Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-01-05
TIE NEW OYERCOAT.

HaYford family. The motherhad done her
best to make It 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.
While sitting thus, Fred formed resolu-
ton. He would 90 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 manya time
sung with the little ones at home. Not 3
lot cared he whether he awoke the whole
neighborhood or not with his resonant ten
or voice, so that he awoke his mother, and
so that she recognized his voice. That was
all he cared for. But Mrs. Hartford was al
ready awake. Thoughts of her boy had
made her sleeplesa and she had heard the
swift footsteps Changing down the streets,
and then stop suddenly at her door, when
her heart leap, tor she fancied she knew
the carroll But the voice? It might be her
boys but if so, how changed-how deep
and manly A knock followed the carol,
during the singing of which she had has
tily dressed herself, 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 off a drunken fit, and it
would have taken something little less
noisy than booming cannon to arouse
him.
In q moment she was at the door, and
mother and son were III each others arms
After long embrace she stood away to look
him up and down, and after a fond survey,
she said, "How you are grown. Fred! and
how well you loOkl and how well-to-do in
that great coat; it makes you look quite
the gentlemanP
s.It's real treasure, mother, said Fred;
''and doesn't it keep the cold out!"
81 should think so" said the mother,
laying her hand upon it appreciately.
ats 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 tleave
yourselfa penny scarcely"
s'You needn't have been afraid, mother.
Why, I've got watch, too! look here. I
gave fifty shillingsfo for it.
''La, Fred! how ever did you manage
it?''
s'Ill tell you by-and by, mother. Now
please help me off with my great-coat; for
my hands have got the frost in them to-
night. | had half mind to bring this coat
for father. But then, thinks l. it would
soon be lodged at uncle's-easy come, easy
go, you know-Fo / decided rather to tell
father how to get one as l got this; he'll
prize it all the more for getting it SO"
How merrily the breakfast-time passed,
and what happy day they hoped 10
spendl 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 house awoke Mr.. Hartford,
ana learning that Fred was come, he set
himself to the dreaded task of getting up.
Presently the church bells, began to
chime, and Fred proposed that they should
go to their house of worship. sI shall be
glad to see the familiar old place again" he
said. All the children wanted to 90 with
Fred and he wanted his father to go, too.
He refused quite decidedly at first; it was
out of the question, he said, and he never
went to church now. "All the more reason
WHY you SllCuuu 10 LO-udN tdIISI, uiSeu
Fred.
''But tive got nothing fit to put on, said
the father.
Eyes, you have" said the wife; 'iyour
. best coat is up stairs. F"
''How came il there?" he asked, in aston
ishment.
''Neyer mind about that now, said Mrs
Hartford; ''but just 90 aud make yoursel
spruce, and &c out with Fred this once. We
may never meet together on Christmas
day again, you know"
Look at Fred's coat-what beautyr'
cried Susie, as Fred took it from peg be-
hind the door.
"Why, Fred, you lock rs though you
were getting on in the world" said his
father. Chow did you manage to get that
and your watch too?"
''You must know haven't spent farth-
ing of my wages on them, said Fred.
"Then how IN the world did you get
them?"
s'The price of If pint of beer day
for nearly three years got these for me, -
said Fred. "All the fellows at our place
are allowed half pint day. 1 told mas
ter that I'd rather not have any, and if he
liked to make me any allowance for my not
having it he might; or I'd just leave it, and
say nothing about an allowance. He said
he liked to encourage young fellows to be
abstainers, and allowed me three half pence
a day. That has been faithfully given me
for two years and nine months, and has
been something like six pounds five shil-
lings in my pocket. With that, you see,
have been well able to buy my watch and
coat, and to send home some little Chris
tmas gifts last year, as well IS to bring
these"
sWho'd ever he thought that three half
pence day saved would have run up to
that in less than three years." said Mr..
Hartford, thinking dolefully OF the many
pence, and not only pence, but slxpence,
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 a
house too-so many had he squandered.
Ned was trying to do a sum Of the same
kind in mental arithmetic. though with low
er figures than those which came to his
fathers mind; and both began series OF
seIf-re proachings, and both felt that they
had been foolish In the highest degree.
"You did well-you did well, Fred, said
his father, with sigh.
Then Mr.. 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 g glad heart to get heI
Christmas dinner, just as IN the happy days
OF long, long ago.
MIR. Hartford managed to eat a pretty
good meal, aud felt the better for it. When
1t was over, and oranges and other good
things brought by Fred were being discus.
sed, his listless air quite passed away, and
he playfully helped the children to make
wonderful things with orange peel. By
and-bv he leaned back IN his chair and said
81 can't believe its me sitting here at home
like this-so1ething like the poor fellow
as our parson was reading Of this morning,
as was sitting clothed in his right mind. y
.tAh. it does me good to see you, said
his wife, with glisteuing 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 y, !,
regular nipped coming home from chapel
'.You ought to have q great-coat like
Fred's, she replied. You might easy get
one. as he did, afore next winter.