The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume], December 26, 1875, Morning, Page 2, Image 2

About The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881

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glINgt star its Catholic Messenger Eveis
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CHRISTMAS WITH THE BARON. partiec
lo. T
A RATHER REMARKABLE TALE. nmbx
His t'
Teoufel
Iqeoted by the Catholio World from London Society.I baron'
Once upon a time there lived in a fine old at wt
castle on the Rhine, a certain Baron von Klooti
oubrochelofllesohbboflinger. You won't find maate
it an easy name to pronounce; in fact, the prinoi
baron never tried it bimaself but once, and then unpre'
be was laid up for two days' afterward; so in little
future we'll merely call him" the baron," for that 1
sbortness, particularly as he was rather a treats
dumpy man. After having beard his name, glad t
you won't be surprised when I tell you that he cnse
was an exceedingly bad character- For a the a
German baron, he was considered enormeualy epitht
rich a hundred and fifty pounds a year names
wouldn't be thought much over here, but and Ii
still it will buy a good deal of sausage, which, think
with wine grown on the estate, formed the morre
obief sustenance of the baron and his family. be to
Now you'll hardly believe that notwithntand- whiol
log -e was the possessor of this princely reve- grout
nue, the baron was not satisfied, buhot op- till t
preeed and ground down his unfortunate teo- deter
mate to the very last penny e could poselbly self.
equeeee out of them. In all his exactiona e he th
was seconded and encouraged by his steward, bhi a
Kloots, an old racal who took a malicious mane
pleasare in his master's cruelty, and who hibit
chuckled and rubbed hir hands with the had
greatest apparent enjoyment when any of the chan
poor landholders couldn't pay their rent, or good
tfforded him any opportunity for oppresion. ance
Not content with making the poor tenants mistl
pay double for the land they rented, the baron doinl
*as in the habit of going round every now appe
and then to their houses and orderiog any- wrat
thing he took a fancy to, from a fat pig to a his I
pretty daughter, to be sent up the castle. The tram
pretty dangter was made parlor-maid, but as and
abshe had nothlng a year, and had to Bud herself, with
it wasn't what woold considerd by careful coal
mothern an eligible situation. The fat pig stoo
became sausage, of course. Things went on hib I
from had to worse, till at the time of our story, Bert
between the alternate Equeezings of the baron but
and his ateward, the poor tenants had dent
very little to squeeze out of them. The fat seen
pige and the pretty daughters had nearly all awol
found their way up to the castle, and there cast
was little else to take. The only help the end'
poor fellows had was the baron's daughter, hard
Lady Bertha, who always had a kind word, quit
and frequently something more substantial, cbat
for them, when her father was not in the way. favc
Now I'm not going to describe Bertha, for the the
simple reason that if I did, you would im- was
agine that she was the fairy I'm going to tell emo
you about, and she isn't. However, I don't gett
mind giving yen a few outlines. In the first be
place, she was exceedingly tiny-the nicest The
girls, the real lovable little pets, always are enet
tiny-and she had long silken black hair, and still
a dear, dimpled little face, full of love and digs
mischief. Now then, fill up the outline with and
the detailsof the nicest and prettiest girl you of 1
know, and you'll have a slight of idea her. On inte
second thought, I don't believe you will, for clot
your portrait wouldn't be half good enough; whi
however it'll be near enough for you. Well, int
the baron's daughter, being all your fancy its
painted her, and a trifle more, was naturally the
mnuch distressed at the goings on of her on- ma'
amiable parent, and tried.her best to make of
amends for her father's harshness. She gen- the
orally managed that a good many pounds of tiu
the sausage should find their way back to the an'
owners of the orignal pig; and when the bal
baron tried to squcatze the hband of the pretty car
parlor-maid, which he occasionally did after enj
dinner, Bertha had only to say, in a tone of liti
mild remonstrance "Pa!" and la dropped the ma
band like a hot potato. and stared very hard far
the other way, instantly. Bad as the disre- ces
putable old baron was, he had respect for the wi
goodnaes and purity of his child. Like the bri
lion, tamed by the charm of Una's innocence, sid
the rough old rascal seemed to lse in her of
presence half his rudeness, and though he he
used awful language to her sotetimees (I dare wi
say even Una's lion sonred occasicinally) be was cb
- - more tractable with her than with ally other by
living being. lier iresence operated as a wi
moral restraint upon thim, which potsilly was of
" the reason that t.e never stayed down stairs
after dinner, but alwayls retired ton favorite i)
turret, where he could get colmfortably tipsy, ol
which, I regret to nsay, he had got to in the hi
way of doing every afternoon, that I believe
he would have felt unwell without. to
The hour of the baron's afternoon sympo- s t
inum was the time selected by Mlertha for her ,
errandeaf charity. Once be was fairly Pettled e
down to his aecond bottle, off went Bertha,
with her maid beside her carrying a basket to t
bestow a meal on some of the poor tenaints, c
among whom she was always received with
bleasings. At first these exculsions had been
undertaken solely from charitable motives, and
Bertha felt herself plentifully repaid in the: e
love and thanks of her grateful pensioners.
Of late, however another cause had led her
to take even stronger interest in her walks,
and ocousionly come in with brighter eyes and
rosier cheek than the gratitude of the potor
tenants had been won't to produce. The fact a
is, some months before the time of our story, t
Bertha bad noticed in her walks a young ar- t
tist, who seemed to be fated to be invariably t
sketching points of interest in the road she had
to take. There was one particular tree, ex
aetly in the path which led from the castle
ate, which he had sketebhed from at least
our points of view, and Bertha began to 1
wonder what there could be so very particular
about It. At last, just as Carl von Sepasn had
begun to consider where on earth be could
aketeh the tree from next, and to ponder seri
onely upon the feasibility of climbing up into
it, and taking it from that point of view, a
trifling acoident occurred, which gave him the
opportunity of making Berthar' acquaintance,
which, I don't mind stating confidently, was
the very thing he had been waiting for. It so
chanced, that on one particular afternoon the
maid, either through awkwardness, or possibly
through looking more at the handsome paint
er than at the ground abe was walking on,
stombled and fell. Of course the basket fell
too, and equally of course, Carl,a as agentle
man, couldn't do leass than offer hia asesetance
in pioking up the dlamel anld the dinner.
The acquaintance thus columenced was not
asuffered to drop; and handsome Carrand our
good little Bertha were fairly over head and
ear in love, and had begun to have serious
thoughts of a cottage in a wood, et emtera,
when their felicity was disturbed by their
being accidentally met, in onedf their walks,
by the baron. Of oourse the baron, being
himself so thorough an aristocrat, had higher
views for hbla dauhter than marrying her to a
" beggarly artist,' and accordingly he stamped
and swore, and threatened Carl with sum
mary punibshment with all sorts of weapons,
from heavy boots to blunderbusses, if ever be
ventured near the premises again. This was
unpleasant; but I fear it didn't quite put a
stop to theb young people's interviewrs, thoungh
it made them lees frequent and more secret I
than before.
Now, I'm quite aware this wasn't at all
proper, and that no properly regilated )oung
lady would ever have had meetings with a
young man papa didn't approve of. But then
it'sjuat possible Bertha mighta't have been a
properly regulated young lady: I only know
she was a dear little pet, worth twenty model
oung ladies, and that she loved Carl very
early. Apd then consider what a dreadful
old tyrant of a papa she had! My dear girl,
it's not the lighltest one your looking so pro
vokingly correct; it'a my deliberate belief
that i$ you had been in her shoe. ,tbey'd have
been at least three sizes too small for you, but
that doesn't matter) you would have done
precisely the same'
SuchBoo was the state of things on Cbristmas "Cot
Eve ini the year-stay! fairy tales never baron,
hav searto them; so on second thought I"That
wonido't tell the date If I knew-but I don't, land."
Such was the state of things, however, on the " Th
particular 24th of December to which our Don't a
story refers-only if anything, rather more you a;
so. The baron had got up in the morning in mean
an exceedingly bad temper; and those about tuaitis
him had felt its effects all through the day. weed c
His two favorite wolf-hounds Lutsow and yonr o
Tenfel, had reoeived so many kiLks from the The
baron's heavy boots that they hardly knew selects
at which enod their tails were; and evey was hi
Kloots himself seareely dared to approach hia the hS
master. In the middle of the day two of the with t
principal tenants came to say that they were org
unprepared with their rent, and tobegfor a Den
little delay. The poor fellows represented " T
that their families were starving, and en- "And
treated for mery ; but the baron was only too you tc
glad that he bad at last found so fair an ex- must'
cuse for venting his ill-humor. He loaded and m
the unhappy defaulters with every abusive to."
t epithet he could devise and being called "B
r names German German is no joe, I sa tell you) said
t and satly be swore by everything hbe col quant
think of that if their rent was not paid on the "W
morrow, themselves and their families should I don
Sbe turned out of doors to sleep on the snow, it is r
whicblo was then many inohes deep on the to it,
rod. They still continued to beg for meroy, some
till the baron became so exasperated that be bottle
determined to kiok them out of the castle him- ages.
9 self. He pursued them for that purpose as far liar,
e as the outer door, when fresh fuel was added to pears
1, his anger. Carl, who, ee I have hinted, still self;
a managed, notwithstanding the paternal pro- and
o hibition, to see fair Bertha oceselonally, and just
e had come tb wish her a merry Christmas, ships
e chanced at this identical moment to be saying most
ir good.by at the door, above whlch, in accord- Th
. ance with immemorial usage, a huge bosh of barol
is mistletoe was suspended. What they were at lei
n doing under it at the moment- of the baron's filled
w appearance, I never knew exactly; but his spoke
Y- wrath was tremendous! I regret to say that "A
a his language was unparliamentary in the ex- was I
re treme. He sworetill he was maute in the face; thing
as and if he had not providentially been seized mem
if, with a fit of coughing, and sat down in the stuff
nl coal.aouttle-mistaking it for a three-legged " I
ig stool-it Is impossible to say to what lengths hroo
)n his feelings might have carried him. Carl and cona
', Bertha picked him up, rather black behiud, warn
)n but otherwise not mach the worse for his acci- Kr
ad dent. In fact, the diversion of his thoughts wool
at seemed to have done him good; for, having his a
ill sworn a little more, and Carl having left the his l
re aostle, he appeared rather better. After having "T
he endored so many and varied emotions, it is gobl
ir, hardly to be wondered at that the baron re- TI
d, quired some consolation; so, after having after
al, baoged his tr-s-rs, he took himself off to his into
iy. favorite turret, to allay by copious potations whol
be the irritation of his mind. Bottle after bottle chan
m- was emptied, and pipe after pipe was filled and knor
Bil smoked. Thefineold Burgundy weeasgradually died
't etting intp the baron's head; and altogether moni
rat e as beginning to feel more comfortable. red I
at The shades of the winter afternoon had deep- ly w
ire ened into the evening twilight, made dimmer beye
od still by the aromatic clouds that came, with "*
nd dignifed deliberation, from the baron's lips, "I fi
ith and curled and floated up to the carved ceiling danc
on of the turret, where they spread themselves 8hal
Dn into a dim canopy, which every successive ''1
for clood brought lower and lower. The fire, gobl
;h; which had been' piled up mountain-bigh earlier is w
ell, in the afternoon, and had flamed and roared to and
icy its heart's content ever since, had now got to "I
lly that state-the perfection of a fire to a lazy Idie
on- man-when it requires no poking or attention mu,
she of any kind, but just burns itself hollow, and ")
en- then tumbles in, and blazes jovially for alittle turt
, of time, and then settles down to a genial glow, you
the and gets hollow and tumbles in again. The "I
tbo baron's fire was just in this delightful "da old
ity capo" condition, most favorable of all to the
fter enjoyment of the "dolce far niente." For a nev
e of little while it would glow and kindle quietly, you
the making strange faces to itself, and building ofn
ard fantastic castles in the depths of its red re- a fa
are- ceases, and then the castles would come down
the with a crash, and the faces disappear, and a out
the bright tlame spring up and lick lovingly the
nce, sides of the old chimney ; and the carved beads inr
her of improbable men and impossible women, eno
he hewn so deftly round the panels of the old oak the
lare wardrobe opnoeite, in which the baron's sori
was cboicest vintalaes were deposited, were lit up yor
thor by the flickering light, and seemed to nod and
is a wink at the tire in return, with the familiarity to,
was of old acquainitances. a f
airs Some such fancy as this was disport ing itself 1 d
rite in the baron'abrain; and he was gazing at the
pay, old oak carving accordingly, and emittilg die
the hoge volumes of smoke with reflective slow
lieve neag when a clatter among the bottles on the I qu
table caused him to turn his head to ascertain 1 f
mpo- the cause. The baron was by no means a soT
r her nervous man ; however, the sight that met his
ttled eyes when he turned round did take away his Rt
rtha, pre.ence of tmind a little ; and he was obliged it.
et to to take four distinct pulls before he had snfli be
ants, ciently regained his equilibrium to inquire, m'
with ,, Who th.le-ickwick-are you?" (The baron
been said "Dickens," but as that is a naughty word hr
, and we will sobstitute "Pickwick," which is
a the equally expressive, and not so wrong) Let me I pr
tiers. ee; where was It O(! yes. "Who ti. Pick- ,l
i her wick are you t" TI
elks, Now, before I allow the baron's visitor to an- te
a and swer the question, perhaps I had better give a a
fpofor slight description of his personal appearance ao
Iact If this wasn't a true story. I should have liked
stor to have made him a model of manly beauty; o1
ig ar- but a regard for veracity compels me to confess
had that he was not what would be generally con- k
a sidered handsome ; that is, not in figure, for his
c'e, s face was by no means upleasing. His body tl
castls was in size and shape not very unlike a bhuge k
sast plum-poudding, and was clothed in a bright
icular green tightly fitting doublet, with red holly b
il had berries for bouttons. His limbs were long and
coulhad slender in proportion to his ststure, which was h
rse-l not more than three feet or so. His head was
I s enciroled by a crown of holly and mistletoe.
P into The round red berries sparkled amid his hair, t
tew'a which was silver-white, and shone out in
m the cheerful harmony with his rosy jovial face.
tance, And that face! It would have done one good to
y, wss look at it. In spite of the silver hair, and an t
It occasional wrinkle beneath the merry laughing
on the eye, it seemed brimming over with perpetual
isiblyouath. The month, well garnished with teeth, I
paint white and sound, which seemed as if they
g on could do ample justice to holiday cheer, was
;et ever open with a beaming genial smile, ex
ientle- inding now sod then into hearty jovial
stance ughter. Fun and goodfellowship were in
asnot every feature. The owner of the face was, at
So the moment when the baron first perceived
ad our him, comfortably seated upon the top of the
eriou dlarge tobacco-jar on the table, nursing his left
rto leg. The baron's somewhat abrupt inquiry did
aters not appear to irritate him; on the contrary, he
their seemed rather amused than otherwise.
beig " You don't ask prettily, old gentleman," he
higher replied; " but I don't mind telling you, for all
or to a that. I'm King Chrtistmas."
amped "' Eh I" said the baron.
m. "Ab!" said the goblit. Of course you've
apon guoessed he was a goblin.
ever he "And pray what's sour business here 1'" said
is was the baron.
pot a 'h Don't be erusty with a fel:ow," replied the
thogh goblin. "' I merely looked in to wish you the
secret compliments of the season. Talking of ctust,
Sby the way, what sort of a tap is it you' re
at all drinking ?" So saying, he took up a flabk of the
ou baron's very best and poured out about half a
with a glass. Having held the glass first to one side
st then and then the other, winked at it twice, snitted
beena it, and gonte through the remainder of the
pknow pantomine in which connoisseurs indulge, he
model drank it with great deliberation, and smacked
iver his lips scientifically. " Hum: Johannisberg
ea el and not so re'y bad-for you. But I tell you
ar irl, what it is, baron, you'll have to bring out bet
so ro ter stuff than this when 1 put my legs on your
'd "e mah , ano are a cool fish." said the baron.
on. but "However, you're rather a joke., so now you're
Sdone here we may as well enjoy ourselves. Smoke:'
"Not anythling you're Likely to offer me '"
" Confound you impedenee r" roared the 1y ove:
baron, with a horribly complioated oath. whites
" That tobacco's as good as any in all Rhine- blessei
land." lids on
"That's a nasty cough you've got, baron. eyes th
Don't exotte yourself, my dear boy ; I dare may too, if
you speak according to your lights. I don't nees at
mean Vesuvians, you know, but your oppor- ofthem
tnsities for knowing anything about it. Try a angeli,
weed out of my case, and I expect you'll alter that ni
your opinion." baron's
The baron took the proffered ease, and him, b
selected a oigar. Not a word was spoken till it sleepir
was half consomed, when the baron took it for that of
the first time from his lips, and said gently, had, y
with the air of a man communicating an im- the an
i portant discovery in the strictest confidence, The
'"D Dalst gut "Wown
I "Thought you'd say-so," said the visitor. The b
"And now, as you like the cigar, I shoold like "Yoi
you to try a thimbleful of what I call wine. I The t
must warn you, though, that it is rather potent, and m
i and may produce effects you are not acoostomed true I
I to." baron
I "Bother that, if it's as good as the weed," The
said the baron; "I haven t taken my usual Old
quantity by four bottles yet." awake
a "Well, don't say I didn't warn you, that's all. cheris
d I don't think you'll find it unpleasant, though ofbitt
it is rather strong when you're not acostomed a qni
e to it.'" o saying, the goblin produced from in rep
r, some mysterious pocket a black, big-bellied drnn
e bottle, crosted apparently with the dust of a bea'
- ages. It did strike the baron as rater peou- ding i
ir liar, that the bottle, when once produced, ap- her bi
o peared nearly as big round as the goblin him- "A
11 self; but he was not the man to stick at trifles, ron.
o- and he pushed forward his glass to be filled rashlh
d just as composedly as if the potion had been a swi
a, shipped by Saudeman, and paid duty in the hard,
Ig mot commonplace way. him ,
d- The glass was filled and emptied, but the even i
of baron uttered not his opinion. Not in words, sons,
are t least, but he pushed forward his glass to be or dr
's filled again in a manner that sufficiently be- these
is spoke his approval. and ,
st "Aha, you smile!" said the goblin. And it ship
" was a positive fact; the baron was smiling; a mon
o; thing he hadn't been known to do in the mean
id memory of the oldest inhabitant. "That's the Poor
oe stuff to make your bair curl, isn't it I" than
A " I believe you, my b-o-o-oy I" The baron bonq
be brought out this earnest expression of implicit a blo
id confidence with true Paul Bedford unction. "It The
d. warms one-here!" laid I
:i- Knowing the character of the man, one last
ts would have expected him toput his hand upon The
ig his stomach. But he didn't; he laid it upon the v
ie his heart. cry o
ig "The spell begins to operate, I see," said the foret
is goblin. "Have another glasse." thic
'e- The baron had another glass, and another latei
g after that. The smile on his face expanded "'
is into an expression of such geniality that the go a
ne whole character of his countenance was shall
le changed, and his own mother wouldn't have He
id known him. I doubt myself-inasmuch as she dowi
ly died when he was exactly a year and three At ls
er months old-whether she would have recogni- the
le. zed him under any circumstances ; but I mere- reaol
p- ly wish to express that be was changed almost "1'
er beyond recognition. ther
th "Upon my word," said the baron, at length, you
,s, "I feel so light that I almost think I could "
Og dance a hornpipe. I used to once, I know. pass
'es Shall I try I" "oh
ve 'Well, if you ask my advice," replied the the 1
re, goblin, "I should say, decidcidedly, don't. 'Barkis Ti
ier is willing,' I dare say, but trousers are weak, the
to and you might split 'em." cons
to "Hang it all," said the baron. "so I might; aig
zy I didn't think of that. But still I feel as if I rd
on most do something juvenile I'" a cri
nd "Ah ! that's the effect of your change of na- was
tie ture," said the goblin. "Never mind, I'll give the
w, you plenty to do presently." ent
he "Changeof nature! what do you mean, you last,
da old conundrum I" said the baron. ordi
the "You're another," said the goblin. "But frst
ra never mind. What I mean is just this. What and
ly, you are now feeling is the natural consequence *'
log of my magic wine, which has changed you into to ni
re- a fairy. That's what's the matter, sir." witt
wn "A fairy ! me!" exclaimed the baron "Get who
Ia out: I'm too fat." slee
the 'Fat! oh ! that's nothing. Weshallpot you
ads in regular training, and you'll soon be slim alee
en, enough to creep into a lady's stocking. Not dog
oak that you'll be called upon to do anything of the
n's sort ; but I'm merely giving you an idea of of
up your future flnre." Did
and "No, no," said the baron ; me thin ! that's Fri.
rity too ridiculous. Why, that's worse than being mol
a fairy. You don't mean it, though, do you f sno
,eif I do feel rather peculiar." nic,
the "I do, indeed,' said the visitor. 'You don't ilor
log dislike it do you I" afri
, "'Well, no, I can't say I do, entirely. It's ant
the I queer, though, I feel so uncommon friendly. '
tain feel as if I should like to shake hands, or pat brc
is a someblody on the back." wb
: his "Ah!" said the goblin, "I know how it is. grr
his Rum feeling, when you're not accustomed to pa
iged it. Butcoine; finish that glass, for we must an,
1tih be off. We ve got a precious deal to do before la3
"ire, morning, I can tell you. Are you ready t" dri
aron "All right," said the baron. "I'm justin the wi
word humor to make a night of it." In
b is "Come along, then," said the goblin. They, W
.t me proceeded for a short time in silence hi
tck- along the corridors of the old castle. vi
They carried no candle, but the baron noticed m'
that everything seemed perfectly light where- be
an- ever they stood, but relapsed into darkness na
ive a s soon as they bad passed by. The goblin w]
eUCe spoke first. gl
liked "[I say, baron, you've been an uncommon th
nsty; old brute in your time, now haven't you I"
nfees "H'm," said the baron, relectively, "I don't bh
con- know. Well,yes, I rather think I have." is
or his "How jolly miserable you've been making ti
body those two young people, you old sinner ! You et
huge know who I mean."
right Eh, what I You know that, too " said the it
holly baron. el
and "Know it; of course I do. Why, bless your
h was heart, I know everything, my dear boy. But b
I was you have made yourself an old pig in that tl
.letoe. quarter, considerably. Ar'n't you blushing, k
hair, you hard-bearted old monster t"
at in "Don't know, I'm sure," said the baron, c
face. scratching his nose, as if that was where he as
od to expected to feel it I believe I have treated o
nd an them badly, though, now I come to think of c
gbiug it."
etual At this moment they reached the door of b
teeth, Bertha's chamber. The door opened of itself "
Sthey at their-approach. r
was 'Come along," said the goblin, "you won't
1, ex- wake her. Now, old finty-heart, look there."
Jovial The sight that met the baron's view was
ere in one that few fathers could have beheld with
as, at out affectionate emotion. Under ordinary cir- 1
ceived cumstances, however, the baron would not
of the have felt atall sentimental on the subject, but
'is left to-night something made him view things in 1
try did quite a different light to that he was accus
ary, he tomed to. I shouldn't like to make affidarit 1
of the fact, but it's mypositiveimpression that
io,' he he sighed.
for all Now, my dear reader-particularly if a gen
tleman-don't imagine I'm going to indulge
your impertineut curiosity with an elaborate
you've description of the sacred details of a lady's
sleepintg apartment. Tou're not a fairy, you
1" said know, and I don't see thatit can possibly
matter to you whether Bertha's dainty little
led the bottines were tidily placed on the ohalrby her
on the bedside. or thrown carelesly, as they had been
Scrust, taken Alf, upon the heart-rug, where her favo
you're riteslpaniel reposed, warming his nose in his
of the sleep before the last smouldering embers of
half a the decaying tire; or whether her crinoline
ne side but if she dd wear a crinoline, what can that
snifued possibly matter, sir, to you I All I shall tell
of the wou is, that everything looked snug and com
Ige, he fortable: but somehow, any place got that
macked look when Bertha was in it. And now a word
isberg . about the jewel in the casket-pet Bertha her
ell sou self. Rleally, I'm at a loss to describe her.
ut bet- How do you look when you're asleep --Well, I
on your it wasn't like that : not a bit! Fancy a s eet
girl's face, the cheek faintly flushed with a soft
baron. warm tint, like the blush in the heart of the
r you re opening rose, and made brighter by the con-.
imoke : I trast ot the snowy pillow on which it rested
me ' dark silken hair, curling and clusteri'g lov:ng
ly over the tiniest of tiny ears,and the softest, Every
whitest neck that ever mortal maiden was appear
blessed with ; long silken eyelashes, fringing ed; na:
lids only less beautiful than the dear earnest only, fi
eyes they cover. Fancy all this, and fany, relatin
too, if you can, the expression of perfect good- " You
ness and purity that lit up the sweet features every
oftheslumbering maiden with a beauty almost a bit of
angellc, and you will see what the baron saw The
that night. Not quite all, however, for the ie wa
baron's vision paused not at the bedside before do som
him, but had passed on from the face of the in Ins
sleeping maiden to another face as lovely, once.
that of the young wife, Bertha's mother, who off his
had, years before, taken her angel beauty to nails ii
the angels. tumbli
The goblia spoke to the baron's thought. he wai
"Wonderfully like her, is she not, baron e" bad jo
The baron slowly inclined his head. goblin
"You made her yery happy, didn't you n" wat
The tone in which te goblin spoke was harsh not a
and mooking.' "A rfithful husband, tender and Sam 8
true I She must have been a happy wife, ah, ger's c
baron ?" pair, I
Thebaron's head had sunk upon his bosom. made
Old recollections were thronging into his When
awakened memory. Solemn vows to love and oottal
cherish, somewhat strangely kept. Memories into a
of bitter words, and savage oaths, showered at self I
a quiet nuoomplaning fgure, without one which
in reply. And last, the memory of a At of
drunken pesion, and abasty blow struck with
a heavy hand ; and then of three months fa- th
ding away; and last, of her last prayer-for After
her aby and him. his no
"A Lood hnusband makes a good father, ba- deep
ron. No wonder yo are somewhat chary of thing
rashly entrusting to a suitor the happiness of clock
a sweet flower like this. Poor hobild! It is ire bl
hard, though, that she must think no moreof short
him she loves so dearly. See I! she is weeping bettes
even in her dreams. But you have good rea- The
sons, no doubt. Young Carl is wild, perhaps, far as
or drinks, or gambles, eh I What! none of day.
these? Perhaps he is wayward and uncertain, ly eni
and you fear that the honied words of court- pleas
ship might turn to bitter sayings in matri- to ma
moany. They do, sometimes, eb, baron T By all white
means guard her from such a fate as that. white
Poor tender flower! Or who knows, worse myrli
than that, baron I Hard words break no sturd
boneg, they say, but angry men .are quick, and not i
a blow is soon struck, eh ?" know
The goblin had drawn nearer and nearer, and befor
laid his hand upon the baron's arm, and the onesi
last words were literally hissed into his ear. way l
The baron's frame swayed to and fro under mage
the violence of his emotions. At last, with a the o
cry of agony, he dashed his hands upon his he wi
forehead. The veins were swollen up like not l1
thick cords, and his voice was almost inartion- bed,
late in its unnatural hoarseness. was ,
"Torturer, release me I Let me go, let me did a
go and do something to forget the past, or I boot
shall go mad and die !" ceedi
lie rushed out of the room and paced wildly whic
down the corridor, the goblin following him. put
At last, as they came near the outer door of may
the castle, which opened of itself as they read'
reached it, the spirit spoke: knos
"This way, baron, this way; I told you medi
there was work for us to do before morning, ron's
yon know." who'
•' Work!" exclaimed the baron, absently, imps
passing his fingers through his tangled hair; not
"oh! yes, work! the harder and the rougher how
the better; anything to make me forget." this
The two stepped out into the courtyard, and oln
the baron shivered, though, as it seemed, un- upos
consciously at the breath of the frosty m!d- knee
; ht air. The snow lay deep on the ground, done
1 Md the baron's heavy boots sank into it with but
a crisp, crushing sound at every tread. He angi
was bareheaded. but seemed unconscious of not
e the fact, and tramped on, as if utterly indiffer- prsa
ent to anything but his own thoughts. At ness
r last, as a blast of the night wind, keener than Ti
ordinary, swept over him, he seemed for the an I
t first time to feel the chill. His teeth chattered, Nor
t and he mattered, " Cold, very cold." bar(
e "Ay, baron," said the goblin, "it is cold,even inst
o to us, who are healthy and strong, and warmed the
with wine. "Colder still, though, to those in b
t who are hungry and half-naked, and have to liar
sleep on the snow." dec
"" Sleep! snow !" said the baron. "Who tar
n sleeps on the snow ? Why, I wouldn't let my his
t dogs be out on such a night as this." obe
e " Your dogs, no!" said the goblin; " I spoke tim
)f of meager animals-your wretched tenants. eer'
Did you not order, yestprday, that Wilbelm and wh.
' Friedrich, if they did not pay their rent to- wo
i¢ morrow, should be turned out to sleep on the Wi
l snow ? A snug bed for the little ones, and a on
nice white coverlet, eht Ha! ha! twenty did
Itlorins or so is no great matter, is it I'm het
afrain their chance issmall, nevertheless. Come are
and see." fan
The baron hung his head. A few minutes sel
brought them to the first of the poor dwelliigs, the
which they entered noiselessly. The fireless ma
s. grate, the carpetless floor, the broken window- tel
to panes, all gave sufficient testimony to the want Tb
it and misery of the occupants. In one corner the
re lay sleeping a man, a woman and three chil- to,
dren, and nestling to each other for the warmth yo
he which their ragged coverlet could not afford. co
In the man the baron recognized his tenant, He
ey I Wilhelm, one of thoere who had been with Nc
ce him to beg for indulgence on the pre- it.
le. vious day. The keen features, and bones al- vi
ed most starting through the pallid skin, showed lai
re- how heavily the band of hunger had been laid to
ess upon all The cold night wind moaned and th
lin whistled through the many flaws in the ill- lo
glazed, ill-thathed tenement, and rustled over a
on the sleepers, who shivered even in their sleep. p
"Ha, baron," said the goblin, "death is T
,n't breathing in their faces even now, you see; it at
is hardly worth while to lay them to sleep in as
ing the snow, is it They would sleep alittlesound- at
oau er, that's all." lo
The baron shuddered, and then hastily pull- pt
the lng the warm ceat from his own shoulders, he to
spread it over the sleepers. p'
our "Oho " said the goblin, " bravely done, ts
But baron! By all means keep them warm to-night, is
bat they'll enjoy the snow more to-morrow, you "
ing, know." b
Strange to say, the baron, instead of feeling a
ton, chilled when he had removed his coat, felt a tl
s he strangeglow of warmth spread from the region Ii
kted of the heart over his entire frame. The goblin's a
of continual allusions to his former intention, a
which be had by this time totally relinquished, s'
r of hurt him, and he said, rather pathetically, o
self "Don't talk of that again, good goblin, I'd
rather sleep on the snow myself." r
on't "Ehl what'" said the goblin, "you don't t
ire." mean to say you're sorry ? Then what do you
as say to makong these poor people comfortable" I
rith "'With all my heart," said the baron, " if we
cir- had only anything to do it with."
not " You leave that to me," said the goblin, t
but "your brother fairies are not far off, eyou may I
is inbe sure." .
:cs- As he spoke be clapped his hands thrice, and a
arit before the third clap had died away the poor
that cottage was swarming with tiny figures, whom 1
the baron rightly conjectured to be the fairies I
gen- themselves.
lulge Now, you may not be aware (the baron was i
)rate not until that night) that there are among the I
ad3's failsies trades and profeesions, just as with
you ordinary mortals. However, there they were,
sibly each with the scoompaniments of his or her 1
little particular business, and to it they went man
y her fully. A fairy glastier put in new panes to the
been shattered windows, fairy carpentere replaced
favo- the doors upon their hinges, and fairy painters,
n his with inconceivable celerity, made cupboards
re of and closets as frebsh as paint could make them;
ne-- one fairy housemaid laid and lit a roaring fire,
that while another dusted and rubbed chairs and
i tell tables to a miraculous degree of brightness; a
comrn- fairy butler uncorked bottlesof fairy wine, and
that a fairy cook laid out a repast of most tempting
word appearance. The baron hearing a tappiong
a her- above him, cast his eyes upward and beheld
a her. a fairy slater rapidly repairing a hole in the
Well, roe,; and when he bent them down again,
saceet they fell on a fairy doctor mixing a cordial for
a soft the sleepers. Nay, there was even a fairy par
f the u n, who. not havrng any present employment,
con- c n:ented himself with rubbing his hands and
!sted : ',king Ileasant, probably waiting till some
v:3g- bcdy nighLt want to be christenedor married.
Every trade, every profession or occupation gentle
appeared, without exception, to be represent of the
ed; nay, we beg pardon, with one exception beyond
only, for the baron used to say, when afterward under
relating his experiences to bachelor friends, ooneilit
"You may believe me or not, sir, there was tears
every mortal business euner the sun, but dcil old fsal
a bit of a layer." ot.
The baron could not long remain inactive, too.
le was rapidly seised with a violent desre to little g
do something to help, which manifested itself oh Il
in insane attempts to assist every body at you m
once. At last, after having taken all the skin yoneg
off his knuckles in attempting to hammer in was r
nails in aid of the carpenters, and then nearly look oe
tumbling over a fairy housemaid, whose broom dinner
be was offering to carry, he gave it up as a day-"
bad job, and stood aide with his friend the really
goblin. He was just about to inquire how it wnk
was that the poor occupants of the house were der, d
tnot awakened by so much din when a fairy risk o1
i Sam Slick whohad been examining the cotta- rushed
ger's old clock, with a view to a thorough re- white
pair, touched some spring within it, and it bow
. made the usualpurr preparatory to striking. mysll
T When lo and behold, at the very first stroke, Carl;
I rottage, goblin, fairies and all disappeared teresti
Sinto utter darkness, and tha baron found him- "
,t self in his turretebamber, rubbing his toe, Wel
a which he had just hit with eonsiderable force was, n
f against the fender. As he was only in his the dl
h slippers the concussion was unpleasant, and grand
- the baron rubbed his toe for a good while, know
I After he had finished with his toe he rubbed Abo
his nose, and finally, with a countenance of kickir
- deep refiection, scratched the bump of som- ervi
f thing or other at the top of his ead. Thbeold it was
f clock on the stairs was striking three, and the robi
is fire bad gone out. The baron reflected for a yearlo
if abort time longer, and finally decided be had with
better go to bed, which he did accordingly. gorge
r The morning dawned upon the very ideal, as ants,
s, far s weather was concerned, of a Christmas hetb
day. A bright winter sun shone outjost vivid- ad wi
1, ly enough to make everything look genial and soon
- pleasant, and yet not with sufficient wrmth gobli
i- to mar the pure unbroken surface of the crisp An
11 white snow, which lay like s never-ending tainle
t. white lawn upon the ground, and glittered in nenci
i myriad silver flakes upon the leaves of the lttl
o sturdy evergreens. I'm afraid the baron had next
d not had a very good night; at any rate, I ro
know that he was wide awake at an hour long from
d before his usual time of rising. He lay first o wine
to onea ide, and then on the other, and then, by belal
r. way of variety, turned on his back, with his could
or magenta nose pointing perpendicularly toward How
a the ceiling; but it was all of no use. Do what enjoy
is he would, he couldn't get to sleep, and at last' did"
Le not long after daybreak, he tumbled out of more
n- bed, and proceeded to dress. Even after he than
was out of bed his fidgetiness continued. It masI
as did not strike him, until after he had got one form
I hoot on, that it would be a more natural pro- the d
ceeding to pnt his stockings on first ; after a fai
ly which be caught'himself in the act of trying to tradi
n. put his trousers on over his head (which, I Wo
of may mention for the information of lady only
ey readers, who, of course, cannot be expected to more
know anything about such matters, is not the hom
on mde generally adopted.) In a word, the ba- char
1g, ron's mind was evidently preoccupied; his men
whole air was that of a man who felt a strong aron
ly, impulse to do something or other, but could pres
ir; not quite make up his mind t. it. At last, jovii
tar however, the good impulse conquered, and our
this wicked old baron, in the stillness of the poo
d calm bright Christmas morning, went down mid,
n- upon his knees and prayed. Stiff were his well
ed- knees and slow his tongue, for neither had that
id, done such work for many a long day past; and
th lnt I have read in the Book of the joy of the "Go
e angels over a repenting sinner. There needs
of not much eloquence to pray the publican's
er- prayer, and who shall say but there was glad
At ness in heaven that Christmas morning !
an The baron's appearance down-stairs at such T
;he an early hour occasioned quite a commotion.
ad, Nor were the domestics reassured when the
baron ordered a bullock to be killed and jointed
ran instantly, and all the available provisions in CH
ed the larder, including sausage, to be packed up
ose in baskets, with a good store of his own pecn
to liar wine. One ancient retainer was heard to
declare, with much pathos, that he feared mas
rho ter had gone "off his head." However, "off SU
my his head" or not, they knew the baron must be
obeyed, and in an exceedingly short space of -o
eke time, he sallied forth, accompanied by three .
te. servants carrying the baskets, and wondering
and what in the name of fortune their master FO
to- would do next. He stopped at the cottage of
the Wilhelm, which he had visited with the goblin
ida on the previous night. The laborsof the faries
uty did not seem to have produced much lasting d
I'm benefit, fur the appearance of everything
ome around was as wretched as could be. The poor
family thought that the baron had come him
ites self to turn them out of house and home; and
ags, the poor children huddled up timidly to their
less mother for protection, while the father at
Low- tempted some words of entreaty for mercy.
sant The pale, pinched features of the group, and
roar their looks of dread and wretchedness, were
ihil- too much for the baron. " Eh ! what! what do
rmth you mean, confound you! Turn you out! Of
.ord. course not : I've brought you some breakfast.
ant, Here! Fritz-Carl] where are the knaves?
with Now then, unpack, and don't be a week about
pre- it. Can't you see the people are hungry, ye
is al- villains t Here, lend me the corkscrew." This
owed last being a tool the baron was tolerably accus
laid tomed to, he had better success than with
and those of the fairy carpenters; and it was not
e ill- long before the poor tenants were seated before
ver a roaring fire, and doing justice, with the ap
lee. petite of starvation, to a sbstantial breakfast.
h is The baron felt a queer sensation in the throat
a; it at the sight of the poor people's enjoyment,
op in and had passed the back of his hand twice
,und- across his eyes when he thought no one was
looking; but his emotion fairly rose to boiling
pull- point when the poor father, Wilhelm, with
s, he tears in his eyes, and about a quarter of a
pound of beef in his month, sprang up from the
done, table and threw himself at the baron's knees,
ight, invoking blessings on him for his goodness.
,you " Get up, you audacious scoundrell" roared the
baron. "What the deuce do you mean by such
eling conduct, eh! confound you I" At this moment
felt a the door opened, and in walked Mynheer
gion Klootz, who had heard nothing of the baron's al
bn's change of intentions, and who, seeing Wilhelm p
ation, at the baron's feet, and hearing the latter I
ished, speaking, as he thought, in an angry tone, at
sally, once jumped to the conclusion that Wilhelm
L, 1d was entreating for longer indalgence. He
rushed at the unfortunate man, and collared
don't him. "Not if we know itn exclaimed he;
Iyo "you'll have the wolves for bedfellows to
ble?" night, I reckon. Come along, my fine follow."
'if we As he spoke he turned his back toward the
baron, with the intentidn of dragging his vic
oblin, tim to the door. The baron's little gray eyes
a may twinkled, and hise whole frame quivered with
suppressed emotion, which, after the lapse of a
, and moment, vented itself in s kick, and such a
poor kick! Not one of your Varsoviana flourishes,
whom but a kick that employed every muscle from
airies hip to toe, and drove the worthy steward up
against the door, like a ball from a catapult.
n was Misfortunes never come singly, and so Mynheer
Kg the Klootz found with regard to the kick, for it
with was followed, without loss of time, by several
were, dozen others, as like it as possible, from the
or her baron's heavy boots. Wounded lions pro
t man- verbially come badly off, and Fritz and Carl,
to the who had suffered from many an act of petty
placed tyranny on the part of the steward, thought
nters, that they could not do better than follow their
boarde master's example, which they did to such good
I them; purpose, that when the unfortunate Klootz did
og fire, esoape from the cottage at last, I don't believe
r and he could have had any s saoram left.
es; a After having executed this little act of
ne,and poetical justice, the baron and his servants
ng visited the other cottages, in all of which they
g were received with dread, and dismissed with
d blessings. Having completed his tour of
in the charity, the baron returned home to breakfast,
again, feeling more really contented than he had done
i!lfor for many a long year. lie found Bertha, who
yr par- had not risen when be started, .n a considerable
ment, state of anxiety as to what he could possibly
da and have been doing. In answer to her inquiries
I some- he told her, with a roughness he was far from
arried. feeling, to " mind her own business." The
gentle eyes filled with teals at the
of the reply; pereeiviog which theh ber
beyond measure distrssed, Man ehole
under the chin in what wasu mue o e a
tears t No, surely. Bertha rm
old father. I didn't mean i yfo kw
pet; and yet, on second tha4 y I"
too." Bertba's face was over ai
little girl thinks she has no bI tr
oh! Is that it Well, then, my y
you make it your business tpo
young Carl von S ,emach. and ay
I was rather rude to him yesterday,
º look over it, and come and take a as
I dinner and a slice of the paddi·g Wi
a really believe you do-" The barons
I winking nineteen to the doen. R4
a dear, dear, dear old pa r' And st the I
risk of opsetting the breakft t table
rushed at the baron, and flinga two
- white arms about his neck, bkh
t bow she did kis him t I shoalda' havet
myself, she could possibly have had y ay
Carl; but Idare say Bertha atteded to
d tereete in that respect somehow,
5, Well, Carl came to dinner, and the
e was, not very many years after, prome .
is the dignity of a grandpa, and a very jese
d grandpa he made. I that all you washgd
I. know t
d1 About Klootz I Well Klootz got over
if kicking, but he was dismissed from the bur
e- service; and on examination of his
1d it was discovered that he had been bha4
s0 robbing the baron of nearly a third of
a yearly income, which be bhad to refund;.
id with the money he wasthus compelled iek
gorge, the baron bilt new cottege, for his
is ants, and new.stocked their farms. Nor,
m he the poorer in the end, fpr his tenants wei
d- ed with the energy of gratitude, and bet
Id soon many times the richer than when b
tLh goblin vaisited him on that Chtiatmae4ve.
'P And was the goblin ever explained
og tainly not. How dare you have the
in nence to suppose such a thingl ha
be l,3ttle, covered with oob webs, wre fban
ad next morning in the turret chambl,r, whlch
,I bIron at first imagined must be the boyj
ig from which the goblin prodauced his mie
on wine; but as it was found, on exsminatice
by be labelled "Old Jamaica Rum," of coets
is could not have had anything to do with
rd However it was, the baron never tboy
at enjoyed any other wine after it; and ato
et' did not thenceforth get drank, on an avtas
of more than two nights a week, or swear -
he than eight oaths a day, I think KingChit
It mas may be considered to have meesua
no formed him. And he always maintaicSl
ro- the day of his death, that he was changedi*
ter a fairy, and became exceedingly angry if
to tradicted.
I, I Who doesn't believe in fairies after this? I
dy only hope King Christmas may makes
to more good fairies this year, to brightesa
he homes of the poor with the light of Christ
ca- charity. Truly we need not look far foral
his men Cold and hunger. disease and deati,
ing around us at all times; but at no time daoy
old press more heavily on the poor than at
tst, jovial Christmas season. Shall we shutoti,ui
ad our mirth and jAlity, the cry of the h
the poor ? or shall we not rather remember,in
Wn midst ofour happy family circles, rend
his well filled tables, and before our blauing
lad that ourbrothers are starving out in the
at; and that the Christmas song of the a:gel
the "Good will to men t"
eds
ads MEDICAL ADVERTISEME~~ T .
ad
nhb TO THE POOR.
on. FREE DISPENS.ARY
the
ted or TR
in CHARITY HOSPITAL MEDICAL COLLE
up
pcn- OPPOSITE CHARITY HOSPITAL GATh.
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proat petwenty-ve years and not bottle titu,
met, rfoctly safe for the most dlesesed nddebiited,
twice I. ALL GASg8 WrHBRB Td L
PURE, ITSHOULD RUBED FREELTIa*
twas . reetm oNLY AL
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11 S. Seventh St., below Cheotnut, Philiade.1h
of a Desriptiv pamphlet furnished el.tisa SlM
m the Men.
knees, ocSi 3a
T SUFFERERS WITH RHEUM
such GOUT AND NEURALGIA.
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ilhelm taneous relief, and In moet asesa
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the myjority of those clung my Prpr t
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Ilo."first bottle, that person is undoubtedly°5t,,
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yeyes with the most satisfactoryrroesltsn et
qrdsh S vise~nah· -spread reputation "
wit qutire most seupticalof i cuattivee pweers ci
Of the many thousands who have been
*ch 5 only refer to the following well-kncwu eltl5r'1
ariahes,city, who have all sig heo follolewl 1
lefrom We the rndersi i raidents 0
Orlesns hupe und '. L. Jnrl foced
really poseesed the medicinal virtne a
trecommend the afame - ic ,ted.
several James Reran. owner of lIvory ctable.
street; etdphen Krraus. corner n IPou
am the iton streets; ,harle Rtoeseit,/'.. g,
S Carl, owner of bakekJ. No. II FaPllon s5ro5e  _tea 
toyd o.ll, 41oRampart euree
Ouht ron, . B88 Camp stre _ ..l . Wi-dJ
w their S. Andrew street C.pl Wm.Wee. tlaiboree
9h good 4t5 Drydes street:Eugene EratheOWcc;,
a Mrs. l Siebrandi. midwitd . No: na. cas.
chthey O.r.Thisame ,n greer, Ho. 154 15gaiess
akfaat, PriceS Jt5,perbottle.
'ar from 11·OSao & ItsId St.,i''
The~7 I~ly~l