Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1857-01-02

y
eyes were so very bright and cloudless
that it was long ere Mr.. Dorner could
reconcile himself to the belief that she
was blind.
And now, too, for the first time. he
saw that'the hearth was literally cover
cd with miniature people little fire
spirits in crimson robes, and silver wings
and long locks Of golden hair falling
about them, sending radiance over
the little room. One old man, with a
crown of glittering sparkles upon his
head, and his dark visagc edged with an
ashcn beard, seemed to direct their move
ment Often they saved Bobbc from a
scorching or burning fate and as the
Goals blackened, they turned and retur-
ned them, over leaving the bright side
visible. Some, in scarlet glow, hover
ed about the mother, rather anxiously
and gently. But the purest and young
est clustered, with the little flock, about
the blind girl. They nestled in her
hair. hung about her white neck, played
with her slender fingers, drcw faint shad-
d"ws Of her graceful figure upon the
wall, and beams, and fingered. and radi-
ated over her, until the entire light of
the room seemed to cmanate from her.
The little ones were pouring into
Cherry's listening ears their hopes of
Kriskingle's advent. Tommy would
have soldiers, Americans and Indians,
and the Americans shall whip said
Tommy, boastfully. Mark must have a
horse and whip: one ''roly-boly. like
Bobbic = another. a tea set and doll
and when all had finished, there was a
general cry of CHERRY what will
Cherry wish p And Cherry placed her
hands over her eyes, and said earnestly,
as though it were more prayer than
wish, Money"
Poor Flip looked up quickly; the
mother stopped to kiss Bobbic the
children stood disappointed even the
fire spirits were shocked aghast at such
wish from so pure soul.
YES, money!" continued Cherry;
then we could have cheerful Christ
mas and father would not be so quiet,
nor mother sigh so often. and you could
all have such pretty things, and Bobbie
a gum rattle.
Then Flip raised his head, and tried
to tell his children that he was poor
this year, and no kriskinglc would come
t. thair chimney--IIcre poor Flip
broke down, AMI his wife took up the
thread of hi, discourse.
papa, has been sick. Tommy, long
whil,, you know, and he couldn' expect
Mr.. D9rner to trust him no more, and
so-'
Here Flips wife broke down; and
amid Tommys bitter CALCULATIONS of Mr..
Dorner's "meaness ana hardness" Flip's
Cherry, spoke-spoke like her
self, bright and cherry.
Don't cry, dearest mother don't
despair, dear father. Thank God that
we are all here, and well. and happy
Tommy is man, and can do with
out his soldiers; Mark cln drive the
bakers horse and snap his whip.
We have much to be thankful for, and
those who are thankful for the little they
have, are never long in need
And Flip's wife said Cherry was
right and Flip put one arm around
his wife, and the other around his daugh-
ter, and said Cherry was right, too
they had many blessings for which to be
grateful. And Bobbic rolled in cir
cumferancc of glee; and the children
reioiced in the prospect of gingerbread
horses the bakers boy had promised
Cherry and the fire snapped and glow
ed as though it had gone mad. and
thought the family maddcr; ani 50
many fire spirits filled the air. found
about Cherry, that she seemed Il pillar
of light-gloriously beautitied.
Then Mr.. Dorner saw that it was
Christmas morning and Flp's house
was in a great state of commotion. a
grand fire burned on the hearth, and
pies and puddings smoked in the oven.
A roast was before the fire, and neat
table set in the middle of the room
and Flips wife, with her face aglow
with pride, land satisfaction, and the kitch-
en- fire, hustled in and out of the room.
Flip was quite young looking, helping
Tommy to arrange his soldiers on rick
etv stand. Each child rejoiced in its
wished for plaything-even Bobbie, in
his great desire to eat his rattle, forgot
to roll.
Mr.. Dorner heard slight rap upon the
door all sprung, as if in expectation
of something the door opened and
lady stood in the room. As she threw
back her bonnet, Mr.. Dorner started and
said, "Jean =" for the coquettish face
and sunny curls stood confessed. And
Flip and his wife blessed her and the
children vociferously displayed their
toys, and thanked her; and Cherry
knelt down and kissed the hem of her
robe, calling her their good angel; and
all the fre-spirits clustered upon her
brow-crowning her with supernatural
glory. And voice said softly, sadly,
to Mr.. Dorner.
"Not for you are these praises and
thanks, this intense gratitude-causins
YOUR heart to thrill with intenser JOY !;
not for uou the reward of well doing
that happiness in good action that
brings man nearer to the angel ; but
o,,l ii rppnalO