Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-12-30

ing on IN asfraIght line from her head
Dear me cried mother May in a
Auster, that Santa Claus tart's burn
ing, I'm sure; and my hands in this
dough, tool Joseph you Joseph come
here, and mind the tarts.'
Joseph here, there, everywhere
Why, there wasn't member of the
whole May family 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 a kind mother to
put her soft hand under his chin, and lift
his poor, pale face TO her loving ewes. -
There Is beautiful little brook in every
one Of your hearts, that loves to have
kind, smiling faces reflected in it, 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,
invisibly, to fill up the four long, red
WOODEN stockings hanging beside it
Good gracious {! what dancing and did
ding there was about that kitchen floor
the next morning, when the beautiful sun
revealed what sly Kris Kringle had been
about! Even twelye-year-old Heuy
danced polka in a pair of new rubbers
and pretty cherry silk hood, with de-
light Thomas's blue-wheeled cart kept
tripping everybody up, as he went ca
reering round the room; and Tiny's
great waxen doll stared at young and old
with its imPudent blue eyes. But the
greatest general of the day was soldier
Harry, with the shining new skates Santa
Claus had bequeathed him. Already he
was strapping them on, and with his
chest proudly swelled, was explaining the
buekling to silent, patient Joseph.
Murray, Joseph Murray, everybody
look out Of the windows; I'm off to the
big pond for a skate
They were all so proud of handsome.
careless Harry. Mother May was dread
fully busy preparing the Christmas din
der-for All the May relatives were to
be there-but she left the peeling 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 far
mer, in his hearty way; and the child /
ren's eyes glistened. Joseph's hand was
on the window sill, and farmer NAYS &C.
dropped on to it, gathering the
slim fingers into his broad, warm palm.
Joseph thought his heart would burst
and sweet glow of pleasure stole over
him. But the hand and pressure was in.
removed, and the sunshine
'aded out Of his eyes. i
The weather had been unusually mild
or two or three days before Christmas,
% that the water lay on the ice of the bio
pond. Bot daring Harry thought he
'ouId brave it; 'twould be pity to spoil
he fun now, and so many admiring eyes
liked on him, too
He made a bold dash his little figure
upright and graceful, was poised upon the
zee. Then there was crash the
'reacherous cake gave way. and with \
oud cry Harry fell amid the rush Of ice
and water.
The group at the window seemed. for
moment paralyzed with horror then
mere was a scattering for the pond. and
screaming and crying from one and all
He's under the water. Fatber-i'
ather-Harry's going under the ice
Every particle of color had gone from
armer Mays face; he trembled in every
imb, and threw up his hands wildly
HIS strength seemed to have ebbed away
n the tide of grief. God help me, he
.ried. My boy, my boy-and can,
win .
But can ? shouted a voice brave
md clear as an angels. Il can swim
md I'll save him;' and dashinq mast
weeping mother May, Joseph Craig
'iunged headlong into the freezing water
winning for dear life.
How they watched him breatbIe,s and :
kei'ed' their hearts hanging by a thread. .
low they saw him grasp once. twice. At
dark object under the water. end then .
se' his face gashed and bleeding from
oniact with the ugly ice-corners. He
las tar out now, and made a third dive
zen there was faint hurrab and
roasting the ice, be swan up with one
rm embracing poor Harry.
My child-my boy. Thank Go5r
red the happy parent, foId;o, H., :;