The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-03-24
THE TWO FIRESIDEs.
A HOLIDAY STORY.

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furnished parlor, gathered around q blazing
fire, sat a mother with 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,
with which father and mother, in the char
acter of Santa Claus, had supplied them on
Christmas.
at is bleak, cold night" said DR.. War
ton, ns he entered the room, and without
divcsting himselfof his overcoat and 'mutf.
lers,' drew up chair near the fire. =,
"And now you have come home for all
night, hopc," said Mary, he eldest ftho
| FIVE. =.
~ am not sure of that" said the father,
drawing nearer the fire.
"No, indeed, you are not" replied Ma.
ry. Father, l wish you were no, Doc.
tori
"And why so!' 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 to 60 away ut
any time of the night, no matter what the
weather is" ...-.....
ayes, but father is paid for it." said Mas
ter Johnny.
"Not always" said Mary, "there are
many poor people who never pay anything
for fathers visits" .... :.
"But," continued Johnny, "father don't
get up in the night or travel bad rodes Tor
them"
johnny" said DR.. Warrior, solemnly,
''did you ever know me to neglect to turn up
q muddy lane in cold or rainy times or re-.
fuse to get up at night, however dark OF
cold, when poor family, who had nothing to
pay, desired my services !"
Master Johnny was little Disconnected ai
this grave reply Of his father; for, young as
he was, he prided himself on knowing some.
thing about business, and the way TO get
rich. ...i
IL can't say" he answered; "but I only
tho't that they who do not expect to pay q
physician, have no right to ask him to put
himselfto to much trouble on their account. u
"Perhaps they have no right, in one sense
Of the word" replied DR. Warton, shut
should be sorry 10 think that the insruc.
ton Master Johnny has learned in Mr.. Pill
fer's Office has made him forget his cate
chism, and tho instruction he has received nj
Sunday school. Come, Willy, tell me why
wo keep Christmas"
This was addressed to chubby little boy,
of about eight years old.
"Beesa:s,, =. replied Willy "chri's wa'
HAnd What did Chris, do for us'''
.He died for Us that we might be saved
"Tha, is right" continued The doctor; and
what must we do to be saved!
''Repent and believe" replied little FL
len. f..l l..... ..
"And what else''
nBe baptized" . .g.
"And what else'" t.r. r
"Follow His example,"
\ Alright, Ellen, and now Tell me what wal
His example'"
"Golng about and doing good" said FL
len. |. ..
''And now tell me, children" said Dr.
warton, looking full in the face OF Mas
ter John, ''did our Saviour 60 about doing
good only to those who had money to pay
himi' .-..
"No, SIR" said oil the children at once.
"And now, children" said DR.. Warton, 81
have something TO tell you." 49, I d
Those who had beon reading, closed theil
books, the little ones LEFT their plaything,
and gathered round their iather. Mrs. War
ton smiled to sec the interest manifested il
the children's countenances, and Ellen turn
ed to her little sister Of four years old, ant
bade her hush, for father was going to iell
story. I III
IA very short story, my Children" sale
The doctor, "for il is told IN few words
I: is bleak, cold night. The snow Is deep
and the raw wind Is piling II IN ::drifts or
the sidewalk. There 10 no moon; and The
street lamps burn dim tonight. There ar,
no slsighbsll jngIing; The only sounds in tb,