Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1854-04-04
TIE TWO FiRE-SlDES.
A HOLIDAY STORY.

|
#lt was cold December nighl. In a
well.lurnshcl parIor, gather around
a blazing fire, sat mother with five
children. The lo.mcr was busily ply.
ing her needle. and the latter engaged,
some in reading, some arranging their
new supply Of toys, with which father
end mother, in the character OF Santa
Claus, had supplied them on Christ.
mas.
81, is a bleak cold night" said DR..
Warlon, as he entered the room. without
divesting himself of his overcoat and
mufllers, drew up chair ncsr the FIRE.
"And now you have come home for
all. night hope," said Mary the eldest
Of the five.
81 am not so sure Of that" said the
ta'her drawing nearer the fire.
"No indeed you are not" replied
Mary.
"f'ather, wisl, you were no, doc.
tor"
"Whv so?" asked the father"
"Becanse you never have q moment
lha, you can call your own. You have
to lille all day, and you may be called
to 20 away at any time Of night no
mater h Nv the weather is."
"Ycs, bu, father is paid for it" said
Master Johnny.
"No, always, Mary, there are many
poor people who never pay anything at
all for father :ists."
! "But," continued Johnny, "father
don, &C, up in the night, or travel bad
roads for them"
"Johnny," said DR.. Warton, solemn.
ly, "il you ever know me to neg ect
to turn up a muddy lane in cold or
rainy times; or refuse to get up at night,
however dark or cold; when poor ldml'
ly who had nothing to pay desired my
services"
Master Johnny was little disconcert-
ed 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
81 cannot say" he answered, "but |
only thought that they who do not ex-
pect TO pay physician, have no right to
ask him to put himself TO so much trou.
Die on tnclr account.
"Pefhaps they have no right, in one
sense of the word," replied DR.. Warton,
: "but should be sorry TO think that the
instruction Master Johnny has learned
in Mr.. PLIERS office has made him for.
get his Ca,echism and the instruction
he has received at Sunday School.
Come, Willy, tell NE why we keep
Chris,mas?"
Thi, was addressed to chubby little
boy, of about eish, years old.
"Bccause," replied Willy, "Christ
} was born on that day"
: "And what did Christ do for us?"
"He died for us, that we might be saw
ed"
"Right," continued the doctor; sand
what must we do to be saved"
p, "Repent and bel:evc," replied little
Il Ellen. r'tl
8 "Anl what else?" .E.e. ,ssJ2
. "Bc baptized" H.'p .aa5V
q "And wha: else" .tan ja .7oa4
!, "Be baptized" aq on: a.sa 10
S "And what else?' ago idI -.jem
+ Follow His example,"
l. "Right; Ellen, and tell what was hi
u examPle?"f raTll9
IS t"Going about and doing good," sai'
G Ellen. aa9.Ea 4 q. uo.o a5s''s {e'
At "And now, tell me children" sal
a Dr.. W5rton, looking full'in the face G
le Johnny, odd our Savior go about doin
S, good only to those who had money t
Is pay HIM"
N "No sir" said all the children Q
u once. $40 l7t
10 "And now, children" said Dr.. War
l. on, 81 have something 10 tell you." r.
- - Those who had been reading close
their books, the little ones left the
20 - playthings and gathered around the
- fathers. Mrs. Warton smiled to see tn
~ interest manifested in tho children
~ coun.enances, and Ellen turned to hi
- = little sister Of four years old, and bat
10 her hush, for her father was going TO ,e
a them story.
" "a very short story children" sa
Of the doctor, "for it is told in a few word
of 1t is cold, black night. The snow
he deep, and the raw wind is piling il ]
;lyI drifts on the sidewalk. There is !
1rs moon, and the str eet lamp burns dim
he night. There are no sleigh bells jing
rts ing, the only sounds in the street are 4
N. moaning wind, and the creaking sign
i,h You 1g and old people love to hover
en- round their comfortable iiresides as y
Der are d ding. for it is a dismal night Wit
a.. Eout.n,at,li ,qgLAasaes s39idl haa al,0t,
III am glad We have q watmdheuss
ng aheltst us to night" "said Johnnys hf'
rye as ...And we'll you may be glad, said !
father, "and not glad only, but TIN
ae' thankfuls ii know Of of1s poor fam
2 which, q shivering now with cold .
10 aching withq hanger. This morning
10 man met me, sndAtold mo Of . pt
he h~omsl, who had . sick child San
lssid hs, Il think tksy need = dseief
~ FfSE< f>rs.9s Re-