Newspaper Page Text
Entered according to Act of Congress, in June, 1867, by J. W. Burke & Cos., in tbe Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the So. District of Georgia.
Yol. I.
Written for Burke’s Weekly.
THE CHRISTMAS TREE.
BY CLARA LE CLERC.
ERRY Christmas, Grand
ma • erl T Christmas,
dear Grandma!” chorus
ed six young voices, as
Grandma Marston open
'HifS et * Re nurser y door an( * ste PP e d
InMl within the room.
f® “ Avery
ff happy Christ
mas, my darlings!”
replied the old lady,
as she placed a lov
ing kiss upon each
pure brow, and ex
tended her arms to
wards the baby,
which gave a glad
cry as it sprang into
them.
“0, Grandma, we
are so anxious to see
our Tree. When shall
we see it?” exclaim
ed Walter, a manly
boy of eleven.
“Yes, when shall
we see it?” chimed in the twin brothers,
Gus and Fred.
“All in good time, dear children ; wait
until breakfast is over, and then we shall
all go to the sitting-room and see the
‘ Tree.’ ”
“ What do you reckon old St. Nicholas
brought mes" asked little Addie.
“Ah! my dear, how does Grandma
know ? Let us wait and see. Come,
there is the breakfast bell; let us go im
mediately,” and leading the way, with
baby Leila in her arms, Grandma passed
into the cheerful dining room, followed
by the merry troop of children.
Every voice was hushed, every bright
e ye cast down, and little hands clasped as
MACON, GrA., DECEMBER 28, 1867.
Grandma pronounced a simple blessing
over their food.
“Xow, Grandma, shall I pour out the
coffee for you?” asked Maggie.
“Yes, my dear, I think I'll keep baby
Leila on my lap this morning, and let you
play ‘mistress of ceremonies.’ ”
With a sweet smile, Sister Maggie serv
ed the coffee in her quaint, old-lady fash
ion, and her little brothers and sister
looked on with amused smiles.
“ Grandma, I think sister Maggie would
make the nicest old lady in the world!”
called out Gus from his side of the table.
“I do too!” echoed his twin brother,
Fred.
“ Well, Grandma, I think it’s very nice.
I wish I could wait on the table, like sis
ter Maggie,” said little Addie, a beautiful
brown-eyed child of five.
“I hope that I may have just such a
wife!” exclaimed master Louis, a bright
little fellow of seven.
“ Ha! ha!” What a merry laugh went
round the table at his expense, and baby
Leila clapped her hands and echoed ’dia!
with a merry little chuckle.
Thus the morning repast was enlivened
with funny little sayings and merry child
ish laughter. Hot one word concerning
the ChristmasTree —the wonderful Christ
mas Tree!—for Grandma had early taught
them lessons of patience and self-control,
and therefore they did not murmur, but
passed the time in merry jests and joyous
laughter.
“How, Grandma, for the Tree!” was
the simultaneous cry as they arose from
the table.
Upon a side table beneath the window
were refreshments for visitors, a decanter
of choice old Madeira, a silver basket
filled with large golden oranges, and a
silver waiter filled with hot-house grapes,
fruit cake, and delicate sponge cake.
Upon the wall, to the right of the ta
ble, hung the portrait of a young and
beautiful lady— Grandma Marston in her
youth.
But the Christmas Tree! Was there
ever such a beautiful tree as this?
Gus and Fred, Walter and Louis danced
and clapped their hands, and little Addie
gazed upon it with speechless admiration.
“ Ook, ook! putty Tismas Tee!” shout
ed baby Leila, while the gentle Maggie
IST o. 26
“Yes, dear chil
dren, now for the
Tree. I think you
have stood the test
well.”
And, with baby
Leila still in her arms,
Grandma crossed the
hall, and opened the
door of the pleasant
si 11 ing-ro om. A
glowing fire burned
in the grate. The
little French clock
on the mantle ticked
loudly,
“Merry Christ
mas ! merry Christ
mas !”