Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-01-05


sounding close to them.
/ Looking out into the dim twilight they
I beheld q dwGrfsh figure standing on the
sidewalk, moaning and waving its arms.
II seemed to be little man about two feet
high, clad in e red coat, covered with gold
lace, and wearing n little cap, in which was
stuck long feather, that was bent nearly
horizontal by the wind 4 tiny sword.
about the length Of q lead pencil, dangled
/. by his side.
20, Binnie, p" whispered Tip, e it's Kriss
Kringle come again. 1 know him. He
used to look exactly like that in nv dream.
amt afraid Of him. Are you p
" Not bit,' answered Binnie lie
looks nice little chap. ! hope he has
brought ms something.
The little man on the sidewalk seemed
very uneasy. He waved his long arms con-
tinually, took off his little cap every now
and then with quick jerk, as If be were
making a series Of abbreviated bows TO the
two little yagrants. and then hoped about,
moaning the same shrill and extraordinary
moan.
a. Binnie, think he's cold, let US ask him
to come and lie down with us and warm
himself, said Tip. ~ You know, IN all the
fairy books if you treat fairy well, he's
sure to give yOu three wishes
Whatever Binnie may have thought Of
the reckltssness Of the suggestion OF warn
ing anything by putting it close to two such
little icicles as himself and his brother. the
latter part Of the speech seemed TO strike
him as containing felicitous idea.
s., bracing his chattering teeth as well as
be could, he said
- kriss Kringle, will you come and lie
down with us, and We will warm your
The little relocated man made no reply
to this hospitable invitation, but danced.
and shIyered and moaned. and dotted his
tiny cap many times in succession.
' Come, kriss kringle," continued Bin
ME, reckoning to the dwarf, 80 come in out
of the snow
Maybe he don speak English, Binnic.'
suggested the Imaginative Tip.
This was a new view OF the case. and /
Binnie tegan to consider with himself
whether, by some inspiration OF the mo-
ment. he might not suddenly master the I
particular foreign tongue with which their I.
new friend was acquainted, when suddenly, .
the little man made swift leap and landed /
right in Tips lap.
"N by, BinuIe," cried TIP, Its not |
hriss krlusle after all its only a mon /
key ,''
Sure enough it was a monkey a poor /
shiverIng little Brazilian, with a pleading
eyes and soft. silky hands. and couuto- .
nance that seemed 70 tell Of a life Of soy
row. \ bit Of broken chain dangling from
a belt r0UnI he waist told his STOW. The
eternal organ In the stree, the black beard
ed, heartless Italian; the little switch that
scored his back az home, the cruel pinchcs
10 induce pOlIt-nCss, when wondering school
boys prg1crct their boarded c0ppers the
pantJmime Ui sprigAtly graft
tuOe which was taught with blows, and
performed IN fear and trembling. Poor lit
tie runaway Poor littlc vagrant, lie
seemed to know that he found brothers in
misfortune when he thrust hi, timid, silky
paw in Binnic's hand. and laid his hairy
littie face against Tips cold bosom
The children We'd with each other in at
tentIous TO the poor little wandereE. I DO
believe that if Tip lad an apple OF a chest
nut at that moment. hungry as he was hc
would have given II 70 his red LITTLE kriss
hringle.
Tic boys placed him between them, and
tried 10 snuggie him up in their tsttertd
clothes. He clung to them as if he really
loved them. His little hand found lts way !
into Tips shirt-b1sOm-it that collection Of
iisc0lored tatters which he wore beneath his
Jacket could be called a shirt and laid lust
over his heart. The poor vagrants kissed
and iOudled their pet and God help them
were almost happy for the time.
Meanwhile the snow drIiied and drifted |
right under the shed where the yagrants
lay. Il began to pile itself up about them
on all sides, and II clung 70 every projection
Of their persons. The air grew colder and
colder. The wind swo0ped at them under
the shed-still Ike the WIde-winged Shrek
Ing lalcon-us if it would take them up in
its talOns and bear them away 70 Its bleak
nest to feed its unAedged tempests Closer
and closer the three houseess creatures
drew together, until great drowsincss fell
upon them, and the sough OF the storm
sounded farther and farther of, and sleep
and snow covered them.
Then dream came to Binnie and Tip |
Red little Kriss Kringle jumped up suddenly
from his rest IN their bosom, clad IN the
brightest fnery. wOndrous white egret's
plume waved in his cap and he wore 8
breastplate of diamonds. HIS rcd coat was
redder than the blossoms Of the wild Lobe
LA, and his sword was hilted with gold.
Then he said to the boy
Boys. ye have been very kind TO me,
and sheltered me when it was cold, so now
We shall idle IN the sunshine forever and
ever 80
Then he led them down to the wharf near
by, where, moored among the black hulls of
the ships, they found a beautiful golden
boat, SO bright with many-eOlored flags that
it seemed as ii her tall masts had swept the
rainbows from the sky. Fairy music
sounded as the sails were set, and they |
sailed and sailed and sailed until they land
cd on the sweet Southern shore.
There they found strange trees with
leayes Of satin and fruits Of gold. Wonder |
ful birds shot like stars from bOugh to |
bough The rivers sang like musical instru-
ments. From the limbs Of the trees trailed !
brilliant tapestries of orchIdaceous flowers, |
which, with their roots in the air, sucked |
the sunlight into their secret veins, until |
their blossoms were covered with the splen- |
dor of Day.
Here, red little Kriss Kringle led him to
the foot OF huge tree covered with white |
flowers, and made them lie down while he !
fed them with fruits Of magical flavor. !
The sun shoe cheerfullY on their heads. |
The birds sang their pleasant songs. The !
huge tree rained its white blossoms on
them, as they dropped off to sleep weary
with delight, until they reposed beneath a
coverlet OF scented snow.
When the first day of the New Year
dawned and the grocer's boy came from his
bed behind the -four barrels TO take down
the shutters, be saw mound Of snow close
by the side of the coal-bin. lie brought
the shovels to take it away, and the first
strcke disclosed the three little vagrants ly-
ing stark and stiff, EMBODIED In each others
arms.
A remarkable homicide occurred IN drink