Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1868-12-25
srlftted s8tiscrllauy.
THE GOLDEN CHRIsTMAS.TREE.
BY MRS. A. NJ. DIAZ.

grown-up people are away, we children
may hope for little quiet. All sit along
in arrow, and will tell you the Story Of the
Golden Christmas-Tr that happened
long time ago. 1t begins with two old
folks, and they were poor, and lived in a
house that had but one door. Now don't
make faces. mean one outside door. If
any of you talk or giggle, or snap knuckles,
or roll up your eyes, or pull hair, or pinch,
or tickle, l shall stop telling. But chew
ing gum is no matter.
"And they had daughter who was a
beauty Just as white as wax-work, and
had golden hair, and was quite tall but
not very tall. Her eyes were as blue as
wax dolls, and her lips as red, and she
was slim and slender, with sweet little
foot that stepped light as a feather.
And they had one more child, but he
was boy, and his name was Valentine !;
but not pretty boy-a homely boy, and
his place was always in the back corner.
For they loved their daughter best, and
sold all their eggs and geese feathers to
buy earrings for her ears, and necklaces
for her neck, and silver rings for her
fingers, and ribbons to tie in her golden
hair, But the boy had to wear very old
things.
And for the girl it was o sweet angel 7
with kisses for her cheeks and for her lily
white hands But for him it was o you
stupid You naughty oner You never
do right! And while she leaned against
the wall, like picture, with her pretty
hands folded, and fine dress, he scrubbed
the floor, and washed the platters, with his
old clothes, and the tears in his eyes.
!" For he very often wept because no
body cared for him, and longed for some
one to come and take him by the hand, and
say something kind And one evening,
when he was lying all alone there, he
dreamed that the hut was suddenly filled
with bright light, and that a beautiful
lady, all in white, bent over him and said
very kind words. But the dream passed
away, and when he awOke the hut was
dark, and he all alone in the cold-all but
his dog, his good old shaggy dog Fido
Valentine loved Fido, and used to lay his
head on the dogs neck and tell him all his
troubles; and Fido would look up so sor
ryful, and lick his masters face, lust as il
q he knew.
"There was nobody else for the boy te
tell his troubles to, unless it was the one
that gave him the dog, Jolly Tom and ht
was TO relation, not the least, but only
skipper of a little slOop. And Valentine
used to watch for his white sails, coming
over the sea. For Jolly Tom always wen
whistling along, and often would call out
Ha, Valentinep How are you, Valen
tine?' in merry way, and once brough
him home quite large jews-harp, anC
taught him to play tune. And the nam,
of the tune was 'Whistling Winds AnC
when Valentine felt very sad, he would g
to his back corner, or away under tree
and play up tune, while Fido would 81
" vu0 fa1 IN lao
"But one night a wicked peddler stol
the dog away, which made Valentine fee
so badly that it seemed as if he could no
work at all, but only thirk of Fido ant
mourn for Fido all day long
"This made the two old folks angry
and more cross to him than ever before
And one night they scolded him, and said
80, if you would but keep out of ou
sight Away with your
"Then the boy walked long way off t
the sea-shore, where the sea was moaning
and there he lay down on the sands, an
listened to the moan of the sea. Darkness
was coming on, and it was very gloom
night. Clouds covered up the stare, an
there was quite chilly blast blowing
OF the shore, near by, were vessels a
anchor. He could hear the tapping G
the sails and the shouts of the men.
"Pretty soon some sailors, hurryin
along, stumbled over him, and one sai(
Pray, what's this thing?'
$50, some land.lubberr : cried anOthel
"Then he spoke out and said, Il al
Valentine. Do you belong to one of tn
ships? Shall you soon set sail? Is tn
Captain among you?'
= "Then a tall man stepped forward an
said, l am the Captain, what do 20
wish?
''Valentine asked him if he would lik
TO hire a boy, for he wished TO go TO see
his fortune in g strange land.
$50 Yes said the Captain | want gooC
stout boy. Come with us TO the boat
And when. it was seen that he coul
handle an oar, they allowed him to be on
OF the rowers to row to the ship.
And the ship sailed and sailed mol
than thousand miles, and anchored
last before great city,
Now as valentine did not wish to |
sailor'boy any more, he said good nv
the crew and the captain, and then he0a
walking up and down the streets 10 In
work. 1t was grand city. The buil,
ings were 50 tall and stately, with man
columns and towers and porticos. The
were marble statues standing about
very good places, and fountains sparklin
and palmtrees waving, and fiowe
DlOOulug everywhere. Anu lno pSop
were dressed in very b-ight-color'
clothes.
1857 .s'Now as Valentine walked up az
down, he came 10 the Palace. And sa
he, Since all is fine in this grand city,
may as well try my luck here as at al
other place
$50 he went through the back gate, al
put his head in al the kitchen door. Al
as the cooks were far too busy 20 mil
him,-for ii was a feast day, and the
were over forty lambs to be roast Sd
went through back passage, anc Rass'
from room 10 room very softly,- walk
softly because he was afraid, eysTytstl
was 80 wonderful, and so bright, sAd
grand
sr AT last he stubbed his toe against
gold nail which stuck up in the door, ~