St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1871-01-20

but God may have sent those children
under my window to teach me that, in
stead of my own lost darlings, he means
me to care for these and other suffering
little ones who live in the lanes and al
leys of this great city !"
Harris soon came back and told his
master what he had learned about the
circumstances of the family then he add
ed,-
Everybody calls the oldest girl Sweet
lie, and they do say that she's as good as
gold"
Mr.. Rogers went out, and, before night
had bought the little corner store, for
which Sweetie had longed. Then, call
ing his servants together, he related what
lie had overheard the children say, and
told them how anxious he was to grant
Sweelie's wish, and let her take her
mother to her new home on Christmas
Day.
"But l cannot do it," said Mr.. Rogers,
"unless you are willing TO help ME work
on Christmas Eve, for there is Il great
deal to be done
No one could refuse to aid in so good
Il cause; and lc,idcs, Mr.. Rogers was
always so consideratc of his servants that
they were glad TO oblige him. They all
went to work with will, and soon the
little house and store were put in perfect
order.
There were ribbons, laces, buttons,
needles, pins, tapes, and, indeed, all sorts
of useful things in the store In the eel
lar were coal and wood, two whole hams,
Il pair of chickens, and turkey. The
kitchen pantry was stocked with sugar
and flour. Thre was one barrel of DO
tatOes, and another of the redde:t apples.
Up stairs the closets and bureaus were
bursting with nice things to wear, not
quite made into garments, but ready to
be made, as sJOn as Sweet. and her
mother cot time.
So rapidly and so completed y was ev
erythnG arranged, that it seemed us if
one of those good fairies, of whom Swcelic
had 50 often told the children, had been
at work.
The money this has cost mc," thought
Mr. Rogers, '.wiIl make Il family of six
happy, and do them good all the rest OF
their lives. am glad the thought has
come TO my heart to celebrate ChrisI'>
birthday in so pleasant a way"
Late in the afternoon lie picked lis
way through the dull, dirty alley TO the
old gray house where Swcetie lived. As
lie went up the worn and dusty stairway.
lie heard the children singing their Christ
mas songs.
poor little things =" said he aud the
tears stood in his eyes. "lIappy even in
this miserable place, while | know SO
many suufcitcd with luAuric,, aud yet
pinins and diScontcnted ~
Harry jumped to open the door as he
knocked and Mr.. Rogers, entering, ap J.
ogizcd to the childrcn's mother for his
intrusion by saying lie had come to ask
a favor.
at is but little we can do'tor anyone,
sir" replied Mrs. Lawson "but any
thing in our power will be chcertulIy
done"
Even if propose TO carry off this lit
tie girl of yours tor n while Z" he asked;
but, sce;rg the troubled look in the other
children's faces, he FASTENED TO explain
1.-The truth is" said he, '.having no
little folks Of my own. l thought I'd uy
a I'd make other peoples happy to-day
so | set out TO get up Il Christmas tree
but | find don't know how to % to
work exactly, and want Sweelie to
help me-
He spoke 50 sadly when he said he had
no children of his own, that Sweetie
could not refuse TO 90.
80, yes sir" said she ; ''I'll 90 that
is, if may come back this evcning-for
l couldn't disappoint Freddie and all of
them, you know"
They shan't be disappointed, prom
isc you," said Mr.. Rogers, as he took her
down stairs.
"Why, never was in carriage in all
my life" said Sweetie, as he lifted her
beside her.
Il shouldn't wonder if you should ride
in carriage pretty often now," said Mr..
Rogers, ''lor your ships coming in"
Swce!ic couldn't tell whether she was
in Il dream or not. Half crying, halt
laughing, her face flushed with surprise.
she skcd,-
GLOW did you know p
"Know what ?" said her friend, enjny-
ing her bewildermcnt.
why" she answered, "about the way
l keep up the children's spirits, and make
them forget they are hungry and cold,
while tell them about my ship coming
in p
"a little bird told me-" said he, and
then was quiet.
Swectie did not like 10 ask any more
SO she sat quite still, leaning back in one
corner Of the carriage, among the soft,
crimson cushions, and watched the pco-
pie in the street, thinking how happy
she was, ami how strange it was that lit
tie Katie Lawson should be riding with
grand gentleman in splendid carriage.
Suddenly, with whirl and a turn,
they stopped before house. Mr., Rog-
ers lifted her out, and led her up the
broad steps; and she found he was tax
ing her into the beautiful white house,
under the windows of which she had sat
with Willie and Fred the day before.
'Now," said Mr.. Rogers, rolling a
comfortable arm chair for Sweeiie in
front Of a glowing fire, "while you are
getting warm, and eating Your dinner, l
am going TO tell you about my Christmas
tree, and how your ship came in
A little table was brought in, and set
between them, filled with SO many deli
cacicS. that SHeclie'S head GROW dizzy ai