Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1854-07-20
THE TWO FIREsIDEs.
A HOLIDAY SKETCH.

a blazing fire. sat a mother and her five
children, the former was busily plying
her needle and the latter were engaged,
some in reading, some in arranging
their new supply of toys, which their
father and mother in the character of
Santa Claus. had supplied them on
Christmas.
1T is a bleak, cold night said DR..
Warton, as he entered the room, and,
without divesting himself of his over
coat and 'muf1ers,' drew up q chair
near the FIRE.
And now you have come home for all
night. hope said Mary the eldest of
the FIVE.
4 am not sure of that said the
father, drawing nearer the fire.
No, indeed, you are not replied
Mary. Father, 1 wish you were not a
DOCTOR
.'And why SOP asked the father.
Because you never have moment
that you can call your own. You have
to ride all day, and you may be called
away at any time of night, no matter
what the weather is
Yes, but father is paid for it, said
master Johnny.
Not always said Mary, there are
many poor people who never pay any
thing for fathers visits
But continued Johnny, father don't
get up in the night or travel bad roads
for them,'
Johnny said DR.. Warton solemnly,
did you ever know me to neglect to
turn up a muddy lane in cold or rainy
times; or refuse to get up at night, how
ever dark or cold, when poor family,
who had nothing to pay, desired my
services?'
Master Johnny was little discon-
certed at this grave reply of his father;
for young as he was, he prided himself
on knowing something about business
and the way to get rich.
4 can't say he answered, but l only
thought that they who do not expect to
pay physician have no right to ask
him to put himself to much trouble on
their account
Perhaps they have no right, in one
sense of the word replied DR.. Warton,
but 1 should be sorry to think that the
instruction Master Johnny has learned
in Mr.. PLIERS Office has made him
forget his catechism, and the instruc-
ton he has received at Sunday School.
Come, Willie, tell me why we keep
Christmas
This was addressed to chubby little
boy about eight years old.
Because replied Willie, Christ was
born on that day
And what did Christ do for us?'
He died for us that we might be
saved
That is right, continued the doctor,
and what must we do to be saved?'
Repent and believe replied little
Ellen. f
| And what else?'
BE baptized
And what else?
Follow his example,
Right, Ellen, and now tell me what
was His example
Going about and doing good said
Ellen.
And now tell me, children said DIR
Warton, looking full in the face of Mas
ter John, did our Savior go about doing
good only to those who had money tc
pay him?'
No SIR said all the children at once
And now, children said DR.. War.
ton, Il have something to say to you
Those who had been reading closed
their books, and the little ones left theiI
playthings and gathered around theil
father. Mrs. Warton smiled to see the
interest manifested in the children:
countenances, and Ellen turned to hel
, little sister of four years old and bade
her hush, for father was going to tell g
story.
"A very short story my children,
i, said the doctor, for it is told in few
words. Il is bleak, cold night. The
snow is deep, and the raw wind is piling
it in drifts on the sidewalk. There is ne
moon, and the street lamps burn dim to
night. There are no sleigh-bells jing
ling; the only sounds in the streets are
the moaning of the wind and the creak
ing signs. Young people and old love
to hover around their comfortable fire
; sides as you are doing, for it is disma
night without.
RI Il am glad we have warm house tt
: shelter US tonight said Johnny.
/, And you may be glad, said his faith
, er, and not glad only. but truly thank
! full. know of one poor family which
! is now shivering with the cold and ach
! ing with hunger. This morning a maj
met me, and told me of poor woman
who had a sick child; and said he, q
think they need doctor, but are to-
poor to employ one.' / asked him Il
show me the house, and when | entered
l found that doctor was indeed needed
A little girl about nine years old, wa
$ lying on bed, very low with fever
| think she cannot live. A little boy
two years older, entered while / wa
r there, with an armful of sticks whicl
E he had picked up from under the snow
E on the common, and this save few
: brands that were smoking on the hearth
1 ,uas al their final TIE s;nL rr;rl on