Bloomington Progress, Volume 18, Number 43, Bloomington, Monroe County, 24 December 1884 — Page 8

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CHRISTMAS GHATS' BALLADE, BT A5CDKEW U.xa, Betweon the moonlitat and the fire. In winter evenings long ago, What hosta 1 1 aised at too r desire To make your leaping bkd ran slew! How old, how grave, how viae we grc r! mt Chrtotmas cheat can make as chill Save these that troop In mournful row. The ghosts we all can raise at will? The beasts can talk in barn and byre On Christmas-eve, old legends know. As one by one the years retire. We men fail sUent then, I trow Such sights has memory to show, Snch voices from the distant thrill. An, me! tiey come with Christmas snow. The ghosts wo alt oan rise at will. Oh, children ef the village choir. Tout carols on the midnight, throw! Oh. brteht across the mist and mire. Ye ruddy hearths ef Christmas glow! Seat back the shades, beat down the woe. Renew t lie strength of moral will; Be welcome, all, to come or go. The ghosts we all can raise at wilt. Fdend, nursirm eorda, soon or slow We next, like gocfts who've Joyed their nil: Forget them not, nor mooru them so. The ghosts we all can raise at wBl!

Patty raised her head to ntare at him. "No, I couldn't, Uncle Joshua; not to live, you know. I think a lot o you an' Aunt Sally. But there's all the rest o the folks Uncle Amasy and Aunt Polly and George; George is my brother!Uncle Joshua drew away his hand, and Aunt Sally, in her corner, frowned over her knitting. Innocent Patty went on, presently, in a musing tone : "This place is awful

Uuolo Aniasa took the sheet with trembling fingers. "Heaven an earth," he ejaculated, letting it fall the next moment. "It's that moggage made out to Patty. 1 listen here: 1 send you whal would please you most, child. Tell your 1'nolo Amnsa a man is pretty good that raises such a little sirl. So, a Morry Christians lo you all! From TnE Old Dititbh. "Bless the Lord !" whispered Aunt Polly. And "Bless the Lord!" piped her small niece.

PATTY AJTOBEWS' CHRISTMAS STOCKING. BT BUTH HALT. "Polly, woman, see here a minute !" aid Mr. Aniasa Andrews, opening the kitcbec door. "Whatever d'ye think? I've had a letter from Uncle Joshua '." "NoS about the moggage? The old skinflint!"

Mrs. Andrews turned an anxious face from the bread she was knead Lag. -No; 'liin't nothin' o' that sort. It's b real friendly letter. He wants to borrow our Patty for a spell." "Borrow Patty ! What in the world" "WeJi, there, you see, Polly," began her husband, advancing with the letter iit his hand: "O! Aunt Sally lives with 'im; hez fer years. An titer's her daughter Sarah married lately. I e'poae it leaves 'er sorter lonesome. Anyways ho sez he'd like t've Patty come ier Vile. It's nat'ral 'wot Shell we let 'er got" "Oh, Amasy, I bate tor "Yes, well miss 'er; but 'tain't fer long. An' titer's the moggage, Polly!" "I know. Well, let's leave it to Patty."

Patty heratdf was not averse to the visit; but then she never was to any .plan of her elders. 'Td jus' as lieves, she said, in her mild little voice; and George lamented Tjtjiile he wondered that he had not been chosen instead. So Aunt Polly packed the oldfashioned carpet-bag, and Uncle Aniasa put his small niece in the stage-coach, under the good-natured driver's eare, one frosty morning in the late fallPatty never forgot that brisk rolling over the flinty roads, the glimpses of the ice-bound river, of farm-bouses nestled among leafless trees, of now and then a child at .a window who nodded or waved a hand at her. And then, as night fell, early and cold, they halted before a long, low, red house, where a single light was burning, and an old man in a for cap, with a lantern in his hand, came to the gate and called: "Ain't got a little gal fer me, 'ev ye, Silas?" "Here ye be!" was the answer, and Patty was handed down. She was so nearly asleep that it was like a dream; her enhance into the lighted kitchen, her sapper on kind Auat Sally's lap,

and. finally, her tucking into bed at

:Jiat good woman's motherly hands.

Bat the nest morning, when break

fast was over, Patty followed Uncle Joshua out of doors. "Kin I come

with, vou?" she asked, slipping her

little hand into his hard, horny palm.

"I gh'd think ye'd like to stay with Aunt Sally," he replied, looking at her

front Wider his cap brim. "She's goin'

to make some pies, I guess."

Td rather go with you an' see the

calves, if I may?" answered his great

niece, timidly.

And so, morning after morning, Patty would go to Aunt Sally with her

hood and little shawl, and, while pans

were being fastened and strings tied.

she would ask: "Ye don't mind ef I go

out with Uncle Joshua, do ye, Aunt

Sally V"

Always the same question, and al

ways the same answer: "Lord love the dear child, no!" While the old woman

muttered, under her bieath: "Mebbe

twill do some good. Who knows?"

Uncle Joshua always stood in the

doorway during this dialogue, with

great show of impatience and reluct

ance to be "bothered." "I sh'il think a little gal's place

in th' house,' he would remark, as he .took her hand. But he liked it. Bless

yon, how he liked it!

' And soon tbere was not a nook or cranny in the stable and barn that had not caught the light of Patty's yellow head, and heard the tender cadence of

ber voice.

One day Aunt Sally accompanied

'them to the pen where the great Christmas tark'tv was confined. While she

was wondering at it size and promise,

Jill. Andrews said, suddenly

"Patty, does your Uncle Amasy talk

much about me, dye know?" with

malicious twinkle under his bushy eye

brows.

Sometimes." Patty hung her head.

"Oh, be d'ies, does he? What does

ho call me, child?"

"An Ol' Buffer," said Patty, with her

finger in her mouth.

Uncle Joshua turned and strode away, flinging, 'There, now, Salty!" over his shoulder at his dismayed sister as he went. Th night he sat before the open "Franklin" in his great rocking chair, while Aunt Sally knitted in the corner, and Patty, on the floor, unlaced her shoes preparatory to going up stairs: A "Ye like us here, don't ye, Patty?" naked her uncle, Anally, after long atlenee. "Yes, sir, t course I do," laying her ik cheek against his knee. Tnde Joshua's hard hand was very tton the yellow head as he stroked hair. Vn' would ye like to live vjith us?" sited again.

ji' not gr home ever?"

?kt. m mkfebr-l9r a visit

FAREWELL TO THE OLD YEAR. T HBI.BX WHITNEY CI.A11K. Farewell, Old Year, farewoll to you; You've boon tor many a day A Mend most triad, a Mend most true And as wo bid yon our adien. We give our hsartfolt thanks to yon. And. spoed you on your way. We've had fall many a merry timo Since first we mot. Old Year. You'vo gunit for us the Christmas rhyme And rang for us the Chrtetmas chime. And many a joy at Christmas tinw You brought with hearty cheer. Yon crowned the woodland banlcs with bloom Of rose red and sweet You gave the violets thoir pert nmo. Ripened the eornflold's tasaelcd plume.

1 And filled the mill-wheel's running flume, To grind the golden wheat. 1 Yon brought the yellow daffodil

To blossom in tho sprina Strewed cuckoo-flowers oinevery hill. And cat-tails by tho ripplins! rill And taught tho lonely whip-poor-will His vesper son? to sing. Yon turned the Ivy's green to red. The maple leaves to gold -Purpled the clusters overhead. And showers of ripened nuts you shed. When fallen leaves lay thickly spread Above tho forest mold. And it you gathered come fair flowers

I That blos.omca on your way, You bore them to a fairer cllmo.

Where neit her cold, nor care, nor Timo Could blight them in their golden prime. Or touch them with decay. And ah! you brought. Old Year! Old Year! One tiny baby flower

! To nestle on its moth r's breast. And close its lilnc ovvs Into ret, Wl-.eu song-birds fc.:k their cradle-nest

At twilight's shat.owy hour. And nov.-. (lid Year, farewell to you! Wc grieve to lose you so You've been a friend both tried and true; And s we bid yon our arttm. We give our heartfelt thanks to you, Anil sigh that you n4 go.

OUR FIRST CHRISTMAS TREE.

And I think our Patty was th:. only child in New England who found that day a house and lands in the toe of her Christmas stocking.

nice, but I like Uncle Amasy's ju t ez

welL I guess, if it wasn't fer fer the

the moggage."

"The whatf "The moggage we've got on our farm

at home. Mike said so, an' George an me we've hunted for it lots o' times." The child's voice had grown low and fearful, and she knitted her brows as she spoke. "Pmsea't of it, too; it's somethin' awfuL George thought 'twas

a bear, mebby; but Mike said 'twas more like a wolf . Did ye ever see one, Uncle Joshua?"

The old man did not answer, but be

gan raking down the fire with a great

deal of noise.

"Joshua!" called his sister, winding

the clock.

"Wail!" he snarled. ' "Amasy Andrews 's ez good a niar.'s

ever trad sole leather. I declare fer it.

it's a shame!"

"Shet up, Sally! Will ye?" Mr.

Andrews turned upon her. Amasy Andrews s a shiftless creature. I ain't no use for 'im."

Patty sprang to her feet, with her

shoes in her hand. "You didn't oughter

to talk so!" she cried, indignantly.

Uncle Amasy's so good to me!" and

then she broke down and cried.

"Sally, take that chad to bed!" com

manded her uncle, and disappeared.

Patty went home soon after this; and

when the stage stopped at the door,

Aunt Sally held her fast, saving between her tears: "Ye mas' come ag'n, darlin'. Promise, us ye will." While

Uncle Joshua snapped in his crossest tones:

O' course she'll come ag'in. Don't

be a fool. Here, Fatty, come to me. That's somethin' to remember me by," thrusting a gold piece in her hand.

An' this," holding up a little package, 'ye tell yer Aunt Polly to put in your

stockin' C'ris'mus."

And then he took her to the stage. When Patty Hllowed her gifts to

Aunt Polly, at night, that worthy

woman took the money between her

thumb and finger.

"Land's sake!" she cried, "ef that

don't beat all! It's a five-dollar piece,

Amasy Andrews, as sure' ye live! Who'd ' thought th' ol' man'd acted so

like folks!"

"He's real good '."loyal Patty, in all

her excitement, did not forget to say.

"I like Uncle Joshua fnstrate. Oh,

but Aunt Polly ! won't that buy my new

shoes?"

The man and woman exchanged glances, and then Mrs. Andrews stooped

and kissed her niece. The short winter days passed quickly. One night at dusk the two excited chil

dren hung their stockings in the chim

ney corner before they went up stairs to bed. The nest morning, in the dark and cold, two little night-gowned fig

ures crept down the backstairs, shiver

ing and sleepy, but happy beyond

words to describe.

"Don't ye look? Don't ye dass to

look 'till I get th' fire agoinM" commanded George, as he lighted the

lamp.

"Honest, I won't, Georgy!" his sis-

; ir nrnmiaed. cover in or her eyes with

her hands. "There; it's a goin'? Pm glad

flt'fc it last, nhrht. Now look, Patty,

oh, look, quick!"

"Mittens!" cried the boy, diving into

his stocking. "Leggins!" cried the girl. "Oh, Patty! look 'ere, won't ye? sled, a true an' honest sled!"

"Oh., Georgy! a doll! A lovely, great

big doll! Oh, aint I glad!'

"That's good news," said Uncle

Amass, cheerfully, as he and his wife

appeared at the door. "Air ye satis

fled, children?"

But Patsy had. at last, come to Uncle

ImWi box. I'll cut th' string with

mynew k'life," George cried. "Now,

leas loo' i mebby it's a gold watch and

atty."

The Christmas Spirit,

The Christmas season, best of all the year, is once more with us, and its joy and good cheer arc felt by young and old alike. All the holidays are wetcome visitors, but there is a touch of humanity that makes the whole world kin, in tho blessed Christmas, that is found in no other holy or holiday. Christmas is humanity's day,

and sorry the lot of those who fail to'

catch its meaning. Is there another

day in the year when the attention of

writin'," said

ME. CHIRRUP'S CHRISTMAS.

BY HEI.ES WHITNEY CI.AItK. Mr. Chirrup was glum. Any one else, any one with a less amiable disposition, that is, would have been "cross" under the same provocation. But Mr. Chirrup was never cross, and ho was t eldom "glm. " However, when it comos to the day before Christinas and you have no

i money to buy your wife a Chnsmas gift,

or anv thing to put in the children 8 stockings, and no prospective turkey, or mince pie and plum pudding for your Christmas dinner, you are excusa

ble for being glum. So, at least, thought Mr. Chirrup, as he sat looking out of tho window of

Lawyer Ledgeriy's oftiee, where he was employed at a by-no-means-extravagant salary. Lawyer Ledgerly was ill too "ill to be seen," his mother-in-law said. So there was no hope of anticipating his next quarter's salary, as ho had sometimes done on similar pressing occasions. For Mr. Chirrup's salary was so small and his family so large, it was not much wonder there was usually some difficulty in making the salary stretch from one quarter's end to tho other. All these things Mr. Chirrup pondered as he sat looking out of the win-

monster turkey it was, too, tho biggest that Mr. Chirrup either of tho Mr. Chirrups had seen in tho market. And tho would-be purchaser held it up, punched it, turned it around and held it up again, for all the world as if he were exhibiting it for tho benefit of his brother, looking glumly down from the window opposite. Hut iu reality ho was only deciding in his own mind that this was really the biggest, the plumpest, the tendercst, and most tempting-looking fowl ho had seen yet, and therefore he would take it. And plump it. went, forthwith, into

Mr. liothschild Chirrup's huge marketbasket, which seemed yawning to receivo it. Mr. Chirrup our Mr. Chirrup this time oame as near sneering us he had ever do 10 in his life, when the turkey disappeared in his brother's basket. For a bitter estrangement had existed between the two brothers from time immemorial or thereabout. "No doubt l:o '.'an buy turkeys,' said Mr. Chirr up Caleb, his name was. "Ko doubt 1:0 can bur turkeys, and celery, too." For a big bunch of celery, large enough for a winter bouquet, had followed tho mammoth tm-koy to its hiding plane. "And if there's ono thing 1 like better than another, it's celery," thought

Sir. Caleb Chirrup, trying very hard to look crabbed and revengeful, but not succeeding very well. However, be did manage to look quite savage siml resentful for him, which is saying a good dea1. Mr. lioU-hs .-hild, in the meantime, pursued tho ven but pompous tenor of his way through the crowd which iostled him on every side. Now and

then he stopped at the best filled stalls, and added relays of vegetables and other articles to the contents of his roomy basket, bunches of rich bananas, dozens of gel den-rinded oranges and lemons, "scads" of candies and cakes, and other indigestible compounds also disappeared in the same ample receptacle. "Humph! I trust the little Rothschilds have, well-seasoned stomachs to dispose of all that trash," thought Mr. Caleb, sarcastically. Though in reality

he could not have told whether his

brother was a bachelor or a Benedict,

so long had been the feud between

them. And then Mr. Caleb Chirrup's humble abodo was many, many blooks

removed from the aristocratic precincts

of "West End," where his brother resided.

The elder Chirrup for Mr. Rothschild was tho elder seemed at last to havo completed his purchase of edibles, and paused in front of a flower-

stall, where he selected a pot of crim

son and white chrysanthemums.

"The very pot," thought Mr. Caleb,

ghimlv, "that I picked out over

month ago, as a Christmas present for

poor Patty." "Poor Patty" was Mr. Caleb's wife.

Mr. Rothschild, however, deposited

his purchase in his basket, and trudged

manded, starting back as if a snake had bitten him. And no wonder he started, for on the table lay a mammoth turkey, plump and yellow-breasted, squuds of vegetables, bunohen of celery, dozens of ripe bananas, goldenrinded oranges and lemons, piles of candies and confectioneries, and, fragrant and blooming, a pot o white chrysanthemums; a familiar-looking market-basket also stood on a chair by tho table.

ATONEMENT. "Twintmas will eoon be hero again. But oh! my Dolly dear, I'm ever 'n' over -so much oldor Than at Twietmas time last year. "An" I tries to be a better girl. For I learned tho Golden Ruls As well a to read, an' paint, an' spell. Yon know I goea to school? "An" you must learn to say it. An' try an"jnember It, too: Do unto Govern aa ye would That tlioy should do to yon." "For 'twas' 'cause you was so han'some.

dow in Lawyer Ledgerly's office, which j away in blissful ignorance of the shah-

ROLLING SNOW BALL.

Mr. Chirrup was about to pinch him

self to see if he was awake, when

Merry Christmas, Brother Caleb,"

sounded in his oar, as from some mys

terious corner i.-araeMr.Rothsehild Chirrup himself, sleek and well-kept looking nobby hat, gold-headed cane, and all! "Merry Christinas, Brother Caleb." he repeated, extending a well-

kept hand. "I've been waiting all these years for you to maxe Borne advances toward a truce. But since you

will remain adamant I concluded to make them myself. So let by-gones be by-gones, if you are willing, and let us be friends hereafter, as well as

brothers." Then, turning to the table, he held up the fat turkey, turning it round and round, just as he Lad done in the market. "A fine fellow, isn't he? I got the biggest I could find in the market, on purpose for you," ho added. " And the pot of flowers is a peace-offering to my sister-in-law, if she will accept," he added, while Caleb still looked on, half dozed.

From your head way down to your toee; And came all tho way from Paris, An" had Kunh boolul ciothfs "That I fordot all alout my Pejrgy, An' Dinah, an' Susie, an' Ned. Poor sins;! they's been awful lonesome! I guess they wish you was dead! Tor 1 han't played wiv 'era any Since von tamo to live wiv me. Let's us a3k 'cm to fordivo us. An' we'll have a Twistmaa twee. "An' Rive 'em lots of presents Make 'em havo such a lovely time

Tliat.h !j'll Zorset they fought you was

proud 'Cause you was dressed so flue. "An" we all will love each ower. An' tie happv as happy can be. Then won't wo have a sp'endid time At my dollies' Twistmas twee!"

SANPACLriUS. BT EOSE HAHTWICK THORPE. "Pleane, sir, be you Santa Claus?"

Tho small voice rang out, shrill and

eager, on tho crisp evening air, nnd J.

P. Fernald, senior member of the firm

of Fernald & Co., turned and looked

down into t he child's animated face, up-

! lifted with an anxious inquiry shining

And the children's stockings were not tliroiigll Urg(j made

destined to hang empty after all, that

Christmas Eve. And a better Christmas dinner, or a

oilier party to eat it, was not found

,nj where that Christinas Day, for Mr.

Rothschild Chirrup proved to be an old bachelor, and so very williugly accepted an invitation to dine at his brother's. And Miss Chirrup's sister, Miss Melissa, being an old maid, she and Mr. Rothschild very romantically fell in love with each other, and when another Christ-

mai day came around, Mr. Rothschild was no longer a bachelor, and Miss Melissa no longer an old maid.

And when Lawyer Ledgerly grew

well enough " to be seen" again, he was obliged to provide himself with another clerk, as Mr. Caleb had gone into partnership with his brother in the mercan

tile business.

the world is drawn particularly to the fact that in Christ all men are brothers, and should share alike in the hap

piness he came to bring? Whether consciously or unconsciously, it is The

Christ idea we celebrate at each recurring Christmas, and in a measure, faint

though it be, we reflect back the spirit

of His lovely life and teachings. His biography is told in five words, "He wont about doing good," and a love that finds expression in service forothera, is the most fitting tribute we can pay to the day that gave Him birth. We do but imitate Him when wo pay the kindly

offieos of affection, that cheer up the i

sorrowing spirits and make some hearts tho better and the happier. Self-sacrifice for others was not tho least prominent feature of His teachings, and by precept and oxamplo He impressed upon His disciples the truth which tho world is hardly yet beginning to appreciate, that hi the J-'ngdom which He had

'Ugr he s hould be greatis t;ieir servant '

BRINGING HOME THE YULE LOG.

was on Fifth street, justopposite Union ! oily dressed brother glowering at him

Market. And our hero if little Mr. Chirrup can he called anybody's hero grew glummer than ever, and beat the "devil's tattoo" on the window-sill, as glum people usually da For the sight of the market stalls crowded with Christmas luxuries was not exaejy calculated to cheer up a man in Mr. Chirrup's circumstances. He was still gazing moodily at the well-filled market stalls, at the crowds of people, jostling and elbowing each other, wnen he &udaenly started and

peered sharply from under his eyebrows, as if he had seen some ono he knew. That short, sleek-looking gentleman in the nobby hat and ovorcoat, with a

from tho window across the street.

"What what's this?"

Mr. Caleb Ohirnip had ascended to the two second-story rooms he called

home, had kissed hh wife and babies,

shook hands with his sister-in-law, and

had hung up his hat and overcoat pre

paratory to eating his supper,

Thero wero no signs of glumness

here, for Mrs. Patty and her sister,

Miss Melissa, looked cheerful and sinil

ing, and wore their faded print dresses as if they had come from tho richest

silk-looms of tho East.

And the young Chirrup had clean

faces and pinafores, and looked as hap

py as if "Snnta Ciaus" was not intend-

huge nmrkot basket in one hand, and a . ing to givo their stockings the "go-by" gold-headed cane in tho othor. Surely j on that particular Christmas live.

Chirrup's older brother,,

gold

that was Mr.

Rothschild! As ho made tho discovery, Mr. Chirrup Mr. Rothschild Chirrup, tlct is vn evidently pricing a t"" ' ; 5-

The ( hrisimas Sentiment. Tho genealogy of Luke in making

Jesus "the son of Adam, who was ihe son of God," strikes the key-note of

Christmas. It sets Him forth as the blood-relation of every man, in whom and through whom tho brotherhood of

man becomes a beneficent fact.

underlying sentiment of Christmas, which, consciously or unconsciously, its

good cheer and kindly spirit express,

is that as all men are brethren, none should be shut out from the joyousness

of the gleesome day.

But nntil the Head of the new hu

manity appeared on earth, that idea,

which eighteen centuries have made a

commonplace of thought, though not,

alas, of life, was seen only by the chosen remnant, and even by them

"through a glass darkly. We now see

it, not reflected in a mirror, but "i'aco

to face," because He, whose religion is Himself for Christianity is Christhas illuminated it by His life and pre

cepts.

larger and seemingly darker by want

and poverty.

"Santa Clans? I ha. ha: that is a

joke," said Mr. Fernald, good-na-i turedly, viewing the immense bundle in his arms, from which protruded a doU's foot through an opensng in the paper that enveloped it, and whose uneven surface bore a wonderful resemblance j to Santa Clans' mysterious package. "Well, 3ny little man, it does look like it; but how did you find nui out?" "Oh, sir," cried the child, with an expression of rapt admiration in his small, pinched face, "I knew you in a minute, 'cause you look just like your picture in the toy-shop windows. There's the long, white whiskers, au

I the white hair, an' the fur cap, an' I the great, overcoat, an' the bundle of I toys you're a-goin' to give to the rich j children to night. Tvo stood on the I corner here ever so long, a-waitin' for

you to come along. I knewyou'd come down this street, sure, 'cause the rich children live here." The child talked rapidly, catching his breath between the sentences, as though frightened at his boldness in

i addressing so great a personage as lhe I . "

santa mu. "And what did you want to see me for, my little man," said Mr. Fernald, taking both little blue-veined hands in

I one of his great warm ones.

"I wanted to teU you where we uve, sir. I guess, you don't know, 'cause you never find us, an' Tom Toni's my big brother; he's most twelve years old. an' helps ma lots. He earns much

as fifty cents some days, an' ma don't 1 know how she'd ever get along 'thout i Tom. Well, Tom says that you don't

! care one bit about the poor little chil

idren; that you'd just as lief they'd

starve on Christmas Day, as on any

! othor day; but you must cuse Tom, j sir. He works hard an' gets tired, an

thnn he's cross. When i. iooKect at

more comfortable tor yon. I aee your clothe aro thin." "Yoj, sir, they wear cut faster'n ma cm m snd 'em. Little Paul's only four, sir, an' I guess he'd like some candy . . ii.; ) it n't

i pass ot anymmg, u -

too m ieh, nn orange, too. XouU re

member little Paul, sir?"

"3t ei, yes, I've got him down. Now,

who e:fle?"

"There's Tom, sir. Tom is such a

good brother, an' he has to be out in

the cold all day. I do wish Tom couia

hove some warm mittens: an his shoes

are most gone, but I guess the mittens will do. He'll be awfully glad to get

m. s Tom's name down?" "Yes, Tom's name is down." Mr.

Fernald looked up, waiting for the child o continue his requests.

"That's all, sir, 'ceptin' ina, an' me.

needs most everythin', but I guess she

needs a shawl most."

But yon, my little man, is. there

nothing you wish for?"

Nc, sir, I don't need anything, ni

be so glad to see the rest, and III have

my secret 'bout meetm' you for my

Chrisianus. Oh, it'll be the jolhest

Christmas ever was ; an' won't ma won

der, an' won't Tom bes'prised, an' wont

Nolly dance about! I guess Tom H change his mind 'bout you, pretty

quick, sir."

Boldiy nodded lus noati empuaticatiy,

and his eyes twinkled like stars.

Now tell me where yon live,

Bobby," said Mr. Fernald with a

warm glow at his heart.

The child gave tho directions very

minut ely. Then Mr. Fernald sent him home, and I doubt if there was a happier i hild in all the land than Bobby

Brown.

Mr Fornald then retraced hv- steps.

visiting a clotlung estatnisnuteni, a ghoestore, a toy-shop, the confestioner's, tbe baker's, the grocer's, and at each place, after giving his order, bo

requested that the things be sent, the

first t;hing in the morning, to a certavs."

address, and left at Mrs. Brown s room

with Santa Claus' compliments.

Bobby tossed rUessly in his bed

that :iight How could he sleep with such a wonderful secret on bis inind?

At every sound he started nervously, nnd listened attentively until the sour i had eased, Toward morning he fell iisleep, andwlBonly awaked by Tom kindling a fire ftllfold 8,ove'

"Has he cnH?" cned Bobby, . sprit ging out of pert. "Who?" asked Tom. Bv t Bobby pretended to be too busy about his wardrobe to heed Tom's question. He felt chagrined that he had so ' near ,y betrayed has precious secret. Mrs. Brown, with a weary sigh, put the last potato in the oven, and won- i'y dere l where the dinner, for those bun- ,s gry little mouths, was to come from: ,j Her faith in God's care "was sorely tried at times. Poor woman, her burdens . were heavy to bear. Su ddenly there came a knock at the door. . "Is's him," cried Bobby, springing forward to open it. ) "E.'ere's a basket for the Widow i Broi-n, which Santa Clans sent iro , ?i the grocery, with his compb'mauts," ' ( said the man, thrusting a lap liaske 1 in at the door, and disappearing liefore 'J a question could be asked. "M

Be fore the contents wore half taken- V'

out, another rap camo at tho door, and- a

onotuer ousnet was ui un m. v .,;

From the bakery, with Santa Claus

compliments, said the man, briskly, j slamming the door behind huri. . fj

Such a basket full of good things as St

that one was! Tho children stood abort it in wide-eyed wonder, until' j

little Paul broke the spell by snatching i

a ha ldful of brown gingor-oookies. ' S

S.anta Claus' compliments," an- .H

nounced a voice at the door, and 4

largj bundle, which proved to be good If? stout shoes for the children aU around, " was thrust in, aud before the door j

could bo closed, moro bundles f allowed.

Bv this time the little onos were;'

capering about the room in the witwm delight Tom stood with the stove -

handki in one hand, and an expression j of bank amazement on his face, Pif feet statue of surprise. Mrs. Brown?li had sank into a chair, and with oUipetLj hands and tearful eyes, was rie'hw

the presents which seemed litoraUy tO Bhover down upon them, and whlptt? meant so much of comfort and happi- '.

nesa to ner nttie lamuy. ooooy wan. ?

the only one who did not seem to be-2; j

1

iie came into n worici tnat was wnn- ; fi, window,..

yum i v jm vuv wj -

j I said to myself, "Bobby Brown, don't

! von believe it of Santa Claus.

out hope and abolished death. For He

made natural death of no account m contrast with that glorious life, begun hero and enduring forever, which He made visible. Ho was born in an empire where the din of class clashing against class, and the wail of tho oppressed, drowned the shouts of the victorious few. Yet Ho founded a commonwealth wlwein the casto spirit could not pulsate, and whose citizens could view no man as a labor-saving machine, or as a stepping-

stone. In it there was to bo not one "mudsill," or pariah, or any across whose career should stand aught that said, "Thou shall, advance no higher." Whilo Easter asserts that if a man die ho shall live again, Christmas affirms that in tho now commonwealth there is to be no difference of nation, no distinction as to priilego, nor classifying by extraction or position, nothing but humanity, for all aro brethren. The Messianic age- that in which we

He

does care for all the children, only lie rlmi't know whore to find you, that's

all. Was I right, sir?"

! think vou were, mv boy. I cer

tainly do not know where you live,

f said Mr. Fernald, in an unsteady voice,

I for the child's trustinp: faith in Santa

! Chius, who had never brightened

Christmas for him, touched the rich i man's heart, as it had not been touched

for manv ft month.

"1'llVll you whoro I live an how

many there i3 an' everything," cried Bobby, breathlessly, "so 't you can't 'stake the place. My! won't Nellie bo elad 't vou found us. I won't tell Tom

i that I hinted, 'cause he'd say it wasn't

perlite cf me to do it. But you see, sir,

i I just couldn't let this Christmas go by I 'thout finding you, 'cause NellyNelly's

j a little thing, sir, only five last summer j an' Nelly is talkin' all the time 'bout a Chris!. mas dolly, an' she really thinks

But Mr. Chirrup still felt a little glum as he thought of tho empty stockings and other vexations, and ho turned to the toiv-ti '!! in soiuo impatience. But "Wl this?" he de-

i you'll bring her one, an it makes poor

i .A ffi Iwiva itnv rol what

lifting of all, young and old, men ami : -t ,

are living -is to do marKoa uy tne up- - . ,., ...i wi,nt .wii a

women, bondmen unci uoiuiwomon, into that brotherhood of humanity wherein .shall be realized That it Is more to 1)0 man. Than, hoing in1

withliw dolly.

doll for holly, sir?"

"Ko.' som

said

art u in

forgot tho

lid, writing

f "yT TO nop

"Step into

It Will be'

ail iiurpriawa u mib ijcuwvw

Nor did he cease to regard tho door v with anxiety until the doll and the i

candy, together with other surprises and toys not mentioned by him in his J

conversation with Santa Clans, bad

made their appearance.

"Where did they all come from? J

gasped Mrs. Brown, in perplexity.

"Tbere must be some mistake," ;

"No, there ain't!" cried Bobby, i

enthusiastically; "Santa Claus sent

1

r r

But there isu't such a person, Bob- j

t

lw

fes, there is. 1 saw him lastnignt,"

said Bobby, trying a jack-knife which had his name on a card attached to the

ban He. "There's good stuff in it," ho added, sending a long shaving off from a piece of pine stick. "I told him whore

we aved, au' he said he'd try to find us this year.''

"Who could it have been ? mni

mured Mrs. Brown. ft

" Santa Claus. of course," sad ifobv

bv. emphatically. "He's- a jolly old

man looks just like his picture, too.1.: And Mr. Fernald, as he placed & dkfj mond rinK on the finger of hi grand!

daughter, thought of the hvmible honief J

his bounty had blessed, ami ui

much more that gift was prigod thi:

the on which now sparkled on. til

hand of hor who had never had a tins itisfied.

" It pays to be Santa Claus," he solil

oquized. "It pays in hero,' laying buj hand over the place wiiere a-rwri heart throbbed beneath, "aud I boUawf: I'll makr a general Santa Claus of J- J5, sell next year, for the benefit of poorjjg. I .HI., 1. M.liuvn nrhnrn, fill) llKIial Sttntavf

MlftlV WIUUIWU W UVm - . :; Claus fails to find." 'TWAS THK NIGHT AFTISK OinUSTMAS. tla dreamed that nineteen raxing- nulla, Bni-li tor ,y f'-et at least in uolgr.t. oro chasms him-tne orasy foji! An. out In- jutpei into the awbtl

Ills ho i ii8 on mio lonruiiy i-i... nt it v. ti!i Terr hard.

J hrwtmas ui hi no wore ne'llatic! HQ aieep:i th 11' "Jul"

1

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mwm

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