Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1871-12-23
Gales s sheteles.
a EITTLE CgElED SElALL LEAD
THEM.
A STORY FOR CHRISTMAS.

1t was Christmas time, and the weather
was as cold as the lovers of sharp, singing
winter weather could desire. The roads
were frozen rs hard Ms iron, seemingly ;
and the biting wind walled mourniully
through the bare aud shvcling trees, which
swayod 10 aud fro like ghosts in the dim,
morunIu. air.
When the widow Harley was seated, and
had poured out tea, her little child had
ratified on:
let u talk about Christmas tonight,
mother. 1t is such n pretty time, isn't it ?
The toy shops are crowded with happy
little girls and boys chosing and buying
such lovely things. choose things when
! stand to look in mt the windows, bat of
course | can't buy anything; it's only pre-
tcHdhiy, you know, mother. And the
Christmas trees you just ought to see
them. wish such trees grew IN gardens !
Couldn't wo give presents away TO ragged
littla children then, ana make .hum glad ?
IOu'll try to BE- well cnoigh 10 go up town
on Christmas Eve, won't you mother? 1t
is 80 nice 10 see the shops all lighted up,
aud the people bustling about buying things
on the Sly for their friends, SO rs ~ give
them surprise on the next day and to
sec the children out with their mothers
I
aud TO hear tho bells ringing like music.
If we had n father, perhaps wc might keep
Christmas as well as other people, and
have a Christmas pudding, and laugh, and
sing carols like they do in other houses.
Sometimes, when I'm going along the
street, | sec shadows Of little children pass
by on the blinds of lighted windows, and !
hear them playing and laughing and sing
ing. II isn't everybody that can be 50
merry ut Christmas time, don't you =
'Yes, dear. We have all cause TO be
thankful to God for his mercics, said the
! widow.
Yes said Faith thoughtlu!ly. we
have got more Than some, even now and
we are 50 quiet and peaceful here together.
If We cant have u pudding-and It doesn't
much matter about tive will have some
| holly over the pictures, aud make II tO0k
| like Christmas, eh, mother y
'Ol course said Mrs. Harley but ]
think, Faith, it you got paid for these
! things when you take them home to'mor'
row, | shall be able to buy some plums
aud currants when we 80 uptown ON
| Christmas Eve
Faiths eyes frightened, i dare say
| tho lady viii pay she SAID, hoptlully,
Mother mother = called Faith, sudden
~, do come aud look here Is Mr., Morgan
oh, 50 tipsy look, lac can scarcely lind
I his own door
Mrs. Harley came quickly to the win
! dow, and looked down upon the man viii
u very distressed expression. They watch
cl him rs hu thumped at the door and
. then somewhat oorpulom woman mad,
| hur appearance, aud pulled him IN,
'ilnv sad = multrrcd tho widow, as she
turned away frpm tha window aud thai
mun mighl hays Kept his carriage long AZ,
II hu had liked,
Alter pazins out lur some minutes hong
er, Hailh continued 'Aud AZ christina
time, tull lust when pappla ought a. be b.
annd. hecailsn they thluk uhuut Jpsus cuul
ms INTO tho would 81 die fur us, I'm sur,
Nj Moran uushln't "a ba drinking nov
ought hn, m0lhrrf ir0plp ousht % ny {,
bu hptier, aud o. please iinl more thal
ever al Christmas time, When lhei gomeh
hprtA ,hat Il 10 the llpe at which lilo sen
llia suu.
/ 'Y,s, Indeed, said lhp wldlY bat, la
stead Hf that, ID h a tliuvNhru Wicked inrl
mako "a au rNgusG lir brlu3 Wugsa lhai
thuY ace at anB uiher TINE
'lL.u ChrIslmas eani bn happy llm
tu thrm.t ssd fillh ihuushiuily 'llui
mlb,lalt Mr lud Alis, Aurian musl a.
au ti salw fDf thrm,' laih kppl hr
|u b na lAn Nainsd 8luAla hilui pl lhrl
hDnl 81. in3 .sn ana wondered ehAl aa
apiuf Nu nlihiu
N,gt muluinA sheu faiih Woks, ia
Has rni1itd ~ $50 Va ''sAlns gAli lh''
lAs ailipa tlll aas tAsltl.4si sNh shYs
and that lhe tifeal tai hoAse' plfssl'