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

50 numDeu she could hardly draw hel
needle through her work and for IIar
ry, who trudged through the streets from
daylight until the street lamps were light
ed
The day before Christmas came. Peo.
pie were SO busy cooking Christmas dain.
ties that they did not stop TO sift theil
sinderS very carefully, and Sweelie and
the boys had picked uo quite Large bag
full of half-burnt coal in the alleys, and
were carrying it home as carefully as il
was to them. Being very tired, they sat
down to rest on the curb>tone in front Of
an elegant mansion. One of the long
windows Were open.
'Icts get close up under the window y
said Sweetie. 81 guess IFS too warm in
side, and may be we shall get some of
the heat. O. o. don't i; smell good %
she cried, as the savory odors of the
Christmas cooking stole out upon the air.
"What is it, Sweetie p whispered
Willie.
"Cotiee,' said Sweete, "and turkeys,
anu Jeily, perhaps.
81 with had some," sighed Freddy
"I'm 50 cold and hungry :"
poor little man, he must come and
sit in Swec,c's lap; that will make him
warmer" sail his sister, wrapping her
shawl around him.
"Yes; that's nice" said the little tel-
low, hugging Ter li9ht.
Mr. X ,gers, the eowner of this fine house,
had lost his wife and two dear children
within the year. lie lived here alone,
with his servants, and was very doso!ate.
When the children stopped under his
window, lac was lying ON Il velvet. sofa
near it. and, lifting himself up, lie peep
ed ont from behind the curtains just rs
Fred crcpt INTO his sisters arms ami he
heard al til Y said.
"When your ship comes III, Sweetie,
will it have turkeys and lies in ii ,"
sal Willie, leaning against her
"Yc>. indeed" said Sweetic There
Will be turkeys almost as BIZ as Jennie,
anI grca, deal fatter."
"But its 80 long coming, Swcttie :;
you tell Us every time it wW come, and il
never coatcS at all
80, no, Freddy. | don't ever say it triH
come, but it, nice to think what we would
do il it should comc-i>n't il ~
Wed buy Il great wIite housr, like
thi--woul int we, Sweciie!' -
$40, Willie. Id rather buy that nice
little store ever by the cAurch, that's
been shut up SO long, AMI has FOR SALE
on the door. I'd furnish it all nice, and
Till the shelves with beautiful goods, and
trimmings for lalies' dresses, AMI lovely
toys. 1t shows 50 far that everybody
would ho eur, to buy th,ir Christmas
things there. lis Just the dearest little
place, with two cosy rooms back of the
shop, and three overhead and I'd put
flour and sugar, and tea and coti,c, and
all SORTS of goodies, in the kitchen cup
board. and new clothes for all of us in
the closets up stairs. Then I'd kindle n
fire, and light the lamps, and lock the
dor, and 90 back to the drciry old gar
ret once morc-poor m)thcr would be
sitting there, sad and sober, as she always
is now, and | would say to her, Come,
mother. before YOU Light the candle, Jrn-
ME and | wan; you to 20 with US, and
Iook at;,hc lovely Christmas gifts in the
shop windows Then she'd say, sorrow-
fully. i don't want to see them, dear
caH't buy any of them for you, and |
don't want to look ut them. But I'd
tease her till made her go and I'd
I l. I I Il
it beforehand, to lock up the dismll old
room, and bring all the rest of vou over
to the new houSr. You'd get there long
before we did, ana the light would be
streaming out from the little shop win
dows-O. so bright Mother I'd say,
lets % in here and buy the cotton you
wanted and when | @, her in, I'd shut
the door quick, and dance up and down,
and say, Dear mother. Swcciie's ships
come in, and brought you this rev home
and every rything comfortable; and Swectie
will tend the shop, anl you needn't sew
any more day and night, for it's going to
be a Merry Christmas and a Happy
New Year for us-evcrv onc,' Harry
and all of you would shout, and our dear
mother would cry for joy"
"Will it come to pass soon, Swectie ;"
asked both the boys at onca.
Not very, I'm afraid" answered
Swcetic, in Il subducd tone; but when
she saw their look of disappointment, she
frightened up i'll a moment, and added,
"It'll he all the better, when it does come,
for waiting 50 long-but look here. To-
night is Christmas Eve, and we've got
coal enough here to make splendid fire.
We won't light it till dark, and then it
will last Us all the evening. And I've
got great secret TO tell you: Harry
made Il whole dollar yesterday, and our
mother is going to give us each three big
slices of fried mush, and bread besides,
for supper; and, after supper, I'll tell
you the prctticst story you ever heard,
and we'll sing every song we know, and
| guess We'll have a merry Christmas if
nobody else does
Il wish it was Christmas all the time,' -
said Freddy, family.
"Chri>s was born that day." said
Swcctic, softly, land that makes it best
of all"
YES" said Willie "Hihe dear Lord
who came from Heaven, and for our sakes
became poor, and had not where to lay
his head, not even garret rs good as
OURS"
Il know" said Freddie ''he was
born in manger, and a beautiful st II
shincd over it | can sing hymn about
it."
Then they picked up their bag, and
started for home, CAV as larks over the