A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

New Zealand Tablet, 27 December 1906, Page 7

A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

Herbert Durant was lonely, although it was Christmas Eve and the stieet in front of his luxurious home was filled with evidences of joyousness. As he sat in his study, an unopened book on' his lap, there came to his ears a faint echo of the hustle and bustle of the merry crowd passing with loads of good things for the great feast. He could not read. In spite of himself, his thoughts went . back several decades to his childhood, when his good Catholic parents notwithstanding their poverty, were- so .busy preparing to " celebrate the cqn.Lug of the Babe of Bethlehem. In imagination he saw the forms of those who gave him life and laid the foundation of his future success.

' Were it not,' he said to himself, 'for the thoughts that, unwelcome, come from days long passed, I would say the -street is filled with silly fools, who endure the -discomfort of crowded stores and theu;old for an absurd Ldea. Why this waste of time and money to celebrate a certain day ? One day -is asgood as another, unless there is a decline in stocks. And yet so many make a fuss, that is the right word, - over Christmas. 'It has no place in the calendar of sciences, and is only the invention of designing monks. It is true I was taught 'to reverence the day, 'but a few years at college .dispelled the illusion my poor old parents created for me. Christmas, like Santa Glaus, could not stand . the light of . reason, and when I was, a man it disappeared just- as effectually as old Santa did, with the coming of long breeches. . Still, I am sad to-night, and -feel that disaster "of some kind is not far off. The house lacks something money cannot purchase. lam lonely. — ' It may be that I made a mistake when I gave up Clara because her father's fortune went with so many others on that -Black Friday. 1 was "then . only beginning m.y financial- career, and, of course, could' not form an alliance with the daughter of a bankrupt. Money came", but not happiness. 1 " ' The soliloquy -was' interrupted by the entrance of the butler, carrying a silver tray, on was a — visiting card." •.' James,' said the master, as he took the card, ' I am not at home to-night. 1

"The butlejc&sbo-wed, " and was, about - : -to leave the room when he _ was told to -remain. ," Mr. Durant examined the card, and ' • was surprised to--See that it contained the name of George, Debers,* one .of •'the leaders of i.the- Stock-" Exrhange. ■I '-Show the gentleman into 'the reception room,' he ordered ;.' and" tell -him I:/will join him ~ within a'few minutes. ' . . *..,.-• ' ~~ ' Deberg,' miirmured Durant, has' repulsed all my advances, and seemed determined to know me only &s a brolcer. I tried to cultivate him, or. rajther become acquainted ' with him socially, "for., he is worth knowing, but _ failed. What has ; brought ', him hereto-night, of ail others? Ceitainly riot business, - for no man - would invade a private home on Qhristmas Eve -to talk business. Well,- I- shall see him and -solve the riddle.' ..--.. _Darant greeted his visitor ■ cordially; while trying toconceal his surprise at seeing him. < ' I am indeed happy,' he said, 0 -to> see- you at'last * in my house> An- old bachelor is lonely at this seasou. ' - -. •._■"' \ . "~ ■ Mr. Deberg -took* ihe extended hand" rather '•'-' coolly, saying : 'I^imagine that some bachelors enjoy their lonely lives'^wh'en they" have such' inviting homes which they insist upon retaining for their 1 sole .and 'exclusive - use.' ' ' ;"'"„ ' You, forget, -my friend, that a lonely life is a ne- _ cessity with some of us. Not every one can secure "a "par flier for the journey of life. ' We should^ have the sympathy, not the censure, -of those- who, like yourself, hav.e won prizes.' "* . . ~ - 'Deberg looked straight at his host as he replied, - and . ther6 wasj, a suggestion Nof contempt in his tone: , . * Some men secure money by reprehensible methods ; others win the love of noble women only to abandon them when ..fortune lakes wing. "But few find' no response to their love. To which class do you ' belong?' Had the winter's sky reverberated" vAth peals of thunder, Durant would not have been more surprised,-' and he remained silent while his companion - continued : " '*»., . - 'I see that you do not* wish to bei placed in either of these classes, but, do. not" forget , that we arc- not estimated so much by our words as We are by ,our lives.' '■_ „ - Durant had at last obtained control" of his , emotions, and replied* with the indifferent air he so often t assumed' In Wall street.: - „ 'I- suppose I must be placed in -the third class, among the" few whose love stirs no' responsive . chord* in the heart of the loved. So-J should/ have - your* sympathy, should I not ? ' » ( * Certainly you should, and I sympathise with you so much that I shall, withdraw the curtain that you ' may see pictuies of the past. 'It may enable you to enter with a- proper spirit on the celebration of Christmas. First, we "see/the picture *of .a" noble youth, faithful to all his" duties as a son and Christian. Then we have the gay .young man who lias forgotten his- old parents and his- religion. Next the successful man of business, who, after winning the love of a. -' noble {Arl, forgets his words of affection as soon as i her father's fortune vanishes. Do "you care to study these pictures? I have not come here to find fault „ with you, but to -point out your "mistake, that I-may help you, help you undo, .as far as possible, a great wrong. You have not forgotten Clara Walshr She is dying, and has expressed a wish to .see you before she is separated from you >uy the river "we cross but once. Will you go with rce_ to see her? ' -■«-* -.''„ At the mention of a using, he had not heard spoken for twenty years the color left Dur'arit's face. He had tried to ' forget, and thought he had succeeded. Yet the "tidings- that she was dying made his' heart, T)eat more- quickly than it had for a.^score of years. When his astonishment gave place to 'sober judgment", he- said in a sad voice': ■ . ' Then she is still living ? I ■ thought, ,as I had not heard from her for' years, that" she was dead.' ' Yes, she is living, but the physicians ' say .there is no hope for her. She -is at my house, . and has been governess for my children and companion to -my .wife since the death of " her poor father. Will you "come to- her ? ' - ' Durant forgot that he was "the stoic, who no longer believed- life could bestow happiness; or that there was any use in seeking ife unless it could be found in the acquisition of money. In an instant he recalled the days he had spent in the company of Clara Walsh, and -he again >(elt that it would be a joy- to - see- her, though on her death-bed. . - ' I will go,' be said, ""Tab the risk of opening old vounds in. her heart and 'in mine.' _ - (To be concluded next week.)