. Recollections of Auton House . day, if necessary, before distributing the presents. •, To our great relief he joined fji at last the noisy throng as it swept like a breeze up the frontstairs into mothers room. Debrahs small-armed half-sister Ruby used to say,when inquiry was made con-cerning her health, that shewas pretty poorly, and thatexpresses the state of MotherAutons feelings a good deal ofthe time at that epoch. Shethought that each Christmaswould be the last one she wasto be with us, so that in the midst of our hilarity we always had atear in one eye. If the amount of delight which d
. Recollections of Auton House . day, if necessary, before distributing the presents. •, To our great relief he joined fji at last the noisy throng as it swept like a breeze up the frontstairs into mothers room. Debrahs small-armed half-sister Ruby used to say,when inquiry was made con-cerning her health, that shewas pretty poorly, and thatexpresses the state of MotherAutons feelings a good deal ofthe time at that epoch. Shethought that each Christmaswould be the last one she wasto be with us, so that in the midst of our hilarity we always had atear in one eye. If the amount of delight which danced in ourexpectant hearts on those Christmas mornings could have beenfairly put into the scales and held there long enough it wouldhave weighed down a continent. Mother Auton went to one particular deep drawer, in one par-ticular bureau, on one particular side of the room, and there, stand-ing before its open mouth, with tears in her dear eyes and a trem-bling in her speech, she placed in our hands the little tokens of her. CHRISTMAS AT AUTON HOUSE. 89 affection, one after another, from father clown to Kosannah thecook, with such little speeches as : — Accept this, my dear, as a fond token of affection from yourmother, etc.; and This silk, dear E., was the nearest I could getlike the one you wanted so much, etc.; or Take this remem-brance, C. Anton, from your loving mother, etc.; and This, mydarling, is a small affair, but, etc., etc., etc. And so she went downthe whole row, keeping us just between smiles and tears all thetime, until the festival was closed. Dear, dear Mother Anton! The remembrance of those beatific days, that mystic associationwhich clings to Christmas-tide, and the precious memories whichthey bring to us of maternal love and noble unselfishness, have im-parted strength to endure that bitter burden of disappointment anddeath which sooner or later falls to the lot of every human creature. CHAPTER TWELFTH. FATHER AUTON. jHAT boy is fortunate who has reaso
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