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A CHRİSTMAS STORY.
2(Continued from Page 7)
"Here are them two lawyers a-coming, mister!" said Clemency, in a tone of no very great good-will. "Aha!!! cried the doctor; ad the gate to meet She was about thirty years old, and vancing to had a sufficiently plump and cheerful them." Good morning, good-morning! face, though it was twisted up into Grace, my dear! Marion! Here are an odd expression of tightness that Messrs. Snitchey and Craggs. Where's made it comical. But the extraordin Alfred ?"
"He'll be back directly, father, no ary homeliness of her gait and manner would have, superseded any doubt," said Grace,
He had so much to do this face in the world. To say that she had two left legs, and somebody else's morning in his preparations for de- arms, and that all four limbs seemed parture, that he was up and out by Good-morning, gentle to be out of joint, and to start from daybreak. perfectly wrong places when they, men.' were set in motion, is to offer the
mildest cutline of the reality. To say that she was perfectly content and satisfied with these arrange ments, and regarded them as being no business of hers, and that she took her arms and legs as they came, and allowed them to dispose of them- selves just as it happened, is to render fain: justice to her equanimity. Her dress was a prodigious pair of self. willed shoes, that never wanted to go where her feet went; blue stockings; a printed gown of many colours, and the most hideous pattern procurable She for money; and a white apr n always wore short sleeves, and always its which she took so lively an in had, by some accident, grazed elbows, terest, that she was continually trying to turn them round and get impos- sible views of them. In general, a little cap perched somewhere on her head though it was rarely to be met with in the place usually occupied in ather subjects by that article of dress; but from head to foot she was scrupulously clean, and maintained a kind of dislocated tidiness. Indeed, her laudable anxiety to be tidy and compact in her own conscience as well as in the public eye, gave rise to one of her most startling evolutions, which was to grasp herself sometimes
THE CHINA MAIL.
ing round. "Where are the-Good heavens 1"
With a start, productive for the of a closer partnership moment between Jonathan Snitchey and Thomas Craggs and the subsisting articles of agreement in that wise contemplated, he hastily betook him self to where the sisters stood together, and however, I needn't more particularly explain his manner of saluting Marion firet, and Grace afterwards, than by hinting that Mr. Craggs may possibly have considered it too easy."
in a joke (I am not prepared to say it isn't), it ought to be made a very difficult joke to crack. It ought to bs as hard a struggle, sir, as possible, That's the intention. But it's being made far too easy. We are olling the gates of life. They ought to be rusty. We shall have them begin ning to turn, soon with a smooth Whereas they ought to sound. grate upon their hinges, sir."
Mr. Craggs seemed positively to grate upon his own hinges, as he delivered this opinion; to which he communicated immense effect-being
Perhaps to change the subject, a cold, hard, dry man, dressed in gray and white, like a flint; with Doctor Jeddler made a hasty move small twinkles in his eyes, as if towards the breakfast. and they all something struck sparks out of them. sat down at table. Grace presided; The three natural kingdoms, indeed, but so discreetly stationed herself, cut off her sister and had each a fanciful representative as to among this brotherhood of disput- Alfred from the rest of the com- ants; for Snitchey was like a magpie pany. Snitchey and Craggs sat at or a raven (only not so sleek), and opposite corners, with the blue bag the doctor had a streaked face like a between them for safety: the doctor winter-pippin, with here and there a took his usual position, opposite to dimple to express the peckings of the Grace. Clemency hovered galvanically birds, and a very little bit of pigtail about the table, as waitress; and the melancholy Britsin, at another and a behind that stood for the stalk.
As the active figure of a handsome smaller board, acted as grand carver
of a round of beef and a ham. "You would'nt, I am sure," said young man, dressed for a journey,
Meat?"guid Britain, approach Mr. Snitchey, standing a small pro and followed by a porter bearing fessional blue bag against one leg of several packages and baskets, entering Mr. Saitchey, with the carving for this actress, at all events, Doctor with an air of gaiety and hope that throwing the question at him like a the table," cut the great farce shorted the orchard at a brisk pace, and knife and fork in his hands and
missile.
"Ladies!" said Mr. Snitchey, "for self and Craggs," who bowed, "good. morning! Miss." to Marion, I kiss your hand." Which he did. "And wish you-which he might or might not, for he didn't look, at first sight,, like a gentleman troubled with many warm outpourings of soul, in behalf of other people a hundred happy returns of this auspicious day."
Ha, ha, ba!" laughed the doctor thoughtfully, with his hands in his pockets, The great farce in a hun- dred acts,"
Jeddler."
"No," returned the doctor. "God forbid! May she live to laugh at it, as long as she can laugh, and then say, with the French wit," The farce "The"" is ended; draw the curtain.
aaid Mr. Snitchey, French wit,"
his blue peeping sharply into
was wrong, Doctor Jedd- bag, ter, and your philosophy is altogether wrong, depend upon it, as have often told you. Nothing serious in life! What do you call law?"
*
"A joke," replied the doctor.
Did you ever go to law?" asked by a sort of wooden handle (part of Mr. Snitchey, looking out of the blue her clothing, and familiarly called a bag. busk), and wrestle as it were with her garments, until they fell into a symmetrical arrangement.
Such, in outward form and garb, was Clemency Newcome; who was supposed to have unconsciously originated a corruption of her own Christian name, from Clementina (but nobody knew, far the deaf old mother, a very phenomenon of age, whom she had supported almost from a child, was dead, and she had no other relation); who now busied her self in preparing the table, and who stood, at intervals, with ber bare red arms crossed; rubbing her grazed elbows with opposite hands, and stering at it very composedly, until she suddenly remembered something else it wanted, and jogged off to fetch
it.
Never," returned the doctor. "If you ever do," said Mr. Snit. chey, perhaps you'll alter that opinion."
accorded well with the morning, these drew together, like the brothers of the sister Fates, or like the Graces most effectually dignised, or like three weird prophets on the heath, and greeted nim.
"Happy returns, Alf!" said the doctor lightly.
"A hundred happy returns of this auspicious day, Mr. Heathfield!" said Snitchey, bowing low.
"Returns!"Craggs murmured in a deep voice all alone.
"Why, what a battery !" exclaim- ed Alfred, stopping short, "and one
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17. 12.
us four, and with the recollection of along and amicable intercourse, That's not to the purpose."
in its having gone to law, and in its moves upon the board. You must "Ah! yea, yes, Doctor Jeddler legal system altogether, I do observe only laugh, Doctor Jeddler, when you said the young man; "it is to the a serious side-now, really, a some win-and then not much. He, he, purpose. Much to the purpose, as thing tangible, and with a purpose he! And then not much," repeated Snitchey, rolling his head and wink- my beart bears witness this morning, and intention in it
Clemency Newcome made an an- ing his eye, as if he would have add-· and as yours does too, I know, if you would let it speak. I leave your gular tumble against the table, occaed, "you may do this instead !!" house today: I cease to be yoursioning a sounding clatter among the "Well, Alfred!" cried the doctor, ward to-day; we part with tender
cups and saucers.
what do you say now ?" Heyday! what's relations stretching far behind us, that never can be exactly renewed, there?" exclaimed the doctor. us" he looked down at Marion said Clemency," always tripping up "It's this evil-inclined blue bag. and with others dawning yet before
beside him-" fraught with such con- somebody !" siderations me I must not trust myself to speak of now. Come, come !" he added, rallying his spirits and the "there's a serious doctor at once, grain in this large foolish dust-heap,it
Let us allow to-day, that doctor. there is one."
times in possession of my opinion, in against them. Oh it's a very in-
There are deep the course of our discussions, that, teresting thing.
Today!" cried the doctor. Hear him! Ha, ha, ha! Of all days in the foolish year. Why, on this day, the great battle was fought on this ground. On this ground where we now sit, where I saw my two girls dance this morning, where the fruit has just been gathered for our eating from these trees, the roots of which are struck in men, not earth-so many lives were lost, that within my recoilection, generations afterwards, a churchyard full of bones, and dust, of bones, and chips of cloven skulls, has been dug up from underneath our feet here. Yet not a hundred people in that battle knew for what Having executed these orders, and they fought, or why; not a hundred moderately supplied the doctor (he of the inconsiderate rejoicers in the seeded to know that nobody else victory, why they rejoiced. Not half wasted anything to eat), he lingered a hundred people were the better for as near the firm as he decently could, the gain or loss. Not half a dozen watching with an austere eye, their men agree to this hour on the cause disposition of the viands, and but or merits; and nobody, in short, ever once relaxing the severe expression knew anything distinct about it, but of his face. This was on the occa-the mourners of the slain. sion of Mr. Craggs, whose teeth were, too!" said the doctor, laughing. not of the best, partially choking, "Such a system,"
"Certainly," returned the lawyer, "Do you want any?" to Craggs. "Lean and well done," replied that gentleman.
-two-three-all foreboders of no when he cried out with great anima, good, in the great sea before me. I tion, "I thought he was gone!" am glad you are not the first I have met this morning: I should have" for taken it for a bad omen. But Crace was the first-weet, pleasant Grace
: |
"Now, Alfred," said the doctor, a word or two of business, while we are yet at breakfast.”
"While wa are yet at breakfast," said Snitchey and Craggs, who seem "If you please, mister, I was the ed to have no present idea of leaving first, you know," said Clemency New-off.
"She was walking out here, come. before sunrise, you remember. I was in the house."
"That's true! Clemency was the "So I defy you first," said Alfred. with Clemency."
"Ha, ha, ha!-for self and Craggs," said Spitchey. What a defiance!"
Craggs, who seemed to be repre- sented by Snitchey, and to be consci-so I defy you all!” ous of little or no separate existence or personal individuality, offered a remark of his own in this place. It involved the only idea of which he did not stand seised and possessed in equal moieties with Snitchey; but he had some partners in it among the wise men of the world.
"It's made. a great deal too easy." said Mr. Craggs.
every-
"Law is?" asked the doctor. "Yes," said Mr. Craggs, thing is, Everything appears to me to be made too easy, nowadays. It's the vice of these times. If the world
Not so bad a one as it appears, maybe," said Alfred, shaking hands heartily with the doctor, and also with Snitchey and Craggs, and then look
Although Alfred had not been breakfasting, and seemed to have quite enough business on his handsas it was, he respectfully answered-If you please, sir."
"It anything could be serious," the doctor began, "in such a-
'Farce as this, sir," hinted Alfred. "In such a farce as this," observe the doctor, "it might be this recur rence, on the eve of separation, of a double birthday, which is connected with many associations pleasant to
the matter
I say, sir, replied Alfred, "that
think, would be to try sometimes to the greatest favour you could do me, and yourself too, F. am inclined to
"With a purpose and intention in forget this battlefield and others like it, I was saying," resuthed Snitchey, it in that broader battlefield of life, that commands respect. Life on which the sun looks every day." farce, Doctor Jeddler? With law in
The doctor laughed, and looked at Alfred.
"Granted, if you please, that war is foolish" said Snitchey. There we agree. For example. Here's a smiling country," pointing it out with his fork,
"Really, I'm afraid that wouldn't soften his opinions, Mr. Alfred." said Snitchey. "The combatants are very eager and very bitter in that same battle of life. There's a great deal of cutting and slashing, and firing into people's heads from behind. There is terrible treading down, and once overrun by soldiers trampling on. It is rather a bad -trespassers every man of 'em-and business." laid waste by fire and sword. He, he, "I believe, Mr. Snitcher," said he! The idea of any man exposing Alfred, "there are quiet victories and himself, voluntarily, to fire and sword! struggles, great sacrifices of self, and Stupid, wasteful, positively ridiculous; noble acts of heroism, in it even in you laugh at your fellow-creatures, many of its apparent lightnesses and you know, when you think of it! But contradictions not the less difficult take this smiling country as it stands. to achieve, because they have no Think of the laws appertaining to earthly chronicle or audience-done real property; to the bequest and every day in nooks and corners, and devise of real property; to the mortgage in little households, and in men's and and redemption of real property; to | women's hearts-any one of which leasehold, treehold, and copyhold, right reconcile the sternest man to estate; think," said Mr. Snitchey, such a world, and fill him with belief with such great emotion that he actually smacked his lips, "of the complicated laws, relating to title and proof of title, with all the con- tradictory precedents and numerous of Parliament connected Acts
them; Serious, with
think of the number of infinite
ingenious and interminable Chancery suits, to which this pleasant prospect may give rise; and acknowledge, Doctor Jeddler, that there is a green spot in the scheme about us! I believe," said Mr. Snitchey, looking at his partner. 'that I speak for self and Craggs?" Mr. Craggs, having signified assent, Mr. Snitchey somewhat freshened by his recent eloquence, observed that be would take a little more beef and another cup of tea.
"But, all this seems to me," said Alfred," to be very serious."
"Serious!" cried the doctor. "If you allowed such things to be serious, you must go mad, or die, or climb up to the top of a mountain, and turn bermit."
"Besides so long ago," said Alfred.
"Long ago!" returned the doctor, "Do you know what the world has been doing, ever since? Do you know what else it has been doing? I don't!" "It has gone to law a little," observed Mr. Snitchey, stirring his
tea.
.
Although the way out has been always made too easy," said his partner.
And you'll excuse my saying, doctor," pursued Mr. Snitchey, hav ing been already put a thousand
and hope in it, though two-fourths of its people were at war, and another fourth at law; and that's a bold word."
Both the sisters listened keenly. "Well; well 1" said the doctor, "I am too old to be converted, even by my friend Snitchey here, or my good splaster sister, Mantha Jeddler; who had what she calls her domestic trials. ages ago, and has led a sympathising life with all sorts of people ever since;, and who is so much of your opinion. (only she's less reasonable and more obstinate, being a woman), that we can't agree, and seldom meet. I was born upon this battlefield. I began, as a boy, to have my thoughts direct- ed to her real history of a battlefield. "I don't stand up for life in Sixty years have gone over my head, general," he added, rubbing his hands and I have never sen the Christian and chuckling."it's full of folly; full world, including Heaven knows how of something worse. Professions of many loving mothers and good trust, and confidence, and unselfish-enough girls bike mine here, anything ness, and all that! Bah, bah, bah? but mad for a battlefield. The same We see what they're worth. But contradictions prevail in everything. you mustn't laugh at life; you've got One must either laugh, or cry at such a game to play; a very serious game stupendous inconsistencies; and I
Continued on Page 10.) indeed! Everybody's playing against prefer to laugh." you, you know, and you're playing
PS Z Z S S S S Z Z
UP-TO-THE MINUTE FASHIONS
IN DAY and EVENING WEAR
COATFROCKS, GOWNS, WRAPS CROCHET and CREPE JUMPERS
JAEGER PURE WOOL
GOLFERS - JUMPERS-SCARVES
MOTORING
COATS
DRESSING GOWNS-SLIPPERS,
HAND MADE
UNDIES
AMERICAN
. SILK
HOSIERY
FANCY GARTERS
UMBRELLAS
LANE
CRAWFORD
& Co.
HANDKERCHIEFS
IN
FANCY BOXES
FANCY HANDBAGS
IN
LEATHER & SILK
GLOVES EVENING
SCARVES
GIFTS FOR LADIES
THAT ARE SURE TO PLEASE
BROCADE SHOES
SHOE BUCKLES
AND
FEATHER NECKWEAR
-FANS
Z z z z Z Z Z z z i