Mower County transcript., 1869-12-30
THE NEW OVERCOAT.

1t was Christmas day, but the festivities
of that occasion scarcely existed for the
Hartford family The moth erhad done her
best to make Il seem like Christmas; but
her drunken husband had just slammed
the door behind him, while she, her face
flushed with blow, turned to her boy,
Fred, who had sunk down by the freside,
and given himself up to melancholy
thoughts, jsr .t5t ~;
While sitting thus, Fred formed resolu-
ton. He would go to the city and find
employment; he would be sober and In
dustrious, and afford that helped and COM
fort to his poor mother which she could
look for from no other source.
Fred carried out his determination. Two
years passed by, and he was to come home
to spend Christmas. It was early in the
morning when he reached home, and pro-
ceeded to wake his mother In q novel
manner. He commenced one of their old
familiar carols, which he had many time
sung with the little ones ut home. Not =
jot cared he whether he aw0ke the whole
or voice, so that he awoka his mother, and
SO that she recognized his voice. That was
all he cared for. But Mrs. Hartford was al.
lCnuy ""NACs 1AouSAto "a ECA wy Aasu
made her sleepless, and she had heard the
swift footsteps Changing down the streets,
and then stop suddenly at her door, when
the singing began; and altogether it made
her heart leap, tor she fancied she knew
the carol! But the voice? 1t might be her
boys but ii SO, how changed--how deep
and manly! A knock followed the carol,
during the singing OF which she had has
tily dressed ht htnelf, tumbling over herself
almost in her haste, and making q noise
which awoke the children in the next
room, though it did not wake her husband.
He was sleeping of drunken, fit, and it
would have taken something q little less
noisy than booming cannon to arouse
him. ,,r.4s
In o moment she was at the door, and
mother and son were in each others arms.
After long embrace she stood away to look
him up and down., and after o fond survey,
she said, ''How you are grown. Fred! and
how we'll you look! and how well-to do in
that great coat: itnakes you look quite
the gentlemanr' .....'..... ,..It.-,
Its real treasure, mother" said Fred !;
"and doesn't it keep the cold out!"
Il should think 50, = said the mother,
laying her hand upon it appreciately.
Its beautiful thick cloth. Fred. How
did you manage to get it Out of your small
earnings, after what you've sent me? I'm
sure I've been afraid that you did not leave
yourself q penny scarcely.
'.You needn't have been afraid, mother.
Why, I've got q watch, too! look here: I
gave fifty shillings for it. 'i'7 is.@
LA, Fred! how ever did you manage
I'm tell you by.and.by, mother. Nov
please. help me of with my great-coat; for
my hands have got the frost in them to-
night 4 had halt . mind to bring this cont
for father. But then, thinks !, it would
soon be lodged at uncle's-easy come, easy
20. You know--so !, decided rather to tell
father how to- get one as got this; he'll
prize it all the more for getting it So" "'n "a
How merrily the break fast time passed,
and what q happy day they. hoped 10
spend! The sunshine was come into the
house at last; it lighted up the faces Of the
sad mother and her children, and made all
bright. Toward nine o'clock the merry
hubub in the housefswoka Mr.. Haxford,.
and learning that Fred was come, he set
himself to the dreaded task ofgetting up.
Presently. the church bells, began TO
chime, and Fred propoaed that they should
6nu HO.eGp tAo 11GiAe4 .VAV Pl1Co S40Ausl ue'
said. All the children wanted to 60 with
He refused quite decidedly at first; it was
out of the question, he said, and he never
went to church now. IAN the more reason
Why y1l5 yoa should q. 90 toaa fsther, '"tuised
:, But t'va got nothing atto put on" said
the father. ,...'.'i.>. - ri
''Yes, you have said the wife; ''your
best coat is up stairs" ,..7icjl j.ns
''How came it theref' he asked, in aston
ishment. ~ . .:1:.., L. =
Never mind about that now, said Mrs.
Hartford; "but just 60 and make yoursel
spruce, and 60 out with Fred this once. We
may never meet together on q Christmas
day ngain, you know" .,..,, .I.,.i ag...7ag
Look at Fred's coat-whata q beauty"
cried Susie, as Fred took it from q peg be-.
hind the door. ,a 49,. 'n.,oyen H. - ~ y
"Why, Fred, you look as though you
were getting on in the world" said his
father. "How did you manage to get that
and your watch too7'-o TEsa5s1a III ,,'g
'You must know I haven't spent . farth-
ing of my wages on them" said Fred. F"';
Then how in the world did you, set
them?" -e''@J .l"hI}A :'s'i''''Fo -
The price of helf pint of Zee: :Hda. I day j
for nearly three years got these for ne,
said Fred. "Al the fellows at our place
are allowed half pint day. told mas.
ter that I'd rather not have any, and ii, he
liked to make me any allowance for my not
having it he might; or I'd just leaveit; and
say nothing about an allowance. :, He said
he liked to encourage young fellows to. be-
abstaihers, and allowed me three half pence
day. That has been faithfully giYen me
for two years and nine months; and, has
been something like six pounds Ave shil-
ings in my pocket. With that, you see /
have been well able to- buy my watch and
coat, and to send home some little Chris
tm's gifts last year, as well as to: bring
these" ~. ia,y 10 .o;a'os3 az II
''Whod ever he thought that three half
pence day saved would have run up to
that in less than three years?" said Mr..
Hartford, thinking dolefnlly of the many
pence, and not only pence, but sixpence,
he had spent day after day during that
time and for years before -sixpences that
made many pounds, which would have
bought him coat, watch, and perhaps
house too-so many had he squandered.
Ned was trying to do sum Of the same
kind in mental arithmetic. though with low
or figures than those which came to his
fathers mind; and both began = series Of
self-reproachings, and both felt that they
had been foolish in the highest degree, ? q
''You did well ll-you did well, Fred, said
his father, with sigh. ;-',.,[ ,,-"..,t -, =,
Then MIR. Hartford and his children went
to church. When they returned Mrs. Har.
ford seemed much surprised to see her
husband returning with the rest, and she
hustled about with il glad heart to get her
Christmas dinner, just as in the happy days
OF long. long ago. ,4.,sh =; ,~a ;,s:1Is% u: ~,
Mr.. Hartford managed to eat a pretty
good meal, aud felt the better for it. When
it was over, and oranges and other good
things brought by Fred were being discus
sed, his listIess air quite passed away, and
he playfuliy helped the children to make
wonderful things with orange peel. By
and-by he leaned back in his chair and said
II can't believe it's me sitting here at home
like this something like the poor fellow
as our parson was reading of this morning,
as was sitting clothed in his right mind. :"
"Ah, it does me good to see you," said
his wife, with glistening eyes.
He looked down at his coat to avoid her
glance, and said, ''This may look tidy, mis-.
sis, but it don't keep the cold out; was
regular nipped coming home from chapel
"You ought to have d greatseoAt like
Fred's,' she replied. ''You might easy get
one. as he did, afore next winter"
What! save three half pence day