Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-12-26
oNortrster 4aiIp SPY,
rrrom wo Christmas Calculations. Just published b!
A CHRISTMAS STORY.
BY REV. rHropoRE pAnkER.


niggers,-that would make it SO vulgar" and
she took large pinch of Scotch snuff, and
waddled off to finish her ironing. Mrs Dea-
con Jackson-she was second wife, with no
children-hoped that "Sally Bright would not
be asked, because her father was in the State
Prison for passing counterfeit money; and the
example would be bad, not friendly to law and
order" Bnt as Aunt Kindly went out, she
met the old Deacon himselfj-one OF those
dear, good, kind souls, who were born to be
deacons of the Christian religion, booking like
one of the eight beatitudes; and as you stop
ped to consider which of that holy family he
most resembled, you found he looked like all
OF them. "Wellp' said he, snow, ma am,
like that. That will be a Christian Christmas,
NOT Heather Christmas. OF course you'll
ask all the children of respectable peoples
but want the poor ones, too. Don't let any
body brighten you from asking Sip Tidy's
children. / don't know that | like colored
folks particularly, but think God does, or he
would not have colored EN-, you know. Then
do let us have all of 10 Bright's little ones.
When l get into the State Prison, l hope some.
body IL look after my family. know you will.
l don't mean to go there; but who knows? If
everybody had his deserts, who would escape
fiogging 2 as the old saying is. Here's five
dollars towards the expenses; and if that amt
enough, I'll make it ten. Elizabeth will help
you make the cake, &C. You shall have as
many eggs as you want. Hens hahn laid well
since Thanksgiving; now they do nothing
else"
Captain Weldon let one iron cool ON the an
vii, and his bellows sigh out its last breath in
the fire and burn the other iron, while he talk
ed with Aunt Kindly about it. The Captain
was widower, about fifty years old, with his
house full OF sons and daughters. He liked it.
Patty, his Oldest daughter, could help. There
were two barrels of apples, three or four dol
lars in money, and more if need be. "That
is what call the democracy of Christianity"
said the good man. 81 shall see half the
people in the village; they'll be in here
to get their horses corkcd before the time
comes, and I'll help the thing along a little.
I'll bring the old folks, and wen sing some of
the old tunes all of US will have a real old
fashioned good time" Almira, his daughter,
about eighteen years old, ran out to talk with
Kindly, and offered to do all sorts of work, if
she would only tell her what. Perhaps Ed
ward will come, too" said Kindly. "Do you
want him?" asked Almira. ooh, certainly
want all the LOVERS" replied she,-not look
ing to see how her face kinded, like hand
some morning in May.
One sour old man, who lived off the road,
did not like it. Twas Popish custom and
said, 81 always fast on Christmas" His fam
lily knew they did, and many day BESIDES for
he was so covetous that he grudged the water
which turned his own mill.
Mr.. Toombs, young minister, who had
been settled six or seven years, and loved the
commandments of religion much better than
the creed of theology, entered into it at once,
and promised to come, and not wear his white
cravat His wife, Sally Wilkins that used to
be, took to it with all her might.
SO all things were made ready. Farmers
sent in apples and boiled chestnuts !; and there
were pies, and cookies, and all manner of crea-
ture comforts The German who worked for
the cablnet-maker decorated the hail. just as
he had done in Wittenberg often before !; for he
was an exile from the town wdere Martin Luz
Their sleeps, and his Katherine, under the same
slab. There were branches of Holly with
their red berries, Wintergreen and Pine
boughs, and Hemlock and Laurel, and such
other handsome things as New England can
afford even in winter Besides, Captain Weld
en- brought great Orange tree, which he and
Susan had planted the day after their marriage
nearly thirty years before. Like Christmas
itself, as he said Sit is history and a
prophecy, full of fruit and flowers, both"
Roses, and Geraniums, and Chrysantlemums,
and Oleanders were there, adding TO the beauty
All the children in the village were there
Sally Bright wore the medal she won the last
quarter at the Union School. Sip Tidy's six
children were there and all the gills and boys
from the poorhouse. The Widow Wheeler
and her children thought no more OF the rail-
road accident. Captain Weldon, Deacon Jack
son and his wife, and the Minister were there;
all the Selectmen, and the Town Clerk, and
the Schoolmasters and Schooma ans, and the
know-nothing Representative from the South
Parish; great, broad-shouldered farmers came
in, with Baldwin apples in their cheeks as well
as in their cellars at home, and their trim tidy
wives. Eight or ten Irish children came also,
Bridget, Rosanna, Patrick, and Michael and
Mr. and Mrs. O'Brien themselves. Aunt
Kindly had her piano there, and played and
sung
Didn't they all have good time {! Old Joe
Roe. the black fiddler, from Beaver Brook,
Mill Village, was over there and how lie did
play! how they did dance Commonly, as
the young folks said he could play only one
tune, "Joe Roe and )" for it is true tllgt his
sleepy violin did seem to whine out, "Joe Roe
and l, Joe Roe and l. Joe Roe and L." But now
the old fiddle was wide awake. He cut capers
on it; and made it laugh, and cry, and whistle,
and snort, and scream. He held it close to his
ear, and rolled up the whites of his eyes, and
laughed great, loud, rollicking laugh; and
made his fiddle laugh, too, right out.
The young people had their games Boston,
Puss in the Corner, Stir you must, Hunt the
Squirrel round the Woods, Blind Mans Buff,
and Jerusalem. Mr.. Atkins who built the
hail. and was a strict Orthodox man and
Know-nothing, got them to play Break the
Popes neck, which made a deal of fun. The
Oldest people sung some of the old New Eng
land tunes, in the old New England way.
How well they went off in particular,
s'How beauteous are their feet
Who stand on Zion's Hill
And bring salvation on their tongues,
And words of peace reveal.n
But the great triumph of all was the Christ
mas Tree. How big it was large stout
Spruce in the upper part of the hail. 1t bore
gift for every child in the town. Two little
girls had the whooping cough, and could not
come out; but there were two playthings for
them also, given to their brothers 10 be taken
home. ST. Nicolas--it was Allnira Weldon's
loyer-distributed the gifts.
Squire Stovepipe came in late, without any
OF the family that he was SO busy in ''estab-
fishing" but was SO cold that it took him a
good while to warm up to the general temper
AZURE of the meeting But lie did at length;
and talked with the Widow Wheeler and saw
all her wellmanaged children, and felt asham-
ed of his meanness only ten days before Dea-
con Willberate saw his son Ned dancing with
Squire Aliens rosy daughter, Matilda, tor the
young people cared more for each other than
for all the illusions to slavery in all the pray
ers and sermons TOO, Of the whole world and
it so reminded him of the time when he also
danced with his Matilda,-not openly at Christ
mas celebrations, but by stealth,--tat he
went straight up to his neighbor; esquire
Allen, said he, "give me your hand. New
Years is good day to square just accounts
Christmas is not bad time to settle needless
may be wrong know have been for one
I.ef ha las erfn eai