Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-12-21
uoutb's Department.
THE CHILDREN's GIFT.
A CHRISTMAS STORY.

eiiN A'AA AAA At'lNA7s ~ NNtl uAHh lAHh NtAN NAN
ting room on their return from school, "we'ro
going to have an exhibition Christmas night
at the academy, and there is TO be stage
built, and we are to speak there y
=" One at a time--one at time, my dear
children, said Mrs. Reynolds as she rcmov-
ed lda's hood. and smoothod Edwards short,
crisp locks, which had the most provoking in
clinaton to tangle themselves over his eyes.
But the two voices scarcely pausing for
the mothers warning, struck up simultaneous
ly again; but Edward was soon obliged TO
yield TO Ida, II believe the girls usually come
off victor in these verbal stries,) and she
went on;
" We are to have piano, and Miss Hall
is 70 play it and we are all to sing together,
and then TO speak poems and dialogues aud
the girls are to wear white dresses, with blue
ribbons around their waists. Oh goody
goody and she danced about the room, her
bright braids flashing about her neck, and
her eyes shining in her young face like twink
ling lights and her mother watched her with
that tender, loving smile which makes the face
Of mother beautiful and sacred, as no other
mces are.
go We are to have our pieces tonight Mr..
Murray said, interposed Edward, and we
are to practice all our spare time
Well, wen see to all, my dears But
there goes the dinner bell, and know two
little people who won't sacrifice that even TO
the contemplation ofa Christmas anniversary
laughed the lady, as she rose up and folded
her sewing
Why Father, you seem little blue, to
night said Mrs Reynolds. looking into her
husbands IS face just after the children had
gone up stairs for the night.
" DO l. Annie: rallying at once. Well,
the truth Is, I've been good deal perplexed
with business matters, to-day. I'LL forget
all about 1t now.
" And remember that Christmas is close at
hand ana those dear children must have
something for Che occasion.
We'll what shall lt 0o
80 IN the hrst place. they must each have
me-" SUIT Tor the anniversary. Their little
heads are iol OF nothing else from morning
until night
suppose not happy little rogues that
they are. we'll ls that all
On no we can afford them a Christmas
tree TINS year. but they must have some gifts,
or they Il be quite heart-broken.
w nat shall they be- then.
Eddie must have sled, for he's been
longing for one the last month and Ida
doll"
"They shall have these, but can't do any
more for them this Christmas, for times seem
to be growing tighter and tighter, and we
must count every dollar.
So will but you know children are chill
dren, father, and I'd rather go without my
dinner for a week than have Christmas come
without any gifts for them"
Spoken like the true loving mother that
you are, Annie said Mr. Reynolds; and
then he sat very still, thanking God with a
brave heart, that however clouds of adversty
might darken about him for a time, he had
still three jewels which all the gold in the
world could not buy--his wife, his boy, and
his girl
Why, Ida, my child, what has kept YOU
so long Eddie's been home haitian hour. and
really began to be alarmed at YOUR absence"
exclaimed Mrs Reynolds. as her daughter
came in from school, Just as the night shad-
ows were loosening themselves down through
the short December day.
'Well, Mother. | didn't mean to stay so
long; but | stopped to talk with Ellen PAYNE"
"And run the risk of taking cold oh,
daughter (" Mrs Reynolds shook her head
Ida came up 70 lier n'o,Ao' and 'oi1 Ia-
head IN her lap. Her face was flushed with
excitement and the tears swan IN her eyes.
Oh' mamma, II you could have heard her
you wou'u nave oeeh SO sorry
nat was IT, my chiio
why you see ! was late this evening,
because stayed behind to put my desk in or
uer' ana When came out into the dressing
room neard deep quick sob' ana looking
around IN the corner saw Ellen Payne
croucneu uowh there' crying as II her heart
woulu oreaN' went right up to her and
put my arms around her. What's the mat
ter Ellen sad. She wouldn tell me
Tor long time, only she cried the louder;
out begged and coaxed her until at last she
looked up and said so sorrowtully' cant
go to the anniversary, Ida :.
why ny not Ellen =
"because' you know we've been poor folks
ever since iather died and last week the baby
was taken sick with the Group, and mamma
nau 10 spend all the money she d earned sew
nS 10 BUY HIM some medicine so she can't
5et me new dress know couldn't let
-he naoy die ior want OF medicine, Just for a
new dress out on, Ida, 1t almost breaks my
'eart to see all the other little girls getting
'eady to speak and can't Here Ida com
lletely broke down, and the tears reignod
lver her soft checks.
" On, Ida, l wouldn't be such girl as to