The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-12-24
From Arthnr's Home Gazette.
A Merry Christmas.
by T. S. ARTHUR.

waste OF money, and, besides, does lheh
no real good" "
Very true" remarked MIR. LamberN
ton, thousands of dollars are spent at
Christmas for one trumpcry thing and
another that might be far more useluIly
employed. Inever liked the system. 1t
does children, as you say, no good.
" How much did we spend on last
Christmas for drums, horses and dogs,
and the dear knows what all y
"Oh, don't ask me More than I'd
like to count up And it was all sheer
waste If the money had been given to
the poor, there would have been some
satisfaction in thinking about it. But
now there is none.
Well I'm not in favor Of spending
single cent for toys and such like
things"
GIVE them all sixpence apiece,
and they'll be happy enough, " said the
father, " and then well have no crying
over broken dolls heads, crippled wag'
ons. or legless horses"
Harry will be dreadfnlly disappoint-
ed. I'm afraid" remarked the mother,
already half rclcnting. lie has done
little else all day but talk about what
Krss Kringle will put in his stocking
tonight. And Anna will cry her ey
out if she don't get a new doll. "
Uncle Joseph aud Aunt Rachel were
silent auditors of this liltle conversation.
Just then the liehis were brought into
the room, aud Anna, Harry and Charley
came bounding in with them, as vii J
aud playful as young fawns. They had
been looking forward to Christmas for |
can't tell how long, and now that it was
only one day of, they could hardly con
tain themselves. Their Young lmagina-
tons teemed with images of things in
store for them by the good kriss Krln>
glc, in regard 20 whose identity, there
was division among the younger mem
bcrs of the house. Anna, who was
aluh. years old, and, therefore, entitled
by her age to have her opinions consd-
cred Of weight positively declared that
her father was Krss Kringle; but llar-
ry, three years her junior, as positively
asserted that the aforesaid kriss came
down the chimney, aud was, therefore,
very different rersonage from her faith
er, who was too big to get in at the top
or ont at the bottom. As Tor little curly
headed, rosy-chceked Charley, as miss
chicvous n rogue as ever lived to love
sugar pums, he didn't trouble his head
at all about the matter. Ills whole the-
ory on the subject lay in his confident
expectation Of finding his stockings filled
with toys and candies on Christmas
morning Beyond that he had no ques-
tions to ask nor doubts fer solution.
ooh. papal To-morrow's Christ
mas p cried Charley, climbing upon hi-
fathers knee. To.morrow's Christmas
And won't Krss Kringle Lrng me The
nice things! | want IA horse, and {
sword, and a wheelbarrow-and a whole
heap of sugar pums. "
" I'm afraid Kriss won't come thi
year," returned Mr.. Lamberton, wish
ing to take the edge Off OF Charley dis
appointment.
"Oh yes he will!' spoke up Ann
and Harry quickly. And he'll brin
me-" said the latter, ga gun and swor
and then won't fight the MeXicaus
Bang boom bangl'
"And he'll bring me the dearest wa
doll" said Anna, with curly hair, an
eyes that open and shut as if it wer
alive. Oh won't it be nice 7"
"Don't be too certain, Anna, sal
the father, " Kriss Kringle don't cou
q every year"
+ oh. yes he does yes he does !" al
swercd two or three little voices at ono
- He came last Christmas, and II
Christmas before, added Anna, "an
- he'll be here this year, know he will
But suppose he shouldn't come
9 suggested Mr. Lamberton, aud he lool
y ed very grave.
q There was something so serious
u their father svoice, that the children f,
:, bIs words really meant more than tn
?, had at first believed ed-and their fac
became sober also. Just then the {
j. bell rang, aud all thoughts OF toys al
is dolls were, for the moment, dissipale
o Aller supper, the children were wash
aud dressed in their night clothes. Ea
hung stocking in the chimney cornC
ready for the advent of the good geni
ri who loves children, and lhen yielded
y. the oitrepealed solicitation of MargaI
~ the nurse, TO come along aud 90 TO be
st must say my prayers first" lisp
r. dear little Charley, running up to
mother, and kaeeling down before h,
in "Our Father" said the mother il
nT l,u carious v,;ca