Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-01-05
Miscellany.
T ii II + T. OF A RADE:
OR,
RED LITTLE kRISs KRINGLE.

BY FITz-!ANEs O'BRIEN.
The city was mutiied in snow, and looked
as calm, and pale, and stately, as a queen
IN her ermIne robes. Ii was night, and the
tInkling Of innumerable slcigh-bells made
the frosty air musical. The sleighs them
selves sped silently through the streets,
painted blackly against the white snow a.
they passed like 50 many phantoms winging
their way 10 a festival on the Br0cken
mountain.
Il was late, for the corner groceries were
shut. The last draught Of poison had been
drained over the counter The last victim
had staggered home to his trembling wife
The red unwholcsome light that 1ared over
the door had been eXtinguished, and the
barkeeper was snoring IN his bed behind the
-four barrels.
In the bleak shelter afforded by the pro
jecting wooden awning OF one Of the corner
groceries in Greenwich street, close TO
where that tEOr0ughiare nCars the river, and
huddled up against the side Of the large
cJal-bin that stood hasped and padlocked
on one side of the entrance, Two little fg-
ur,s were visible in the dim slimmer of the
night.
Two little children they were, sitting
with their cold arms embracing each other,
their chill cheeks pressed together, and
their large weary eyes looking out hunguly
INTO the blank street.
Down by the wharycs they saw the tall
slender masts Of slips piercing the sky
like serliui lIuces Of sIme band Jf gigantic
CJs-acks. Among the black hulls few late
lights still sh0ne, and the air rung occasion
ally with the voice OF drunken sailor, who
from some friendly doorstep, where he had
involuntarily cast anchor ,chantod HE exper-
fenced Of a young West Indian lady of color.
who reI1iced 10 the horticultural name
Of Nancy Banana.
Presently a mystic music seemed TO fall
from the arched skies upon the city. 1t
was the chimes from old Trinity, ringing
the Old Year out and the New Year IN.
The thrilling notes Of the changes follow
ing each otner in measured aow, yibratei
through the air like music made by the
feet OF marching angels. They jrN.i
anrly seemed to scale the slope Of Heaven.
The wild melodious clangor hJated over the
great silent city. Myraids Of arial Moors'
clasblng their cymbals, seemed 10 march
over the housetops. The clock was tremb-
ling On the stroke Of twelve. and Time had
one foot already in the territories Of the
New Year.
Tip, listen TO the bells, said one OF the
two children, that were huddled beneath
the grocery awning, speaking in faint
though clear voice, like bell heard in
fog, listen 1t is time for KRIS KriDgle to
come.
Tips cold little lips opened and nothing
issued therefrOm but low plaIntlve 81 N
hungry, Binnie."
$50 am 1, " said Binnie, with a sort of far
off cheeriness, as if his heart was at con-
siderable distance, and could communicate
only very family. d" But, let US wait. Per
haps Rriss Kringle will bring US something
nice What would you like most, TIp?"
" Coffee and cakes wouldn't be bad, - said
Tip, hesitatingly, as if rather afraid Of the
consequences If he allowed his Imagination
to run away with him.
- Or plate Of roast beef rare, with pOta-
toes and peach PEE" suggested the more
reckless Binnie, " lust such as mother used
to give US Sunday. Poor mother"
What are We going to do tomorrow,
/ Binnie, to get some money!
Shovel snow of the stoops," answered
/ Binnie resolutely. Wen 20 into Union
| Square early and ask all around at the
l houses whether they want the sidewalk
cleared. Some of 'em are sure to give US a
quarter We might make fifty cents, and
/ then wouldn't we have a time ~
"When we were living in the country
with mother what fun We used to have on
/ New Years. said poor little Tip, creep
/ ing up closer to Binnie, with a shiver, for
/ the night was getting very cold, and few
/ large snow-fakes commenced falling straight
down from the feecy sky, white as the man
I ma that fell in the desert, but alas }, not go
nutritious.
40, golly yes. What a good mother
she was to US, and what things We uted to
find in the old stocking that she gave to US
to hang up Kriss Kringle don't come to US
any more now that she's dead. | wonder II
/ he really used to come down the chimney.
Tir, or If twas only make believe. =
:. don. know, said Tip. 81 watche
ever SO many nights. but somehow al
ways fell asleep just before he came, and
then the things got into the stocking. used
70 dream, though, that saw him. 4 little
man with a red coat all covered with gold
lace. and long feather in bis cap, and
little sword by his side. And be used to
smile at me, and say, Tip, will you be a
good boy II put somelninS inVO TUG sA
ing for you o. and then | used to promise,
and when | had promised | used to hear
music BOUNDING all through the house, a
great deal finer than the music we heard
When we went 10 the circus, Blnnie; and
then Kriss Kringle would tako of his hat
to me, and make jump, and 90 clean up
The chimney out of sight, like red Jacket
All how cold 1t is, BinnIe, and how hun
grT am, Tell US a story"
The wind arose in the north, and came
down down upon the city with savage howl.
Inc heavy snow-Aakes fed before him INTO
every angle and nook, like terrified white
Olros trying TO hide themselves from some
fasl-"ingea' screaming falcon. They thrust
themselves INTO the creyIces of the windows,
and between the Stats of the green win
dow-blinds; they got under the sills of the
doors. They left the centre Of the streets.
and few madly into the cutters; they hud
died themselves into the dark corner where
Tip and BinnIe were covering, ran up the
legs of their ragged trousers, and slid down
between their trsIl shirt-collars and their
cold little necks. 1t was fierce, biting,
scratching wind Of prey, and poor Binnie
and Tip felt his talons digging into their