Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1853-01-21

! OF the articles before them they would Goa,
papa to buy.
1t was a perfect carnival Of mirth and happ
ness. Crowds of happy looking children, ant
as happy looking parents filled the street thu
very dogs friskcd and Jumped about, and rui
between your feet us If Christmas time was
matter OF importance even to thcm the middle
OF tho streets were filled with light slcighs
which skinned along like bright coored birds
the excited horses dancing aud prancirg to the
voice of the driver, and to the svery m,,siC
of the tnkling bells.
Twilight had arrived and the stars came out
and yet still the crowd did not diminish Par
lors were beginning to be brilliantly illunna
ted, and through the undrawn curtains could be
seen gay pictures IN gorgeous frames, ana large
mirrors giving back light for light to the heavy
chandelier. In some, fcstoons Of evergreen
from which cleaned the crimson of the holly
berry. were gracefully dropping on the walls
and the happy faces Of dear little children
were pressed against the window panes, peer
ING at the gay groups III the street.
AS Lillian and her cousin were ascending tho
steps Of their own house, a little boy about
nine years of age accostcd them. There was
something so wan ana sad in his pale face and
sunken eyes, that Lillian stopped, though she
had been much laughed at by her uncle's fun
lily, on account Of her syrpathics for street
bcggars.
Harriet entered the door saying,
Come, Lillian, he is an imposter, you may
be sure
But her cousin was listening to the child,
who said, in an imploring voice,
'O won't you please give inc something,
Miss
DO ycu want somc money for Christmas 2
was LlIians smiling answer.
NO, Miss, but my mcthcr is very ill., and my
little sister died to-day, and amt used to
begging, Miss As he spoke this he burst in
to leais.
'Do you live far from here = questioned Lii
ian.
no. Miss, only little way around the cor
ncr, up Grav's Court
Come, then, I'll 90 with yon and forgot
ting the late hour in the impulse OF the moment
off she started
When Harriet entered the parlor alone. and
Mrs Floyd asked for her cousin. she replied ::
'Oh She is at the door, talking to some beg
gar. Her Quixotlsm is perfectly absurd She
Is not as used to npostor5 as we are cortn-
ucd she, on seeing Mr. Thornton seated on the
sof,.
well, the hall door must be closed. at least
lli V, 1Or too much COll air comes IN SAID
Mr.. Flovd.
Permit mo TO do if for Won. modom.' said
T, orn,on. as he arose AMI went to the door.
But Lillian was not on the sens .Shc should
not be out by herself at this time of nipht. tho't
he gcntemln, and strainlnr his ewes as he
looked M and down the stree, he thourht he
-ecornSed her tirurc as she PASSED under n
ras iirht some diStanre ahead.
To 90 back in the hail. snatch his hat from
he table and nurs,ln hcr. wa, fine work of an
instant.
As she turned the corner, he hasCncd his
oace, fearing to loose sight Of her. He bched
Ter now cntera dark dirty looking court, light
2l by one lamp, with two coal heaverS plod-
linz suddenly along, and drunken man stag
rerlng home over the hard trojdcn snow that
,runchcd under his feet: the whole presenting
Is strong contrast as possible to the street
which he had iust lett. The place looked as
+ the Christmas festival had never been ins,i-
utcd for lis lnhlhltaE's, rs If the great event
which the next day Wis to commemorate
)rought no amclioration, no glad tiIings to
hem.
The only sirn Of the happy Jubilee was
group of children standing under the LIGHT, cX-
mining with eager, almost cnylous eyes, Il
small drum AMI a clumsy pocket knife. cXhlb-
ted by two Of their triumphant comparons.