The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1851-12-25
A mEnRY enRlsrlIAn
BY T. S. AnrncR.


waste nf monpy. and, besides, does them
no resl good"
"Very true" remsrked Mr.. Lamber
ton thousands Of dollars ate sprni ~
Chrhtmas for one tiUmpery fhing and
another that might be far mote u-elully
employed | never liked the system.
II does children, as you say. no good. :" T
"tlnw much did we spend ~ last
Christmas for drums. horses aud dngs.
and The dear knows what alll"
Oh, don't ask me, More ihan I'd
like la conntuP. And il was all sheer
waste. If the money had been given to
the poor, there would have bpem some
Satisfaction iu thinking about IT, Bot now
there is none.
"Weh. I'm n"tin favor nf spending
single cent for toys aud such ilIIe
things"
Give Them all -xrencs a piece. and
they'll be happy enough" " saidthe fatler,
"and then we'll have ro crying nyer
broken d"iIS' beads, crippled wagons, oi
legIess horsrs."
HAIRY viii he dreajfuIly disappninled.
Pm efraid." remarked tie nInlher, al.
ready half relentieg. "iIe has done liz.
tie else oil day but talk about what Kri,s
kringle will put in his STICKING tonigl,,.
And Anna will cry her eyes oul if she
dorsut get a new dali"
Uncle Joseph aud Aunt Rachel were
silent audlinrs Of this little conversation
Just then the lights were brought iniu
the room, aud Anna, Harry and Charley
came b"undiHg iu with them. az wild aud
playful as young fawns. They had been
looking forward t1 Christmas for | cant
tell how long. aud now that il was unly
Que day oif, could hardly contain them
selves Their young imaginalions ieemeJ
with images of thugs in stme for them
by the good kriss kringle, in regard Ia
whose Identity. there was a division
mong the younger members of the house
Anna, who was eight years old, aud there
fore, entitled, by her age to have her ~
pinions considered Of weight. positively
declared that her father was KISS
Kingie; but Harry ihree-yesrs her junior,
as positively asserted that the afuresaid
Kriss came down the chimney, and was
thrrefne, very different parsonage
from her father, who was too big 10 get in
al the top or out at the bottom. As for
little curly headed rosy checked CHI rle y,
as michevous rogue as ever lived Ia
love sugar plums, his whole theory on
the subject lay in his confident expecla.
lion Of tiuding his stockings filled with
toys and candies IN Christmas morLinp.
Beyond that he had uoquestinus 10 ask nor
doubts for snulinn.
"Oh, papa! To morrow's Chrisrmas"
cried Charley, climbing upon his fathers
knee. ITO mnrrow's Christmas! And
won't KISS kIngle bring me the nice
things! wanl horse. and a sword
aud a whee! barrow and whole heap
Of sugar plums."
"lm afraid Kriss won't come this
year" returned Mr. Lamberron. wishing
10 take the edge off Of Charley's disap.
poinlment.
"Oh! yes he will" spoke up Anna and
Harry, quickly. 'And he'll bring me, ,"
said the latter, gun and sword-and
then won'I fight the Mexicans! Ban .!
boom! bane!'
"And he'll-bring me the dearest wax
dolI!" said Anna, with curly hair, aud
eyes that open and shut as if it were
alive, Oh, wont it be nice!"
Don't be too certain, Anna" said the
father, "Kriss Kriugle don't come ever!
year"
"Oh. yes he does! yes he doeS!" an
swered two or three liuIe voices at once
He came last Christmas. aud the Christ
mas before," added Anna, "and he'll b,
here this year, know he will"
but suppose he shouldn't comet" sug
gesled Mr.. Lambenon, and he looked
very grave.
There was something so serious in
their fathers voice, that the children felt
that his words really meant more than
they had at first believed and their
faces became sober also. just then the
| tea bell rang, and all thoughts oftnys am
dolls were, for the momeut, cissipa,ed
After supper the children were washed
aud dressed-in their night clulhes. Each
hung a stocking IN the chimney corner
ready for the advent Of the good genius
who loves children, and then yielIed IL
the oft repeated solicitation Of Margaret
the nurse, TO come along and 60 To bed
81 must say my prayers first" Iisped
dear little Charley, running up to his
mother and kneeng down before her
Our Father" said the mother, in a
serious voice.
Wont Kriss fill my stockings full
mother"
But you are saying your prayers
now. You mustn't think Of toys. Charley
"Our Father"
"Our Father" came muscnlIy from
the lips Of the child.
"Who art in heaven"
oh, | hope he'll bring me a whole
pile of wagons and dogs aud horses!'
and Charley clapped his hands with de-
light.
"Hush, Jeall You mustn't think q.
bout toys now. Who art in Heaven"
Our father who ART in Heaven" softly
murmured the child.
"Hallowed be Thy"
"Wont good old Krlssy come, moth
erl"
Charley must say his prayers good
| II ha ,vanIs tho daar anoaIs ~ sf,,,, ~; IL