The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-12-24
" Who art in heaven"


And Charley clapped his hands with de-
light
" Hush, dearl You mustn't think a.
bout toys now. Who art in heaven"
"Our Father, who art in Heaven, "
softly murmurcd the child.
d" HalloweG be Thy -"
",Won't good old Krissy come, moth
err"
Charley must say his prayers good
if he wants the dear angels to stay with
him while he is asleep. Come, love
Now don't think any more about toys
and sugar plums. Ilallowed be Thy
name"
But it was no use. Charley could not
saw his prayers Ills head was too full
Of Christmas. Harry met with but little
better SUCCESS and Anna, after she had
been in bed five minutes, remembered
her neglect on this score, and kneellng
under the clothes, piously lifted her
thoughts to Heaven.
Ere this scene closed, Mr. Lamberton
had half repented his resolulion-and
the mother of these three little ones felt
her heart almost too weak to carry out
her purpose
81 declare" said the former, " I'm
afraid it will be felt as too serious dis
appointments "
"And so am )" returned the latter.
"It is such useless waste Of money"
q know it is"
" Besides. il does children no real
good In fact, as far as my observation
goes, it does them harm"
In this Mrs Lambcrton agreed.
"Then, said the husband, " will il
not be mere weakness on our part, if
we follow the custom this year, and not
true regard for our children T.
Il suppose so. "
Will we be acting righ; then p
Perhaps not. But it will be such a
Disappointment
8" No doubt Of that But a light one
compared towhat they will have to suffer
in after life. The fact is, trial like
this will help 10 prepare them Tor the
seyercr ones to come in the future.
Thus arguing the question, Mr.. and
Mrs. Lamberton finally came back TO
their original determination, which was
to dispense with the usual nonsense -
of toys, that would be broken or thrown
aside in an hour, and heal the wounded
hearts occasioncd thereby, with gene
rous distribution of few sixpences and
shllinrs. This would be a saving; and
| am afraid the economy of the new or
der Of things, was, in reality, its highest
recommendation. Bedtime at last came,
and Mr.. and Mrs. Lamberton retired for
the night, leaving the expectant stock
ngs hanging empty in the chlmncy-cor-
ner. The mother, Just before lying
Gown, had occasion to 90 into the room
adjoining. 1t was the one in whlcl
Kriss Kringle was expected TO make his
appearance sometime during the night
There was Charley's little stockings
round almost as when his loot was in it
and bent to the very shape. Mrs. Lam
berton sighed gently, as the image olhi
hopeful face, turned up to hers, present
ed itself; and she heard, in imaglna
ton, his sweet voice AS it mingled hi
evening PRAYER with words that showe
his thoughts 10 be near the earth.
Hours went by after the mothers hea
rested upon its pillow, before sleep came
Aud then she dreamed that il was Christ
mas morning, aud that the children
stockings were filed, and that they wer
wild with delight. Charley was on he
knee, showing his wagons, and dog
2 and horses. Harry was marching abol
the room with his sword and drum, an
Anna was hugging in her arms a wa
doll with almost as much delight as
young mother ever felt in clasplng to he
= bosom her new born babe. A nois
=. which seemed to come from overhea
C where Uncle Joseph and Aunt Rach
q slept, awoke Mrs. Lamberton from TIA
dream. She started up and lstene
but all was silent.
: The mother slept again. But til
time her dreams we're less pleasnr
II Christmas morning had come hut
II brought no joy 10 the expectant childre
y Their stocking were empty and the
IS hearts well nigh broken. Sleep pass
"A once more from her eyelids, and, thou
ID it was long before the approach of daw
]. the gentle visitant came not again to Il
d pillow.
ii Aud long ere the morning broke, n
r, Lamberton found himself awake a
Is thinking of the children.
10 "They will be SO disappointed
et sighed the mother, when she found Il
d. her husbands slumber was likewise b.
ID ken.