Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1859-12-23
cHRIsrMAs Ar FARMER NAYS.

]
/ Joseph roared farmer Mays stentorian
voice outside the kitchen door, where he was
| knocking the snow off from his great hob
nailed shoe. Joseph, you lazy rascal, come
and unharness this horseH
/ Out OF the windy woodshe1 came Joseph,
reluctantly. into the biting Christmas time
air Joseph was farmer Mays bound boy.
who did the chores, and carried the wee May
children on his back to school many time.
i don't think he's got any heart at all = ex-
claimed Joseph, passionately, as his numb fin
gers loosened the harness. and bitter tear
stole down each pale check. And this is
Christmas time, Oh dear dear why didn't
God make a beautiful time for me, too; Work,
work. work, and never a kind word / amt
good for anything never shall help any
body, or do any good as long as | live and
] suppose God knows it. o pray every
night, that may help somebody, and then,
may be. might get them to love me, or dtop
kind word once ia a while
Here Joseph paused, and looked over his
shoulder into the broad kitchen window. oh
what pretty sight there was within YOU
ought to have seen it.. One square patch Of
sunshine lay right in the middle of the snowy
floor. The beams were hung with long strings
of scarlet peppers, aud queer, crooked-neckcd
yellow squashcs besides, beautiful branch
of burning bush sprangled out over the Chin
ney-piece Tho great square table was piled
high with golden-colored pumpkins rosy ap-
pies. Just the hue Of Tiny Mays cheeks, bless
her = and fragrant ounces. And clustering
around Just TO see, we're little variegated
curloy heads you might have mistaken for
bunch of marigolds. there eyes big with antic-
ipation of the daintes in progress. How
they laughed and shouted every time Hctty
MAY gave a vigorous chop at the obstinate
mince meat. and sent her curls flying OF in a
straight line from her head
Dear me e cried mother May, in fiuster,
that Santa Claus tatt's burning, I'm sure
and my hands in this dough, too Joseph
YOU Joseph come here, and mind the tarts.
Joseph here, there everywhere! Why,
there wasn't member Of the whole May fam
ily but were perfectly convinced that Joseph
Craig hadn't a spark Of feeling in him. He
never hung up his socks; no. indeed And,
little children, he never had kind mother to
nut her soft hand under his chin, and lift his
poor pale face TO her loving eyes There is a
beautiful little brook in every one Of your
hearts. that loves to have kind, smiling faces
reflected in IL, and pleasant words, like Wild
flowers. dropped into it, To be sure there is
This was the day before Christmas and at
night. when the little ones were safe in their
beds. farmer May threw fresh pine knot into
the wide-mouthed chimney-place, and Santa
Claus began. invisihiy, To I'll up the four long,
red woolen stockings hanging beside it
Good gracious what a dancing and diddlng
there was about that kitchen floor the next
, morning, when the beautiful sun revealed
what sly Kris Kringle had been about. Even
twelve-ycar- old Hetty danced polka in pair
: Of new rubbers and pretty cherry SILK hood,
with delight. Thomas blue-wheeled cart
kept tripping everybody up as he went ca
, reoring round the room; aud Tiny great
0 waXcn doll stared at young and Old with ITS
impudent blue eyes. But the greatest gene
raj of the day was soldier Harry, with the
shining new skates Santa Claus had bequeath-
ed him. Already he was strapping them on
and with his chest proudly swelled, was ex-
, planning the buckling to silent, patient Joseph.
p Hurray Joseph hurray, everybody look
out of the windows I'm off to the big pond
for skate
They were all so proud Of handsome, care
less Harry. Mother May was dreadiully bu-
sy preparing the Christmas dinner-for all
the May relatives we're to be there-but she
left the peelng of the turnips and onions, and
with her wet hands behind her peered out
with the rest to see her promising son.
God bless the boy cried out the farmer
in his hearty way and the childrcns eyes
. plistened Josephs hand was on the window
sill. and farmer Mays accidentally dropped on
TO il. gathering the slim fingers into his broad,
warm palm. Joseph thought his heart would
+. burst, and sweet glow of pleasure stole over
'r him. But the hand and pressure were instan-
taneously removed, and the sunshine faded
= out Of his eyes.
The weather had been unusually mild for
I. two CT three DAYS before Christmas, so that
st the water lay on the ice Of the big pond. But
{, daring Harry thought he could brave 1t;
" twould be pity to spoil the fun now, and so
d. many admiring eyes fixed on him, too
~ He made a bold dash his little figure, up
i right and graceful, was poised upon the lee'
g Then there was crash the treacherous cake
gave way, and with a loud cry Harry fell
, amid the rush of ice and water.
q The group at the window seemed, for mo-
ment, parayzed with horror then there was
n a scattering for the pond, and screaming and
e. crying from one and all.
1T Hes under the water. Father-father-
Harry's going under the ice !
Every particle of color had gone from far
=, mer Mays face he trembled in every limb,
and threw up his hands wildly. His strength
a. seemed to have ebbed away in the tide o
grief. God help me, he cried. My boy, m,
boy--and can't swimg
but can = shouted voice brave and
clear as an angels. i answim, and I'll save
him : and dashing past weeping mother May
'h Joseph Craig plunged headlong into the ireez
on ing water, swimming for dear life.
At How they watched him breathless and ex
4, cited, their hearts hanging by thread How
at they saw him grasp once, twice, at dark oo
iect under the water, and then rise, his iac'
gashed and bleeding from contact with tn