms; "Oh, I understand," and Sir Anthony but the other, the girl, whose little life regarded him -uneasily, the photo hang - started even as that most precioas one ing limply in his hand. "Well, 1 aur a was fluttering out, be had never brought much obliged to you—all," with a hasty Himself to see. In that stately house- glance at; the youthful lady in the con - hold it was an understood thing that tre, who seemed much inclined to make 'the children were to be kept out of a dash for it, and recover the gift. sight, nor dare hie; friends mention them Queer thanks from a father to his to the widower. Yet he had promised children. ,An old woman standing behind Monica that they should be his case. , the door, listening with abated breath, and he had kept his word after a fish- elenehed her hands, and in her heart a ion..The old nurse, whose charges they plea went up for them all, not only for were, might ht have summoned wanted,to aned ! her lambs, over whom she watched day wasase c give a report about the byrg- and night, but for the father, who years `Growing! Well, that's all right,' was and years ago had been a child in her how he usually ended the brief inter- care, view; and then perhaps a twinge of eon-+ Oh, dear God Almighty, at this bless- sdienee would make him add: 'And—the ed C,hriatmas time, when our Lord was girl, ell?' born, have mercy on Master Anthony, "And he don't listen when I answer, and let his little children lead him bask as if she was worth no More than t� t0 peace" chance word!" the old woman would de- Beauty was adding his share to the close with trembling indignation. "As 1f presentation when s"Youhe Chirped. e listened again, he did not know that more than all"Merry Risers," he them fine things they have, my lacy, were to say happy Christmas,' poor, pretty, would have rather that he Tony corrected, in a muffled whisper, took them in his arms sometimes and because nurse is sure that mother kissed thein, same as other fathers. efa,s- would want father to be happy," and he ;ter Tony notices. 'Nurse' he says, ,glanced matdol havet t heeredetherrecipient.d `your nephew Joe kisses his children, don't she?' 'He is a choaohman, master Sir Anthony winced, yet he felt de - Tony, I anewers, and he Iooked at nae sire to sweep the group away, and was a minute very old, and turns awe in'w'ardly concerned to see that Tony's '.Che girl,' that's all he ever oidia hex grasp on "the girl's" plump wrist was never no more than `the girl!'" marking the pretty skin, while when she "Don't you fret," the housekeeper released herself, and sat down on the would her head "The maeter, hoe. dined three times there- liinaself thinking how et ig with le. unpleasant ithe mound ustly at the Towers, and they say, that, be, and was distinctly relieved to find there is a young lady staying there who that she took it serenely. For the first Irides to hounds beautifully. 'Me.n is not tome he looked straight at "the girl," and born to live alone,' as, the saying goes, the little one, pleased at his red coat, and be will bear the sight of Mimi-Momsmiled back at Trim with something of ioa well enough when her ladyship's place her dead mother's smile, and taking off is filled again—not that I ever aspect to her shoe, 'staggered to her feet, and came see her equal," to lay it in his hand. "Nor you will. Her children have a "Baby gives," she lisped. stepmother over them, indeed!" was the "It is new, and she thinks you will jealous and ruffled retort, as filling her like it," explained Beauty, with placid, apron with the evergreen and holly for protecting pride. his chubby hands in his 'ceilidh she had come; mime departed with halt, "You lead better kiss her; she puckered brow. seems to like you." So there he sat, brooding over his "She does not know me," he answered, trouble, seeing no light In his elody between his teeth, for the touch of the Iittte hand, light as the snowflakes fiut- eky, regardless of the Light that so long ago came into the world that Christmasu tering to the ground now and again night when the star that heralded our without, had stirred something in his Lord's birth first shone in the clear blue heart, oven as his boy's voice had done eastern sky. As the gusts of wind now a minute before. and again swept round the old house, 'ah, yeeg, she sees you through the they brought with them the sound of rwixuio sometilzles, and roe aay, "That is church belie ringing fortis. the tidings of Dad! Tony said simply, e4ging a lit - great joy, and then, as he mat up iapa- nearer. tieatl he became aware of a curious, Dad!' echoed the girl, with smiling t�.neven knocking on the heavy oak door m Wi in her knowledge, at the further end of the room. With Anthonyng pike a smothered "Who's there? Come in, eannnot you?" groan,nthorry caught her tip—Mqn. he cried irritably, seizing the poker and ica s child, who knew her father on the fire'throlzof making such an attack on ! o the window' and by the aid of one of fi1t the room 'With light. Then as it those faultlesslyise Cut top -boots Beaute p g � ruts likewise lifted beside her, while wyas repeself ated, "Come in, I say, or take Tony found himself swung on to the arnt of the chair, whence he could shy- Levidently- the knocker preferred the ly stip en arm round his father's neck, r"oottese, for as ,Sir 'Anthony, rah satisfied by rite leak on the stern, 'ttlehig'dark head' the door slowly opened, face that he would not be repulsdarL sad there entered, ist an, undecid<.ciman- lives; people said, indeed, that lie for them. And this remark was lto truer than much that people say; certain it was Eve, where the snow lay thick, or inzlth e-inds park, and frost tgh the held they wa ice -bound, a tall dark man would e quietly into the library at eventide, after listening a moment to the dis old desk, �anddstand lniotionleasr be it. Yet there was very little there bundle of letters hi a girlish hand broken bangle, and a fading photo three children, a tiny white shoe— tle enough, but landmarks in the life one who, having suffered and gro n strong, liked on the eve of that teat as lir a flw,h he ze:ili4 that sometl,iu, w e left t+� hire trust, eider and hum - as cent souls were all his otrn to• ° e a+ a y love }i� for the ,: d iunfizg, k , '• lua Bice the resent?" ? t. p lueutisne'd Ca $ + � -i �r� ;S St '' ` Tony presently, as lite girl's sic.+py heard y against elle scarlet coated breast, rJ their ardent baby to guard, winning. lay damp mate of a thumb cast, By Sarah Bernhardt, from the rosebud mouth, .1 i nephew, hos five children, an , isc z.< went to heaven when Clo, took mother. The children into a picture and ;roe has z on his kitchen mantelpiece in . a shell frame, and says that it is better than.a mint of money to him. ',So we got this for Christmas. Nurse said that she did net see why you should ne lie aiud Joe,' you know, and we should give it ourselves. Is it worth a glint to you, father?" "That it is, mannikh " but in his new huntllity Anthony .Anthenst felt '° that possibly he deserved hie l;ieture less than his coachman, Joseph. "Would you like it better with a shell frame, dear lickle sheels?" demanded Beauty, laying a venturesome finger on the cleft in the firm chin, "Or—we rowill gets it for he like that one up there, with—mother's picture in it" It was almost the first time that he head spoken of her, but looking from the usilver-framed photo of lovely Monica the the mantelpiece, it seemed strangely easy and was almost- a relief. For she seem- ed very near to them yet in that quiet room; with her tiny daughter's soft breathing close to his ear, surely he was keeping his promise to her at last and finding that it brought its own reward. "I dine at home on Christmas Day, and they children with me, even—Miss Moni- ca' he said when nurse arrived for her charges, and he looked up at her with an expression absent from has face for tomany you, googd old friend;'1n happytmas better deserves one." truth, Prom that Christmas Eve Sir Anth- I ony ,was the centre of those children's drop red oe nurse'• d his trite Translated from the French, by Charles Houston Goudise. t Ihatl,er, r'er'e made +��•of + *DHy t 'tThe terror of the Bretons. On passing it the peasants made the sign of the cross and eturinured under their breath: "The Chateau of the Accursed!" Brambles grew about its boundary walls," which no living Real dared pays. The valets moved about within like shadows, nev- er raising their voices. No one ever spoke to the master. Alone, the young Comte B.obert found grace before the lord of the manor, the old Due de ItTerberzoff, his uncle. .At the moment, when this recital com- mences, Robert was at the feet of the old plan, who, with livid face, glittering etures, nnd, eat lin aks of the great fear on ducal ll his feat. cha lis- tening to what the spectre of terror seed to him. burned small golden amp, o namented, with precious stones, into the flame of which a tall negro poured, minute by minute, a drop of oil. In the aid man's we ldde hand ha e gleamed id with an lifethe neve the least forgetfulness of las duties. The Duke was paler than -usual. His long white hair clung to his brow, and from his eyes great tears rolled down upon his silver beard. "My dear lord, are you in greater pain?" asked Robert, tederly. The Duke shuddered ---listening still. "Christmas! Christmas!" sang voices in the fields. "Christmas! Christmas!" sounded the church bells. Then drawing himself up, spectre -like, le said: "Listen, Robert; listen!" Chateau de ,ploeineuf was the est eheh ., h.` ea eeret lived For 20 years the 'old man had not ssibly spoken. for The sepulchral voice resounded in the mss great hall; the Arms, struck by echo, the gave out an iron plaint. The young trees Count felt frozen with fear. tem "Twenty years ago, I had a sun — erneand handsome, brave and generous'. He loved tent a young, hew-boz•n girl, and wished to wed her; but I refused --1 eould not con- n art' sent to such an outrage. My son lm - for plored art but I remained inef}xible. My blazon would have been shattered by of such a shame! 1 was wrong, child— I lit- was wrong! Never be arrogantly proud, of it is a mortal sin!" Sobs stifled the old Duke's voice. But n' presently he went on: anniversary to pause awhile in thegpast "The girl was beautiful and virtuous. and aekuowledge that his heavenly fa- I offered her gold; she refused it. Then ther had tempered justice with mercy. I had her abducted and abut up in a tower of the chateau. Months passed; DR, HALE'S GHRISTM.SS s my son remained faithful to hie vows. MEoSAGE. I faithful to my pride. I therefore re- "Christ-Itfass is not done with at raid- solved to kill the girl. To that end I night on the twenty-fifth of Deeember, 1907," writes Edward Everett Bale, in his editorial page in the Christmas Wo- man's Honme Companion. "In the older language of the older Christianity, for people who spoke English, the Christ- mas lasted twelve days. Indeed, I think the Iegends abeut the birth of the Baby said that after the wise men had seen in the east His star they travelled twelve days or twelve night, until on the twelfth night they carte to the saintly stable and unloaded their camels. I like, as one year ends and another year be- gins, to notify those around me that stupid labor,the lifting and toiling of daily Iife, is suspended for a while, and that for the next year energetic work, the triumph of the soul ever mind and matter. is to begin. 1 like to have a special 'remembrance of the Christ«masa every day; the child'ren's celebration on Christmas morning; the service at church as the day goes by; some Christmas pie- ty of the old folks in the evening; the oratorio of the Messiah tet least on both the Sunday,; the Christmas'treo for the Sunday sehool and one for the Settle - meet House and one for the Union acrd one for the Association and one for the Industrial School and so oh until you come tot Twelfth. Night, with its ring m- ils bean in the cake. lend perhaps a gds dance or a "(cod, forgive me!" the • matt •mlrtitterd, tUr eifth Night ie overr*rnia reel before •zt her secretly a message, advising i Thea her to escape. .A silken ladder tree con- veyed to her, with minutely -detailed in- structions as to how she was to fasten ° , it to leer window. She prepared to fly, Can� and then I invented an infamous trap! A "Listen, Robert—lister!! I caused the stones which supported the window to t An he Ioosened so that it should 'ye way, firi souls of those who are at the age when, some think, the Spirit of Evil and the Spirit of 0. od contend for them; but, at th.e supreme moment, the last breath al- most always returns to the Spirit of Good, "1 tben asked to be shown my own la n‘34). "'Come with me,' said the strange be- ing; and, leading me under innumerable vaults, he made me traverse a great distance. At length, stopping me abrupt- ly, he said: `Behold! there is your soul!' "I was petrified with terror! .A, single drop of oil remained in my lamp; and above it an angel with black wings blew upon the flame to accelerate its extine- tloe. I was seized with dread—over- taken by cowardice;" said the Duke, trembling in every limb. "Listen, Robert—Iisten! Beside nae burned a flame of purest light; that lamp of gold, protected by an angel with wings of spotless white. The Spirit of Evil whispered in my ear." r'^ yfiij The old Duke stol tee—as if the voice were speaking to him again. His eyes be - cattle bloodshot, his hoer r rose on his Bead; with horror, his teeth chattered with affright, and when he continued his voice was almost a shriek. "I went to the lamp guarded by the angel with the white wings, who looked • at me sorrowfully; but the angel with the black wings still whispered in my ears. I saw nothing; 1 did not wish to see anything. I plucked a feather from the wing of the black angel and dipped it in the brightly flaming lamp and took from it the oil, drop by drop, and pour- ed it into mine. 31y flame became glit- tering and red as blood; the other pal- ed, but preserved still the brightness of a star. But when the drop of oil was left in it the angel that guarded it spread his white wings and would have stayed me; but an angel with pearly wings and bearing a golden sword sud- denly appeared. his "Let will—God this humill judgan e him,' it sdo lticgl.ng ta ''1 took the last drop of oil! Then fear seized ate. 'What Iamp is this?' I asked. pointing to the poor flame that was ready to expire, and the voice re- plied: It is the soul of your beloved son.' "At the came moment the clear flame of the oil died out; the white angel took its last breath in its wings and flew away, uttering as he went a cry of dis- tress, The Spirit of Evil replied with a cry of triumph. "7 awoke frozen with horror. "in .my chamber lay two bodies --- crushed, unrecognizable, hey icon, in- formed by his fiancee, had tried to pro- tect her in her fight, and my criminal arstre had destroyed them both. It was ( 12 istmas twenty years a. i aging this. he made a siggon to the ne- gro tending the precious lamp to eease feeding its flame, "I have made confession," he added, can now die, but will God forgive me?" o At that moment the bells of the cha- teau pealed forth and the voices of the singers in the -church were heard. The doors of the great hall opened. At the back of the chapel of the old manor, re. spiendent with lights, the infant Jest's - upon his bed of straw, appeared lent with celestial glory. The old Duke fell on his knees before infant Deity. `fan," said the voice of the priest, sus was born to suffer, and died for redemption of sinners. You have ned, you have suffered, you have re- ted—God forgives you. Your soul s from you in peace," hen the old man turned his eyes to - d the lamp, above which an angel h white wings was hovering. That el he reeogilized--it was the guard - of the brilliant lamp. he angel smiled sweetly and tock. tin psis wings the expiring flsanee 1 which lie flew heavenward. e Due de Iierberzoff was dead, 6.♦ The Littre Boy Fools Sento Claus, Dear Santy: I'm the little boy At number fire -six -four,, In frontPUPyou'll see my black bull —• e name is on the door "a lay rad the "Je the sin pen pas was twit ing lan T witi witl Th Th se bring me loads an' Ioads e' things, hen Christmas comes this year, se I have had the measles and risme in my ear. Santy, if you'll be so good, ng toys enough for two, e I am twins, dear Santy Clans, less 'an 'at won't do. don't bring more 'an one alike, we kin swap, you see—• mark 'em "Billy"—I will 'vide fair ez fair kin be. —S. M. Talbot, in The Reader, under her and she wield be dashed upon j CA,, the marble pavement of the courtyard below. It teals Christmas, the night of But that evil deed; and ever since .I have 1+er slept in fear of God. An. ".That same nigh" r was transported Lz in dreams into an lmrnenhe gallery of clouds. 'Vaults followed upon vaults in millions --extending, ever extending. Un- der these vaults hung little golden lamps, swaying gently. It would have ' taken years to count them, Some of them burned brightly, other's were ex- tinguished suddenly. Some shone with a violent glare, others flickered and sputtered a long while before they went out. "Some of the these lamps were guard- ed by angers, white and beautiful as beauty itself. Other of the lamps had angels, Week, ugly and malevolent, who sensed to wait impatiently the mom- ent when the £lame should expire. "'What sloes all this meat?" I asked my. conductor, 'All those lamps are human saute,' he replied. '7,!'host which burn so brightly are the souls of Crew -born infants' stain, less, angers" guard' thein. •• ITero ei" the ; re/tato. I xh Pralrte. Where yesterday rolled long waves of gold Beneath the burnished bins of ,tho sky, A silver -white sea lies still and cold, And a bitter wind blows by. But nothing passes the door all day, Tboughm y watching eyes grout worn and gave a lean, groy wolf that swings away To the far horizon rim. Then, one by one, the stars glisten out, Like frozen tears on a purple rail— TM) darkness folds my ea,lrin about, And the snow begins to fall, 1 will make a hearth -.fire red and bright. Aane ForttSet onewholight t flows the trwindow aii to -night That will bring him home again. T.ove will ride with hire my heart to Warm— Joy. will tint -step hit i . attoas the floor—. What, matters the great white 1enelleese 'i'krben we e bar the cabin daot ? —View} .Sheard, ri e Chrisituas , r49ates, .