The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1859-04-23
The Two Fireaides.

iurnifhed parlor gathered around blaEin
IRE sat mother viii her five children, m
p former was busily plying her needle, an
, me latter were engaged, some IN arranging
, their toys, with which their father aud moth
o., w the character Of Santa Claus, had 6up
piled them gfit Christmas.
"lt 10 bleak, cold night" said DR.. War
ton, as he entered The room and without di
vesting himself ~ his oyeTcoal and muillers
drew a chair near the fire.
Ana now you have GaHa home Tor AL
eight hope" said Mary, the oldest Of th'
"No indeed, you are not going again. re
piled Mary "fhther, wish you we're htf !
"Deeau'e you never ha,s a moment thai
you may sail ygvf oHn. fod have 20 rid,
all day and you may be called 20 20 away al
\ er is"
"Ye', but father IL paid Tor T." said Master
Johnny
"Nol always" said Mary. "there ARE many
poor people who pay fbthing for fathers 'is-
"But," continued Johnny, "hther doesn't
/ get up In the night to travel bad roads for
them"
johnny" said d. warton, solemnly, "did
you ever know me neglect 10 turn a muddy
I
~ night however dark or cold when 4 pOur
family Who had nothing to pay, deaired my
services ''
Master Johnny was little disconnected at
ms grave reply Of his father, for young a.
he was, he prided himsslf on knowing some
lhlng about business, and the way to get
rich.
Il can't say" ne answered, ''Aut only
thought that they who did not expect to pas
a physician have no right 20 ask him 10 not
himself 10 40 much trouble on their account"
,"fefhaps they have no right, IN one sense
OF the word, but ! should be sorry 10 think
that thv instruction Master Johnny hud
learned In Mr.. PLIERS office has made him
forget his eateclism, and the instruction he
has received at Sunday school"
NOW tel mr, children" said DIR. Warton
looking iull IN the face Of Master John, "did
our saviour 20 aboYg doing good only TO
those Who had money TO pas him -
NO, air, said all Me children at once.
"hnd nov, children said the futhTT NJ
have something to tell YOU"
f.. Those Who had been reading closed their
books the little ones let their playthings
and gathered around their father. Mrs.
w arton smiled 90 see the interest manifested
in the ehildreu's coun,enanerA, and Fila turn.
ed to her little sister Of four years old, and
bade her hush, !or father was goirg to tell
story,
~ very short story. my children said
the doctor, "ior IL is snia in a few words. IL !
is cold night The snow is decp, aud the
raw wind is piling II in drins on the eide, ]
walk There IA no moon. and the street
lamps burn dim tonight. There are no
slelgh'bells jinglingi the only sounds in the |
suee' are tue moaning winds and the ereak- /
You are 10" doing for It na dismal night |
without
Il am glad We have a warm house 10 shCl-
ter us tonight" said Johnny.
And wtll YOU may be glad" said his faith F.
or, "and not only glad, but truly thankful. !
know Of poor family who are now shiycr-
ing with the cold and hehiOg with huDser
this morning man met me- mad -tnIe>me Of !
a poor woman Who had sick child, and
said he, i think they need doctor, but are
too poor 10 employ one asked him TO
sii5w mt tAs house. aud when | entered /
found that doctor was indeed urrirJi.
iiule girl, about nine yvnrs old, was lying on
the bed very low with a fever | think she
cannot live. little boy twelve years old,
entered while was there with an urmful of
sticks, which he had picked up from under
the snow on the common, aud this, save q few
brands which were smoking on the hearth,
was all their fuel. The sick girl am afraid
cannot live, and the mother has means to
make her comfortaboi | doubt Whether any
of the family have tasted a morsel Of supper
tonight"
"But where is the woman's husband ?" ask
ed Mary,
"That do not know. lie has been gone
these seven years. knew him when he was
worth several thousand dollars, but a villain
Gus partner OF his deirauded him Of every
cent. Poor Robinson was nearly broken
hearted he fingered about the ncighborhood
for n while earning a living as he could, but
finally resolved to go to sea. His wife gave
her consent, as she was able with economy
to provide for herself and children, by her
needle. She did well for awhile, but sickness
came upon her, and Ahe ia now poor. Her
husband at different times sent her money,
and always wrote as though he was doing
well. But the vessel in which he was to
have returned, three years ago, has not been
heard of
"And he was drowned" ?" asked two or three
at once.
"I do not know" continued the Doctor "he
may be living yet, but fear that he has per-
ished' But; my children MtZ Robinson is
here in this comfortable ho& and this bleak
cold night are gathered nrVund this warm
fire, think Of Charley KobinsNa&pd his moth
er, Charley has had no Christmas><Asre is no
New Years for him for his father mSssAe at
the bottom Of the sea. His mother is pSeR
and his little sister j fear must die. John !
Mrs. Robinson has no money to pay the doc
tor. Shall l stay at home to-night9'
Mo father" exclaimed John, eagerly :
"go and see her, and you may take my half
dollar"
"And mine" said Mary.
.And my cake said Ellen.
And buy Charley roeking.horse, said
Willie.
"Come children" said Mrs. Warton, "James
shall load the hands, sled with wood, and carry
a blanket and quilt. will ill a basket with
something for supper, and perhaps We can
make them comfortable"
"But Johnny" asked the doctor, "why do
you stand still when the others are 90 busy
in getting something for the suffering fam
| lily P"