The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-12-07
A MERRY CHRISTMAS.
" EMILY HUNTINGTON MILLER.

by EMILY HQNllNtIONt
Ted and Matte had finished their work.
1t was hard, cold work, dragging dead
wood on the old broken hand sled, clear
from Deacon Turner's wood lot to the lit
tie tumble-down log house by the four cor
ners. But the children did not mind the
cold, or the work either they were so glad
to have plenty Of wood to fill up the great
yawning Fireplace, and keep the frost from
curdiing the air in the one room, and pinch
ing the baby's fingers and toes as she sat in
her cradle.
Thore," said Ted, taking off his nit
tens to blow his cold, red fingers, "if we
don't have anything else for Christmas
we've got lots Of wood, and mean to fill
the old Fireplace chock full tomorrow.
81 wish we did have something else,
though" said Matte, grayely, something
nice for mother and the baby but you
must not speak about it, Ted, not before
mother, because it makes her feel bad.o
"I've got something Tor baby" said
Ted, mysteriously. "Miss Spriggins gave
1t to me when l took her work home yes
terday," and he drew from his pocket u
little round block on which ribbon had
been rolled. 1t was papered ON the ends
with pink paper, and both Ted and Matte
admired it very much.
Show pleased she'll be,u said Matte.
"Are you going to hang up your stocking,
Ted?n
sCourse am" said Ted. "Something
might happen, you know and anyhow
like to pretend I'm expecting lots of
things"
The two children went into the house,
where their mother was sewing by the
last light Of the short winter day, while
the baby sat in her cradle playing with
string Of spools. The mother was pale
and thin, and looked, oh! 30 sad and
tired; but the baby was as fat, and
round, and rosy as a nice plump apple,
and DIDN'T look as if she knew anything
about the hard times that had come to
the little log house when the father died,
just about the time she first opened her
wondering eyes on the world.
The wood is all In the shed, mother,o,
said Matte, nice big pile Of it; and
when that is gone, Deacon Turner is going
to draw us load himself; he said SO this
afternoon"
'.And to-mo,row'll be Christmas"
said Ted, s'and 'spose I'd better catch
tudt TURKEY UelUfc udIk.
The mother smiled at merry Ted, and
Matte drew out the small table and spread
their simple supper Of brown bread and
milk. The children ate with hearty appe-
tites and though they sometimes felt
little dissatisfied with their plain fare, yet
the milk was sweet and rich, and the bread
wholesome, so they were in no danger OF
suffering.
After supper the lamr was lighted, the
small room made as neat os could be, fresh
wood heaped upon the fire, and after
frolic with baby, Ted and Matte crept up
the ladder to their bed in the loft, while
their mother sat down again to her sewing.
she had sad thoughts for company, that
Christmas eve, and she sighed good deal
as she piled her needle, glancing sometimes
at the rosy baby in her cradle, and some-
times Mt the three little stockings hanging
there by the chimney. They were good
deal worn, those little stockings, and Mat
ties careful fingers had darned them here
and there. Dear, patient. helpful little
fingers-how ready they had been to take
up the burden of }ife-how the mothers
heart longed to fill them with good gifts
this blessed Christmas; but, alas she had
nothing to give. She was not even so rich
as little Ted, who had squeezed his pre-
cious block into the haby's stocking and
gone to bed happy. It was almost mid
night before the work was finished, and
already the baby was stirring unea,sily in
the cradle, and once or twice the mothers
heart was startled into a quick throb of
terror at hearing her hoarse, threatening
cough.
ssDear heart" said the mother, anxious
ly, running to the cradle, ''if she should
have the Group again and not thing in
the house to give her ~
Half an hour more, and the little crea-
ture was gasping and struggling, with dark
rings about her pretty blue eyes, and an
ashy Wilderness around her mouth.
Run for the doctor, Mattie," called the
mother, and Matte never stopped to think
of the night or the cold, as she tied on the
old blue hood, and wrapped herself in her
thin worn shawl, and battered away down
the lonesome road. just as the clock struck
twelve. dare say the doctor was tired
and sleepy, and do suppose that doctors
need rest as much as other mortals; but
Matte never would have guessed, by any
word or look of DR.. ABhley's, that it was
not the most delightful thing in the world
TO him to get up at midnight and go half
q mile to see sick baby, with no earthly
prospect of any fee. / said no earthly
prospect, bat make no doubt that good
many of Doctor Ashley's bill were Kept
safely for settlement by and by, when the
great Paymaster up in Heavens calls His
stewards 10 account.
Hadn't you some simple thing to give
her.? said the doctor, examining the
baby.
"Nothing. doctor,u said the mother,
sadly.
"No sweet oil, butter. molasses? Even
lard would have DONE"
Nothing, doctor,o said the mother
again, her lip quivering little now no
butter, molasses, or even lard.o
. The doctor bent pitiful face over the
Baby, and he gave his directions in a low
voice but he stayed patiently by her until
ne saw the difficult breathing relieved at
last; and the little creature sleeping safely
in her cradle. He had found time to note
the three empty stockings by the chimney
before he went and he rightly guessed that
in house SO poor there was nothing to fill