Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-06-03

L QOnC KNOW lnlSllt po tclllpIeu'
And you'd like to stay here to
night; certainly you shall-but the
wife
She will not know perhaps by
this time, care'-and he sighedheav-
ily-have often stayed out all night.
well, Tom don't be down heart
ed; you're welcome. In the morn
ing we'll send up to Gorrorway, my
tailor and see what can be done in
the way of a handsome outfit.
No, no, Charlie, ! can't accept so
much h.
But l say you shall Don't feel
hurt; there's no occasion. | don't
mean to give it to you. There'll be
plenty of time to work it out. Now
90 to bed
The comfortable chamber in o
which he was shown was very little
like the drunkard's home. what a
fool have been! muttered Thomas
Clarke, as his head touched the pill
low of down, Charlie Hall and |
began life together, ald he was a
poorer man than l.
Mother cried Edgar, the next
morning. all in a trembe of delight.
yes, dear, I'm coming. | didn't
mean to sleep 80 late, but | was
tired yesterday
Mother what does It mean?
Edgar stood by the open door.
He had swept the poor room, and
made a fire in the stove from the
last of the dry faggots. The sun
8hone in through the sparkling frost
on the window panes-the merry
Christmas sun. Mrs. Clarke follow
ed the direction of the boys wond-
ering eyes. There stood a large
market basket, heaped full of lux
uries-a pair Of chickens, golden
breasted, a turkey, silyer-coated on
ions, sweet potatoes, and many pa
pers packages, while hereand there,
from'the delicacies there surrounded,
bright, crimson checked cranberries
pceped daintily out.
and, mother here, is a note
Mrs. Clarke took it and read
aloud
DEAR DoTTY Have breakfast
by nine; I'll be in by that time. l
want the chickens cooked! and
Wen enjoy them together. Yours,
Tom
How the thin, white hand trembl-
ed, and two large tears come cours-
ing down the pale checks.
20! Edgar what can it mean :?
He hasn't called me the old name for
years. He always did when | was a
girl, and was first married. I'm
afraid to think it may be all right
once more; I'm afraid to be happy
See, mother, a load of wood
'And barrel Of -four calculated
Mrs. Clarke, who can they be for ?,
and a bushel Of apples! cried
Edgar-'O such beauties! !
For Mr.. Clarke, shouted the
man, as the family below opened the
door.
Edgar, are we dreaming, dear ?
asked the poor woman, sinking down
helpless, Il am afraid | shall wake
up soon.'
NO mother, don't you hear them
coming up stairs ? Hurrah don't
recolIect as | ever saw a barrel of
-four in our house before. Come,
mother we'll get breakfast, anyhow,
before he comes. O! | didn't wish
you a happy Christmas-how could
|? But | can now, with a jolly
good will-Hurrah! Happy Christ
mas, motherp
Mrs. Clarke smiled through her
tears, at Edgars extravagant mani
festations.
I'll eat one chicken, he cried,
when rap, rap, come another knock
to the door.
"A turkey for Mrs. Clark said
the man, and one of his children
down stairs-too poor to eat turkey
on that, or any other day, deposited
it with staring eyes, in Mrs. Clarke's
hands. He had hardly left when up
came ponderous gobbler, and, as a
matter of course, called out.
"A turkey for Mrs. Clark
1T never rains but it pours, mo-
ther. What shall we do with them 2
And who can be sending them
all p cried the bewildered woman
.'Op and she read from a slip of pa
per fastened to the turkeys wing
With compliments of Mr.. Char
lie Hall
What bouncer the others are
little fellows said Edgar, 'but this
must weigh fifteen pounds if it
weighs an ounce
we are overwhelmed, with bless
ings to-day said his mother, in a
checked voice. i wonder what else
is comingY
tUbr q ,,ontlnman cried F,dpar