r to the idle young darkies
about town, and they were only too glad to get something to use
against him. Of course there was general indignation among the
citizens when they learned that they had suffered a false alarm; but
when they considered the beautiful motive that prompted the action,
the tide of reproach was turned aside, and it all ended in a general
laugh at Uncle Scipio's expense.

It still wanted several hours till day, when our fears were relieved
by his appearance, and we went to bed again.

With the first streak of light, however, we were up with bare feet and
frowzy heads to find Uncle Scipio's promise had not failed us. The
Christmas saint had been upon our hearthstone and left his footprints
there. The stockings were as fantastically distended as ever in the
palmiest times.

I suppose the children of the present day would not covet the
wonderful objects that we hauled forth from heel and toe. Yet I have
spent many Christmas holidays amid the gayeties of the metropolis
since then, and its richest gifts wax poor when I remember that
morning. What did it matter to us that both toys and confections bore
the stamp of home manufacture--little wooden dolls, like Chinese
deities, carved out of wood by Uncle Scipio's jack knife--strange
people baked in sweet bread with coffee grains for eyes? What did it
matter that the war cloud hovered around us; that to-morrow might
renew the scenes of yesterday? We were happy in our treasures. We
know, now, what the charm was that made them precious, for we know
that

"The painted vellum hallows not the prayer,
Nor ivory and gold the crucifix."

Ah! that will ever be the day of days to me. And with it are enshrined
in fadeless green, the names of many whose eyes have long been closed
upon the wars and joys of this earth. Not the least dear among these
will ever be old Scipio, who loved us better than his own freedom; who
stood by us in the day of trial, and was faithful till death to the
charge of a master who could never return to take account of his
stewardship.

He was grandiloquent, insisted on spectacles, though he generally read
the hymns upside down; wore a collar on Sundays that would put our
modern dudes to naught; but he was a prophet, for all that, and saw
farther than most men into the future.

We trust he has honor now in his own country; while in our hearts his
memory will yearly ring the chimes of Christmas bells.

Celine