3 ' p- I ntelligencer Christmas Supplement. I M I Lancaster JjnteUtgencet. .SATURDAY EVENING. DEC. 24, 1881. CUIUSTJIAS UVK ON TUK FARM. ler the ClllintlliUS Iktelmgencek. 'Tis CIn i.sunns eve and all the Utriu hus bettletl ler the night; Ami overall, like v.atelilul eye, the stars aie twinkling bright. 'May he," the Janner elten ttiiiilc., "thoec Mnrs are loved one's eye.-. That nighf ly keep, o'er loved enrs here, a vigil from the; skies." Ana may Im; "that's ts,c iC;l.en why he doe. his worlcsewnll; May he hi.-j iwU'.ui's eye are there, the hrlght- , tee, ah : who ean tell 7 The rev,.,. gjvc.s ;l oul-.-hert ciew been dreaming, I'll he hound ; And Irani eiteh Jarmer'.s wakened loeit the answering ciew.s rcaeuml. The gehhler blinks upon the tiee and tiitv. te liiek his ncighher. And losing ealancc, wildly llajis. and keeps hit? perch witli labor. And L'ncn he fill In te thinking why the farmer grows se gracious, iid i1- se yredigal id corn that once he held fce pecdeu-. -'1 jpv,w quite lat," he tcll-ceinuiiincs, and Micks his breast out proudly; 'Ttireugh all the country round my lame is being se'umled loudly." And new he floats te dream-land's yard with out the least endeavor. And dreams that there si lord he struts lerevcr and lerevcr! Ah : there his ever-hoping hope has reached its lull Iruitien; lie llmls in dreams, as we mu t liml, an acme ler ambition. Uedeesii'l knew what farmers slay they lirst trcnl kind and tatten, Kl-u that hlgli head would .jadly droop and that proud crc.-t would llattcn. for present uc, lrem luture feasts.llm watch- legs pleasure borrow. And in their dreams .snarl ever bones that they will chew te-morrow. And in the kitchen, white and clean, by ueik and love united, Kach pan ami spoon and chair In place lot let old Kris.s they are i iglitcd. The wide, old chimney Mill Mauds men-, as Kiiss se nit h.ta teiind it. And whvie for near n hundred Yule.:, he has leund the stockings reuml il. The larmer never heeds the iriends who el that chimney say "A Hue would de, and take le.-. loom, that great tiling away." lie never tells that round that hearth, tear that great re'mi-taking tiling, A cycle' joys and .sorrows c'cr.likc Chi IMmas stockings cling. And there tonight the stockings hang, and out of each a voice Will ask old Kri- for some nice tiling lomake young hearts rejoice. Tilde Tem's and MaryV, Charlie's, lien's all hang, a step-like row. While baby liessif's labeled sock j are hung alone below. Hew fondly did the mother kiss lhe.-;' little feet le-night ! Hew held that baby te hcrheait, with Mr.iin se tender, tight : Hew humbly by the cradle kneel, with voice se low and sweet J'bcrcprav that llutlilfheiu'.i Star may guide her little baby's leet : vh: surely will goeil Santa Clans tiling baby something blight ; He'll never miss tlie-e dainty i-eckn, tlieugh dark may be the night; Ker hearts that love like his goeil heait liud light w here'eris love. Ami every stitch el baby's socks is with allcc- lien wove! Tis Cliri-tnias eve anil all the (arm has scttltil ler the night ; I'he sUirs are winking Vuiinily atKiIssKilngle in his flight. Ami all tlie earth seems silent new, as il It paused te hear Tie Hr.d glad notes el Chii.-lma- morn with all its joy and cheer: A,il "Te Ged the hl;:hcsl glory," il longed te lieaL again. And catch the sweet ictraiii el ' 1'cacc en aitb. jimm! n ill toward men." w. r. ?t. T1IKEE CIIIIISTMASKS. BY .1. M. H. I. Merry ClirHtuiHs!" I or the C'lllllSTMAS IXTnLT.IOEXCKIt. Carriage after carriage rolled up befeic tlie stately mansion en avenue. Present after present was carried in at the loer, each mere costly and beautiful than the preceding ; and nine tenths of them all addressed, net te James Allen Hcrriug Hcrriug ten, esq., the owner of the mausien, and one of the wealthiest men in the city, but te his beautiful daughter and only child, the popular, petted, and, sonic thought, spoiled Miss Maude Hcrringten, the queen of her social circle, the envy of her fair companions, the courted and flattered, luit proud and wilful object of a score of young men's attentions, net te say adora tion. She scarcely deigned te read the words en the exquisite cards which accompanied every package, giving the name of each admirer who scut his offering with his wishes for " A Merry Christmas !" te the fair lady Maude. She was reclining languidly en a sumptu ous sofa at one end of the magnificent parlor. All around her bere witness te the immense wealth of her father, who spared nothing in his power te make his daughter happy, ller will in the house was absolute. Whatever her heart desired she had. Her every whim and passing faue.ywas gratified with lavish extrava gance. She had never known what it was te have a single desire unfulfilled, te be denied a single wish. Frem her infancy she had been made te feci that whatevcr money could purchase was at her com mand, that her word was law, that te deny her aught of anything was unjust and utter cruelty. The expensive and splendid Christ mas gifts that new were showered upon her she therefore accepted aud regarded as but a matter of course, scarce requiring any thing like gratitude from her in return. Indeed she seemed net only indifferent te the many presents and flattering senti ments accompanying them, but even im patient at them ; and was jast rising te leave the parlor and go te her room with a disappointed air, when the colored servant brought in another package, from which fell a card en which Maude read : "Lawkexce Dboed, "wishing teu " a Mekry Chbistmas 1" Sudden interest flashed from her dark blue eyes, while the warm bleed mounted te her checks and brew, giving a rich glow of life, almost of splendor, te her beauty. " Ah, I thought it strange that our last interview should have been without ellect !" she exclaimed, as with a satisfied leek she took a shining, spavkling neck lace of diamonds from the richly carved ebony casket. But scarcely looking at this, she eagerly opened the note that she found at the bottom of the box. " 1 thought se!" she continued with a triumphant smile. " I knew I could bring him te my feet ! This is even better than I expected though He will propose te night or I am much mistaken ! And I'll accept him, tee ; just te convince that hateful Miss Brewuell that the is nothing. The idea of her presuming te be a rival of mine ! I knew she is dead in love with him, and that's just why he shall marry me !" With this bile hastened te her room te prepare for the evening's gay party, at which she new was determined te com plete the conquest of the young millionaire Lawrence Drood. He was of an old fam ily ; belonged te the highest circle of so ciety ; a master of the most polished man ners, aud withal accounted one of the most handsome of men what though he was a little tee dashing and gay, there was no ambitions mother who would net have thought him altogether a desirable match for her daughter. Christmas evening came a model Christ mas. Softly the pure white snow came floating down, flake upon flake, mellowing the sound of the bells which sent forth through the frosted air peal upon peal, te every soul wishing A Merry Christmas ! Merry Christmas! The air was bitter cold, biting, cutting, piercing cruelly cold te the thousands of peer and needy ones throughout that great city. Did Maude Ilcrringten think of them, as she steed there before her mirror with a gratified smile? .Why should she hew could she'.' She had never seen anything of poverty, nor ever known what want, hunger and cold might be. She had never been taught nor given occasion te think of such disagreeable things. And just new her mind was full of the party, the guests te which were already arriving ; and full of Lawrence Drood, whom she had almost brought herself te love, with such love as a self-absorbed heart like hcr's could feel. "Miss Maude!'' It was the servant calling at the deer, "Miss Maude, I begs your parding, but the woman wouldn't go way " " What is it you waut, Jane ? be quick, I have te go down te the parlor." " A wemau's at the back deer ; she scz she wants ter spake te ycr ; and I ceuldu't git red uv hur at all." " What nonsense, Jane ! Yeu don't sup pose I can jre down and entertain every beggar that conies te the deer. Why de you bother me with such things new? Give her some money ard send her oft"." " I told her se mcself. But she scz she didn't want no money at all sez she " "(Je en and de as I tell you!" intcr i uptcd the vexed young beauty-. "And, .lane, see te it that you don't come te me again about beggars !" And while the proud lady M; ude swept into the brilliantly illumined parlor, the back deer was rudely slammed in the face of a peer woman, who, with the marks of bitter sufleriug in her pale face, aud evidently in a condition but little able te endure the cold blasts of the pitiless storm, feebly dragged herself along through the deep snow, out into Ihc darkness of the winter's night. Maude Ilcrringten certainly was the belle of the evcuini Her perfect form moved with a matchless grace through the mazes of the merry dance. Her dark eyes shone with mere than usual brilliancy and eloquence as they glanced from one te the ether of the group of admiring gal lants who were around her.- There was a charm about her beauty which none could help but feel. And yet it was that type of beauty that ever leaves an impression upon the beholder of something like dissatis faction and even regret, an undufluable feeling as of something wanting ; net anything physical, but a spirit worthy te dwell in and possess se perfect a face and form. Upen the thoughtful, a beauti ful body inhabited by a soul less perfectly beautiful, ever leaves this impression of sadness aud even pain. She seemed te be having indeed a merry, merry Christinas, and te be perfectly happy, until the evening were en te near midnight. Lawrence Drood was devoted te her. Her prophecy had been fulfilled. He had asked her te be his wife and she had consented. Her triumph was com- pletc. What was it then that toward the close of the evening caused a cloud as of doubt, if net regret, te pass ever hur fair face? There were ethers of the gentlemen who drank as freely of the choice wines as Lawrence Drood. Yet it troubled her te note his ficc indulgence, it mera than mortified her te hear his silly speeches. She was becoming uerveus, thoughtful, discontented, disgusted. Shcjwas actually glad when the time came for the gay party te disperse. Lawrence Drood fairly stag, gcrcd aud reeled from the Jdoer te his car riage. " Well, M&udic, come here ami let me congratulate you. Yeung Drood seems te be a jelly geed fellow of :v first class family plenty of meiey, tee ; altogether it has been a right merry Christmas, eh, darling?" Aud old Mr. Ilcrringten set tled himself in his arm-chair, after all had departed, te talk the eveuts of the day ever with his daughter, as was his custom almost every evening. But Maude seemed in no humor for it. Strange that a newly betrothed bride should feel as restless, as dissatisfied, as she did. She thought se herself, and it provoked her. Everything provoked her. Se she pettishly replied te her father's kindly banter : " I don't feel like being congratulated just new." Aud she abruptly rose te go te her room, without, the customary good night kiss, aud in a decidedly disagreeable humor, muttering te herself as she went : "Merry Christmas, indeed ! I don't see anything merry about it. Always the same thing ever, year in and year out ; I think it's tiresome !" Was it only the relaxation aftci- the evening's excitement that se depressed her spirits ? Was it because her powers of en joyment and pleasure had beceme cloyed ; because she had tee much of all her heart could desire, that at length even these things that should confer happiness palled upon her taste and disgusted her? What ever it was, when she retired that night, it was in a decidedly unhappy frame of mind, discontented, irritable, sick and tired et everything, of herself most of all. But still the midnight bells kept pealing forth their Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas te all ! II. l'cacc, poed will toward men." Hew swiftly flics the time ! And yet what an age it seems te Maude Ilcrringten Mticc last ll:ristmas ; ler se much lias happened sinue then ! But can that be Maude, the petted daughter, the queenly belle, the proud heiress, wading through the drifting snow in the very teeth of the sharp, cold north wind? It is Maude Hcrriugteu, though net the proud heiress. Some six months before this second Christmas night James Allen Ilcrringten, esq., had failed, utterly and completely, and that, tee, net in the most honerablo way. Turned out of house and home, they had te rent a few rooms, where Maude new lived and earned her daily bread by giving lessens in music. She was no longer the belle of society, courted and flattered by all. Though as beautiful as ever, some would have said mere beauti ful, in her plain black dress, her old ad mirers knew her no mere. As the brilliant Lawrence Drood, laughingly dcclarcd,'"cir cumstanccs alter cases ;" se of course his engagement was net considered binding. He simply, with all the rest, ignored the Herrinstens when they heard of their fail ure, and by this time had already quite forgotten tbem. She was no longer even the petted daughter. The father had been se overcome by the blew and its disgrace that Lie had died a few weeks after they had been forced te leave their mansion en avenue. Maude was an orphan, almost! jicuuuessb , out sue was mere ei a true woman new than she had ever been, or than most would have thought her capable of being. She had been trying heroically te for get past pleasures aud follies by a stern devotion te present duties. But, eh, it was se hard ! Never had she felt mere rebellious than this evening, this merry Christmas evening. She. was new en avenue. A strange impulse' it was that urged her te go aud leek once meic at the old home, the home where just one year age, this very hour, she bad presided at the merry party, had received the costly gifts, had become an affianced bride, aud yet had been se ungrateful, dissatisfied and even unhappy. Light and music, laughter and dancing are within te-night as tuey were then. Uew every detail of that night is brought vividly be fore her ! She even remembers the peer beggar woman whom she had sent from the deer out into the cold, aud it was a colder night than this. It is tee painful. She hastens en through the snow as fast as she can, while the tears come welling up, and will net be stepped. "Lcddy, Leddy ! won't ycr plasegi' me a nickel? 'Cause it's Christmas, ycr knew ! " It is a wee little girl that has come from the court te her right, and is stretching out her little, thin, bony hands towards her, with a pinched, weazen face, and great sad eyes ii'.tt go straight te Maude's heart. " Hew queer it is '. she thinks te her self, "that I pity people new. I never used te." She holds out the nickel te the little girl, it was all she had te give, and asks her name aud where she lives ? " Back here in the court," she replies. " Will you give the money te your mother or spend it yourself?" asked Maude, strangely interested in the young beggar "I'm ageiif ter buy some medicine with it." "Medicine ! Why child, are you sick?" "Ne, mum, I ain't, but Miss Drood, she's a dyin', and her baby's a cryin' se. I wan' ter git seme pirergeric fur 'im ter keep Mm quiet." "Where is the sick lady ?" auxieusly inquired Maude. " Will you take me te her?" " Right ever here," was the reply, as tlie little" girl turned at once te obey. "Come en after me, mum. Take keer yer don't fall though, here en this ice. This is where we 'uns have our si id in' place" They reached a tenement back in the court, 'iney climbed up nve nignts ei ncKciy, uiny mans. never uuieru uiiu Maude seen or imagined such a place, the girl opened a deer without knocking, and said : "There she is. Yeu jes' wait here new till I get the medicine, then I'll show ycr down stairs agin," and the young guide was about te huiry off, when Maude s' epped her. " Ne, no ; yen keep that money for yourself. The baby docs net need any parcgerU: ! " Aud in fact the little babe had stepped its crying the moment Maude had entered the deer. It was a miserable domicile. Ne furniture, but one backless chair, a rough wooden table and a low bedstead, en which was lying the emaciated, ghastly fei m of a young woman, evidently in the last stages of consumption. Upen her besom lay the little babe, its large eyes wide open, and looking straight at Maude, its long, black hair mingling with the mass of even darker curls that lay in wild luxuriance 'round the mother's head. It was a sweet looking child, a bright, beautiful boy. Maude's first impulse was te take him up But she feared te disturb the mother, who seemed dozing or in a stupor. When, however, the little one, with a bright smile, stretched out its chubby hands te wards her, she could net help reaching down aud gently lifting him te her arms. Instantly fhe mother was wide awake. She looked wildly around, until her gaze fell upon Maude ; there it rested, with an ex pression of recognition in the deep-sunken, coal-black eyes that almost friehtcned Maude. With unnatural strength the woman half raised herself in her bed, with that glaring gaze still burning into Maude's soul. Then she abruptly spoke in a deep, startling tone : " Did you marry him? Lawrence Drood, did yen marry him ? " The question fairly shocked Maude. What did this woman knew about her en gagement? About Mr. Drood ?. Wait! Did net the little girl call her Miss Drood? Who was she? "1 knew you, Miss llcrriugten," con tinued the consumptive, "A year age who didn't knew you ? And I knew Lawrence Drood better than anyoue else, unless you married him did you? I never heard, for I have been tee sick te get out of the house ever since last Christmas night, when you had me driven from your back deer " Here a violent spell of coughing stepped her. "Ne, I did net marry him," said Maude. " But why de you ask such a question at this time? Can I help you in any way, my geed woman ? I will try te atene for my cruelty last Christmas, if you will let inc. " " Nothing can help me any mere. Thank Ged that yen did net marry him. Ah, ycE, thank Ged ! Fer he has been wondrous geed aud kind te me and te you, Miss Ilcrringten ; for it must have been Ged that kept you from marryinz Lawrence Drood -don't interrupt me. I have only a little strength left me, and I must tell you new what I came te tell you last Christmas." Hew affectionate the little babe was be coming, .and hew geed ! He was crewing and patting Maude en the checks, and clinging te her most lovingly. " Sit down. Miss Hcrringten," continued the wemau, and then went en, "Yes, I came te your house a year age te tell you that before Ged Lawrence Drood was mv husband yes, he married me two years age, almost I was ucautuul then; but foolish. Otherwise I might have known that one like he never intended really te make me, a peer girl, his wife. But hew could I knew the man he brought was net a real clergyman ? That the whole cere mony was a sham ? I thought it all real and true, yes, aud before Ged it was true and real ! Before Ged I am his true wife, and no ether can be ! There in your arms hew sweetly the darling sleeps ! is the pledge of our marriage. O, I thank Ged that he kept you from committing the sin of marrying my husband, and kept him from the sin, tee ! I am ready te go home new. I am convinced again that Gcd loves me ; else he would net have sent you here te-night. O, Miss Hcrringten, has net Ged been geed te us? Ought net I te trust him te 'take care of my boy, tee ? Somehow or ether I never felt his goodness and love like I de new. I always tried te serve him, but you knew hew often a body becomes dissatisfied and ungrateful, even when He is blessing us all the while. But He bas forgiven us all, I knew ; I LANCASTER, PA., SATURDAY. DECEMBER 24, 1881. feel it in my soul! Everything seems n..4 4 nAHAAfnl V " ijuicb auu pctivciui uvtv. The tears that flowed down these hollow cheeks were tears of humble trust and deep peace and gratitude. But what caused the tears te flew from Maadc's eyes, as she pressed the sleeping babe closer te her breast She was comparing her let with this peer woman's. She was thinking, if this peer creature could be grateful and happy, hew ungrateful and wicked she had been, whom Ged had blessed se infinitely mere richly in every respect. They were tears of penitence that rolled, for the first time in her life, down Maude Ilerringten's cheeks. The woman rallied once mere te say : "Yeu must be a very geed Christian, Miss Herrington,te Ieave your comfortable house such a night as this, aud ceme te sec oue like me and Christmas night it is tee ! I am sure you must be worthy of all the many blessings Ged has given you. But He is going te bless me even mere yes, te-night yet! He is going te take me home te himself seen, very seen ! Hark, are these the Christmas bells ? Or arc they the bells of heaven ringing ever yonder? O, hew sweet and joyful tliey sound! Miss Hcrriugteu, won't you de me one favor while I am going? Yeu are se pure and geed ; won't you kneel down and pray with me? I can go in peace then perfect peace !" Yes, Maude did kncel down, right thcre by that miserable bed and pray, eh, se earnestly, eh, se fervently, as she had never prayed in her life before. Frem a penitent, broken and contrite heart she poured feith such a flood of petitions and tears that made the very angels of heaven rejoice. She prayed net for the dying woman alone, but that He who had spoken peace te this soul, might make even her also, the ungrateful, discontented, spoiled child of the world and of sin, like unto this woman in humble faith and love te Ged. She poured out her whole soul there. She never knew hew long she had re mained uoen her knees by that beside. But when she arose it was as a uew creature. A calm aud sweet pcace filled her whole being. She leaned ever and kissed the wemau nor felt the cold chilli ness of the touch. Fer the suffcrer's soul had fled te join the hosts that were hymn ing the praise of Christ above, the com pany of theso who "came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes aud made them white in the bleed of the Lamb." She caught up the babe in her arms, aud covered him with kisses, as she wrapped him up in her shawl and said : " Yes, darling, you are mine from hence forth. Yeu are Ged's Christmas present te me this night. Yeu shall ever remind me of that holy Christmas child who here first was born in my heart, and se graciously fills it with leve and peace !" 1'rcssing her precious burden te iter besom, she hastened home through the snow-cevcrcd streets. Her heart was light aud joyous. Her strength seemed te have been renewed, and her happiness aud hopeful spirit returned. Never had Christ mas seemed te her as new. It was a new revelation, as herself was a new creature. She passed the old stene church near which she ledged, just as the grand organ and full choir swelled out in the closing anthem of the Christmas evening service. Was it from them, or from Heaven itself, or only from her own heart, that the weids came se distinctly te her soul ? Or was it from all three together? " On. Earth Peace, Geed Will Toward Men." III. Glory te Ged in the Iliglicet!" The night was a grand one. The moon like a heavenly pearl was hanging in tht deep-blue sky, peaceful aud serene. The firmament seemed mere thickly studded with twinkling, glewiug stars than usual ; as though the angels had purposely poured them out in especial profusion because it was Christmas night. Hew calm and quiet the great city seemed ! Se thought at least Maude lIcrriugteu,as she lay there ou her bed, ever against the window, in the neat little fourth-story room, where she had lived ever since her father's failure. What a long time age that seemed ! "The boy is asleep new, Miss Maude," said the kindly veice of the peer woman who was nursing the sick girl this oveu eveu ing. " Is there anything I can de for you ? I think it is time te take your medicine again, is it net?" With the tenderness of a mother the geed woman bent ever the sufferer and smoothed her fevered brew. She was one of the women who lived in the court where just one year age this very night Maude had found the dying mother of the little boy who since -then had been her most cherished treasure ; and had found, tee, an everlasting peace for her own soul. Since then scarce a day had passed ou which she had net visited one or the ether of the miserable families who lived there. That court had been her special parish. One by ene of the degraded women and drunken men had yielded, mauy of them unconsciously, te the purifying in fluence of her presence, of her gentle words, and devoted self-sacrificing Chris tian walk and conversation. She had started a sewing school among the women, in which she taught them much of the holy Jesus and his leve aud salvation, much of cleanliness, economy, industry and all the virtues of true womanliness. Every Sunday she gathered together the children, who seen also brought their parents with them, and taught them the precious word of life, whicliwas ever be bo be ceming sweeter te her 6eul the mere she studied it. Iu one short year she had brought about a wonderful change in the character of that court, and had gained for herself the devoted leve of every man, woman and child that lived there. It was new about three weeks age that, en one of her evening visits she had seen what formerly had been no uncommon sight a man in a beastly state of intoxication, reeling toward the gutter, slipping en the ice, who, had she net half-caught him, would have fallen headforemost against the stone curb. As it was the peer wretch cut au ugly gash across his forehead, and lay unconscious and bleeding in her arms. There in the bitter cold night,-with the rain pouring down upon her, as she sat en the wet pavement, she tried for fully twenty minutes te restore the weuuded man te consciousness. But in vain. At last she had te leave him, te summon te her aid some of the men living near by. Inte their care she gave him, while she, wet and chilled te the bone, hastened te her humble home. She bad never left her room siuce then, but sank rapidly under the effects of the severe cold then con tracted. The weuuded mau had been confined te his bed iu one of the houses there for sev eral days, and then had been called for by a gentleman in a line carriage and that that was all the dwellers in the court could find out about him. Before he had left, however, he had been very anxious .te dis cover who the lady was te whom he owed his life, as he said. He had been well nigh forgotten by this time in the anxiety every one felt for Miss Maude in her illness. A gentle knock is heard at the deer, and ! Bill S locum came in en tip-tee. He had formerly been one of the most notorious roughs, and criminals of the city, new he was a sober man, honest and industrious, and supporting his family quite comfort ably. He was followed by another man, lately reformed by Maude's influence. Still ethers followed, both men and women, all sober and clean ; and with au almost reverential air each comes near the bed of the sufferer te press her wasted hand, and murmur a heart-felt greeting en this Christmas evening. What a grateful smile of holy joy il lumined the patient's countenance as shj looked upon this rich harvest of immortal souls whom Ged had allowed her te glean for His glory ! They bad come thus in a body " te surprise Miss Hcrringten," they said ; aud some had even brought flowers and laid them en her bed, silently, sol emnly, all had brought seme trifling gift ter " .Hiss Ilerringten's little bDy." But there was a great sadness pictured en each face, as they looked upon the dear form there en the bed, for they knew she was net te be with them long any mere. Unnoticed in the slight bustle of the surprise,'- a carriage had driven up be fore the house. And new another knock is heard at the deer. The ucxt instanfj an elegantly dressed gentleman enters, all muffled in furs, and asks in a respectful veice : " Docs Miss Herriugteu live here ?" As he speke he removed his fur cap from his head and a large fresh m-.w is seen en his forehead. It is the man whose life Maude had saved in the court gutter three weeks age. It is can it be possible ? Yes, it is Lawrence Drood ! But he has changed very much. He has grown ten years elder since this even- iug two years age ! Still Maude recog nizes him. She holds out both her hands te him. He takes them, kisses them ; bows his head low down and falls upon his knees by that humble bedside. Maude feels the tears from this strong man's eyes falling hotly upon her hands. But she does net withdraw them. She only leeks mere happy, mere saintly than before, as she lifts her eyes upward te heaven and murmurs a prayer te the Father of leve there. At length the pcuitent for Lawrence Drood is penitent, yea, and pardoned tee, is able te speak. " Aud is it thus I find you, Miss Ilcr Ilcr ringeon '.'" he exclaims, in tones of bitter remorse. " I could net believe them when they told me it was you who had saved my life. I did net knew then that it had becu at the sacrifice of your own ! O, Miss Ilcrringten, can you ever fergive me?" "Lawrence," solemnly, but with feeble tone, asked Maude, "Lawrence, has Ged forgiven you?" " Yes, blessed be His name, yes ! But, had it net been for you ; you, who above all ou earth had cause te hate me, I should have died in my sins, a miserable, beastly drunkard ! That fall, and that rescue brought mc te my senses, showed me my low, lest condition, and brought me te re re peutauce and redeeming faith in Jesus Christ, by whose grace I am saved." " Yes, Lawrence ; te him belongs all the glory. He has pardoned you. I have nothing te forgive, but only te thank and praise him for his marvelleus goodness, mercy and love." An expression came ever her face, tee pure, tee gloriously transfigured for any mere earthly bciug. All they that saw her then, declared ever after that she had become an augcl even before Iter soul left its body. She looked again at the mau, kneeling by her bed, and with a sweet, blissful ex pressien, said : " Se you arc a Christian ; saved at Iat, Lawrence?" He humbly bowed his head in reply and murmured. "By Ged's grace I have re nounced sin and the world, and belong te Christ and Him alone, henceforth and for ever." "Amcu !" solemnly said several voices in the room. After another pause, Maude withdrew her ene hand from his, and gently drew back the covers from the sleeping boy, as she said, "Lawrence, will you accept a Christ mas present from me this blessed Christ mas night ? And will you keep it aud cherish it, care for and love it as long as you live, for the holy Christ's sake, for your sainted wife's sake, for my sake?" The mau gazed a moment at the lovely child. He snatched him te his breast, while a flood of tears, tears of sacred gratitude, once tnore burst from him as he exclaimed. "Aud this tee, Miss Hcrriugteu; this tee, O my Ged ! de I ewe te you ? O. it is tee much ! Yes, for your sake, for my own son's injured mother's sake, for the holy Christ's sake, I de accept this prec ious gift from your hand, but as given by Ged himself te whom be glory alone, glory in the highest ! Maude's head sank upon the pillow. A sweet smile wreathed her lips, from which as she closed her eyes, came the same words : " Glory te Ged in the Highest!" Then all was still. A purified soul had fled from earth, was winging its way up ward te the throne. But as the pearly gates above swing open te rcceive Maude Hcrriugteu that solemn Christmas night the little fourth-story room suddenly seems te beceme filled with a wondrous melody aud marvelleus light. Did these redeemed men and women, who se reverently knelt around the little bed, in reality catch the glorious sound of the seraphim's chaunt, and see the glitter and sheen of the heavenly harps ? They thought se. But perchance it was only the reflection and echo of these in their hearts, that se filled their whole being, and sounded as clear and distinct as when first it broke ou the midnight air o'er the hills of Judca. Hark ! What a flood of melody it is ! As though 'twere Christmas in Heaven, as well as en earth ; for earth and Heaven alike arc filled with the swelling refrain : " Glew te Ged! Glory te Ged in the M'jtiettL" Onr Grand Holiday. Ker the Christmas Intellieeucer. The Christian church very properly has set apart ene day of the year te commem orate the Nativity. That it bas the consent of the enlight ened judgment of millions is proof of the value of the holiday, and all who come within its influence feel something of the original proclamation of " Geed will te men." Occurring in our latitude at the season when the- " last love-leaf hangs shivering en the bough," and winter reigns, it is pre-eminently the sea son for the warming of bands and hearts. Kindly remembrance warms the heart, and recollection gees a great way towards warming seme pair of hands. The doctor of philosophy demonstrates that nothing is lest in the economy of na ture ; and all inspiration and revelation show the same fact in the moral world ; therefore, let the heart warm and revive recollection. "When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great- joy." Matt. ii. 10. Andrew Ellisen's Christmas. BY OSCAU FAT ADAM. 1'Oi- tllO CUnUTMAa IXrEtLIOESCEIt. "Opportunity is a rare and sacred thin? : Ged seldom otters It twice. Mrs. Dall. "While there is time let us de geed," was the text the rector of St. Luke's had chosen for dnc of the last Sundavs in Ne vember, and a very fine sermon his people said he preached from it, and the most of them went home and forget all about it. Andrew Ellisen, however, who sat near the chancel, heard only the text and as that did net particularly impress him, his mind seen wandered off te the cares of the week. He was a wealthy man and by no means an ungenerous man when his sym pathies weic aroused, bat ideas did net readily suggest themselves te him and ha gave of his abundance only when the ne cessity for se doing was urged upon him by untoward circumstances. Since the death of his wife and daughter he bad lived alone aud as years wcut ou had be ceme mere and mere immersed iu business cares. He did did net step te think for whom he was laying up money every year. Visions of distant cousins te be some day enriched by him sometimes passed through his mind, but they were only visions as yet. There was time enough in the fu ture te think definitely of them. The day after the rector's sermon hail been preached, te which he had net lis tened, AikJicw Ellisen was sitting alone iu his private ofiice, just as the daylight began te struggle with the darkness. Out side it was dull aud rainy, and indoors the fire in the grate burned low. Iu the outer office through the glass partition he could see his two -clerks, Hepper aud French writing busily. He vaguely wondered if they ever felt as drearily as he did at that moment. Hepper wasa man old as himself, bad grown up with the business, ami seemed te have no ether thought or do de sire, se far as his employer could judge, but be had never taken the pains te in quire into the circumstances of the younger man's life. Just then the lamp lighter passed through the street and El El lieon noticed for the first time what a very small boy he was. Moved by a sudden impulse, Ellisen opened the window and called te the boy, who came weudcriugly. He seemed se very small and wretched, standing there in the half-darkness. "Yeu wanted me, sir ?'" said the boy inquiringly. "les," was the reply, I wanted te speak with you a moment," at the same time offering a small coin, which the lad took gratefully. " Yeu must be very wet aud uncomfortable," Ellisen wcut ou ; "I hope you have some dry clothes te put en when you get home." "Ne, sir, these arc all I have, and I have no home te go te." The boy's tones wcre net complaining. "Ne home, hew is that '.'"asked the ether. "The family are all dead but mc, but I get along pretty well, for the engineer of the shop ou the next street lets me sleep by his engine nights. Yeu wouldn't believe what a capital place it is te get warm, aud net many boys has such a geed ehaucc," concluded the small waif with cheerful energy. Ellisen grew cold at It would net de for the open window, him te stand tbcie longer. "Come here te-morrow about ten o'clock," he said as he closed the window, aud the lad premised. Fer seme reason the day seemed less dreary as Ellisen sat down again and the office fire certainly buvticd better. The thought occurred te him that when the boy came the next day he would give him a situation iu the establishment as office boy. There would be a geed place for the cheerful little fellow. The gas was lighted new iirthc outer office, and Ellisen could sec as French momentarily looked up from his writing that the younger clerk was careworn and that there were wrinkles en the yeunjr forehead. It seemed but a short time siuce French had ceme te the office a bright, happy-looking boy. What should change him se seen ? Just then Mr. El El lieon's carriage drove up and the coach man let down the steps. As Ellisen rese te go, still thinking of his clerk, he con eluded te take the young man home with him and talk with him a little. "French," he said, as he passed into the ether office, "I want you te go home te dinner with mc." The young man looked up in surprise. Hepper went en writing. He never paid attention te what was net addressed directly te him. " Yes, I mean you. French," added his employer, " se put en your coat and come with mc," and the young man thought there was a kindlier ring in Mr. Ellisen's veice than he had ever noticed before. "Hew long have you been with me, French," observed the cider man as they sat at dinner. "Ten j'cars, Mr. EIHmmi," was the re ply. "Se leug?" mused the ether, "but then you were but a boy when you came te mc, I remember." "And new I am twenty-five," returned French. "Twenty live," thought Ellisen ; " what have twenty-live years te de with care and wrinkles?" " Yeursalary is six hundred, I believe?" he said after a pause. "Can you get along comfortably en that sum ?" " Oh, yes, though 1 can't lay up much, for I have a younger brother that I want te start ir the world if I can. We make the six hundred go as far a", it will between us." The young man ;;peke cheerfully, but his employer uew began te realize hew small a sum he was really paying and re solved te double the amount at Christmas. He wondered hew it would seem te have euly six hundred dollars a year and have te share it with some one. After all, per haps it did net take se much te make oue happy as he had sometimes thought, and then he thought et: the little lamplighter again. Well, it should be a happy Christ mas for him and for this veuug French as well. When the dinner was ever and the clerk was taking his leave, Ellisen noticed that he was far tee thinly clothed for the cold damp weather and that he were no overcoat. " I will scud him round te my tailor te get measured for an overcoat te-morrow," thought Ellisen, as the deer closed upon the young man. When the morning came, however, it brought letters which obliged Andrew Ellisen te start at once for a distant city and the last benevolent intention of the night before was forgotten. He yet re membered the boy who was te come that morning te see him, but he decided te put off engaging the lad till after his return, and merely left a small sum with Hepper, with instructions te give it te the boy when he appeared, that he might net be disappointed. It was the week before Christmas when Andrew Ellisen returned, his mind se full of nev'6usiness plans that he did net no tice tuat a boy of eighteen was busy at French's desk, and a day or two went by before he thought te inquire. French was ill, Hepper told him, and that was his brother who was making his place geed. " Very ill ?" inquired Ellisen, as the thought of what he had meant te de for he young mau and had left undone came Suddenly te him. " I fear se," was the response. " He caught a heavy cold the week after you Ictt and has been iu bed ever since. I doubt if he recovers." Hepper's slew, business-like teues smote heavily upon Ellisen's heart. His voice trembled as he spoke. " Seud his brother te me, Hepper," and iu a moment the boy steed before him. "Your brother is very ill, I hear," bo be gau Elliseu, " and I canuet tell you hew grieved I am te hear it. He was always faithful te his duties and I bad meant te advance his salary very considerably at Christmas." The sympathetic tones wcre tee much for the boy and his voice was broken by a sob as he replied, "He is the best brother in the world and has dene everything for me. no went without an overcoat this winter in order te de something for me, though I didn't then knew it. and he was always denying himself ler me." "Take me te him, my boy." said Elli Elli eon, much moved, and in a few moments they were at French's lodgings. It need ed but a moment te fissure Elliseu that French's lecevery was hopeless and the kuowlcdge was very bitter te Andrew El El lieou, as his own responsibility pressed heavily upon him. All that could be dene new was done and every comfort that could be suggested was supplied by Ellisen, who remained by his bedside uinlit antt day till the cud. It was uet far off and whil e the Christmas chimes sounded forth at midnight the young life ceased as the Christmas main came iu. Au hour or two later as Andrew Elliseu was going sadly home he passed the open deer of an cngine room, out of which a red light shone. A number of men were going in, and hardly knowing why he did se, Ellisen followed them. The engineer was explaining something te these about him. "It was just this way," he was saying. " The little chap used te sleep here nights, which he hadn't no ether place te go te, aud se cheerful he always- was I liked his company. 4 Te-morrow's Christmas,' he says when he comes in te-night, 'and in the morning I am going te a gentleman in the next street that was very geed te mc a little while age, and wish him a " merry Christmas," ' says he. 'Are you,' I says, I reckon he 11 be pleased,' aud then he curls up in the corner ami gees te sleep. But just as them chimes begun he starts up iu his sleep a say in' as hew Christmas was come and before I could step him, for I see he was asleep aud didn't knew wheic he was gein', he trips ever some thing and falls right against the flywheel. It was all ever with him then, fellows, and before I could step the cngine he was dead. I tell you I feel mighty bad ever this thing ;" and the rough fellow broke down just here and left his sentence un finished. Andrew Ellisen had listened intertly.and when the speaker ended he asked where the boy had been carried, and the en gineer pointed te an adjoining shed which Ellisen entered. A single glance at the little hotly which lay there showed it te be the homeless lamplighter te At horn he had meant te be kind some day. " He was a plucky little chap," said the engineer ever Ellisen's shoulder, "and never complained of nothing." " Yes, yes, I knew," said Elliseu, aud then giving the man his address, he told him te call at his house and he would un dertake all necessary arrangements for the funeral and see that all expenses were paid. Ouce moreAudrew Ellisen set out up i his way home. It was a long walk ami thcre was plenty of time for accusing thoughts te crowd upon his mind. But through their midst suddenly came the rcmembrance of the text of the rector's sermon live weeks before. The words had been almost unheeded at tin; time, hut new they burned thcmselvet; upon his mind. " While ice hardline, let us dogeod." The Christmas Flower. Fer the Cuiiistmas Ixtei.lige;;ckr. This remarkable flower blooms when the vcgctable world in one zone is asleep, except the few plants cared for in green houses and en window sills. The Christmas flower, " Christblume," or Black Hellebore, iu botanic science, defies the harshest weather, and is pcrcn -nial indeed. It is net a native of America, but thrives all the same ; it is indigenous te Austria, Schwcilz aud ether parts or Northern Europe. Its common name is suggested by the time it begins te bloom the last of November or December and continues in bloom until April or May. The showy part is the calyx, for the fringe of slender, two-lipped nectarines arc the real petals ; these fall off seen after the expansion of the flower, leaving scarcely a suggestion of having been, but the calyx is persistent throughout the winter, it is about an inch and a half iu diameter, white with a rosy tinge, which changes te a bright green about April. It is herbaceous, with no above-ground stems. The Christmas flower should stand as the emblem of triumph ever adversity and te illustrate the lines, " Existence may be borne and the deep root of life aud suffer ance makn its firm abode in bare and deso lated besoms." Flowers in all history serve in every variety of way te express thought, Ecuti nicut or emotion. The ideal use of flowers is second only te the real ; in the first their influence is te rcfiue aud elevate, in the second the fruition of hope, of life and of immortality is predicted. The great Swedish naturalist had a par tiality ter the flower, which was after wards dedicated te him the Linnca bore bere alis. He tiaccd in it a fanciful analogy between it aud his own early fate, " a little northern plant, flowering early, de pressed, abject, aud long overlooked." A volume might be written oil the sym bolic use of flowers. The genista plant was considered a symbol of humility. Fulke, carl of Aujeu, who lived a century befere the Nerman conquest, having been guilty of seme crimes, was enjoined te go te the Hely Land ami work his penance by wearing the genista in his cap, he after wards adopted the title of I'latittcgcuuet. The verbena (probably tin: teak) was used by the ancient Remans te confirm and bind treaties en the return of peace with their hostile neighbors, and the per son who had the office of carrying it was called Vcrbcnarius. Friendship has no sweeter offering than flowers ; and the most inconspicuous flower en a grave is an uudying refutation of such a symbol as the inverted torch. Sel from Oae of Ilclea's Babies. Fer the Christmas Ixtellieexcer. Miss Christephine, whose age is eight yeaw, was looking thoughtfully en the fleer a few moments and, looking up. said : "Mamma, I think St. Nicholas and St. Paul were both geed men. I. D. Z. "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising Ged and saying, ' Glory te Ged in the highest and en earth, paace, geed will toward men.' " Luke ii. 13, 14. i; n si n fl
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers