PART IV.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 327, 22 December 1888, Page 5

PART IV.

Boxikc Day. Maggie and Harry were on their way to take tea with his parents, who lived in a comfortable cottage in Ponsonby, and in order to have a pleasant walk together, they turned into Symonds-street, intending to go round by bhe Karangahape Road. ' Your mother looks quite upset, Maggie,' he said to her as they walked along. 'I am glad we thought of having a family party to tea ; that with the sleep she is getting now, will rest her mind, and stop her brooding over the matter.' 'It was a sad accident, Harry, veryPoor Mrs Dormer !' ' Yes, she's a young widow ; but she doesn't strike me as one that would feel anything very deeply. Flighty and frivolous, I should say. : * We know so little of her beyond that she is very pretty and dresses very nicely, but boneath that she may have much feeling.' ' That is a very gentle reproof, Maggie,' he said, looking down at her earnest face. 'But you are right, dear ; not knowing, we ought not to judge. It was strange that he should be the only one drowned, and he could swim, too ; so that gentleman said who knew him well. He must have been struck on the head by something, when the yacht capsized, and so close to the shore, too ; scarcely u couple of hundred yards off", I so obey say.' 1 This will be a sad Christmas for his people. Even for us, strangers to him, it has clouded the brightness of the season, and has reminded us that all are not as happy as we are, a fact we are apt to forget at times when all things smile upon us. For we are very happy, are we net, Harry ?' •Happy, Mags !' he exclaimed in a sort of ecstacy. Perhaps it was as well that he observed, only just in time though, a, family party in close proximity, coming along with the peculiar-drag incidental to family parties returning from a day's outing ; otherwise the impetuous young mm might have done something dreadful. After a pause, which the family party got passed them he said — ' Maggie. ' 1 Well, dear ?' looking at him with her calm, truthful eyes. 'My darling girl, every day I thank God for his goodness to me. It is almost more than 1 can understand why so much happiness should fall to my lot. The wise man said truly, ' a virtuous woman is a crown to her husband ; her value is far, far above rubies.' Yes, Maggie, my own blessed girl, the love of a modest, clever,' home-loving woman is a jewel without price ; but, dear, I am not. ungrateful.' A pause. * I love Christmas, although I was born in New Zealand,' he continued; with laughing facei; but the gentle touch on his arm and "the earnest pleading invher eyes' changed his laughter to love. ' lhave always loved Christmas for its' general kindliness. But henceforth this season*will~ be doubly sacred to' me,v.;and 4shis Christmas will*; stand, o out 1 ~as ?a bekconr to • lighi *my future path, and I only Hope that 'there

are many, nfany ; persons in Auckland'- that 4 will/be able'to iook;bac|£ &?%his' I seasoniwith some of ttfe joy and gladness that 'are now filling my hearjj.' , ' ' The tears were in Maggie's eyes, and she could nob answer and while 1 1 stood waiting to hear what she would say, the two figures passed gradually away into the sunshine, 1 and I saw them no' more. , It need, perhaps, hardly be added, except to preventspeculation andmisapprehension, that names and incidents in, this story are entirely, fictitious, and are merely employed to illustrate a subject of wide importance, which has come into prominence during the last few months. It the obvious moral is taken to heart as a Christmas lesson by any human being who perceives his or her circumstances reflected in the characters that are here presented, the purpose" of the writer will have been abundantly served.