Connecticut western news., 1872-12-27
THE HERMIT,S STOCKING.
A MERRY CHRISTMAS STORY.

It was cold almost anywhere in the woods, but it was particularly unpleasant down by the hermit's cave. The icy brook was there, for one thing, and there seemed alwaS to be draught through the little valley. But the hermit sat in a patch of wintry afternoon sunshine that lay on the brown grass like sprinkling ol frozen cream, and read out of heavy old book. lie shivered in all his bones and was far from happy. Then through the woods there came Q child, n bright and bounding boy, gathering long wreaths of ground-ivY, and the branches of the rco-bellie1 holly.
 70. 'boy! the hermit cried, shutting up his book with bang. "What are you going to do with all those stickery leaves ?"
 The boy stopped and laid down his bundle of evergreens. "Why, don't you know ?' said he. "These are for Christmas. They are to go over the big parlor door, which is to be opened to- night when the Christmas-tree is all ready. Isn't it splendid thing to think that to-morrow'll be Christmas ?'' "Yes," said the hermit, tscertainly, certainly. But, somehow or other, am never very happy on Christmas. For one thing, it seems to me that 1t s al- ways the coldest day in the year."
 And if you eat water-crasses, just the same as other days" said the boy. cit must make you feel very cold indeed" e Water-cressesf' exclaimed the her init, '' we don't have them in winter" "OhP' said the boy. "I thoNght9per- haps there were sore evergreen kinds. But," he added, looking into the her mit's eyes, "you don't seem to think much about Christmas. Were you born hermit ?'
 A cold smile, like crack in the ice, 1 bread over the helmit's face as he re- piled, "Wby, child, I have the greatest regard for Christmas, but don't keep it in your way" E s zs s
 ''So I should think" said the boy. S" You couldn't have very good Christ mas, in cold hole in hill It may be a very good hole, but it don't seem to me that it would do very we'll for Christmas. Do you ever hang up your stocking ?"
 The hermit laughed. It was the first time he had laughed in eighteen months.
 Hang up my stocking! You must Dc crazy, child"
 | "Ob! no, I'm not" cwied the boy. "And believe that if you would hang up your stocking you'd be ever so much happier of a Christmas. And if Santa Claus did not put an apple in first, you'd find it just splendid!'
 ''An apple ill first ?" exclaimed the hermit.
 "Yes,' said the boy, "that's always the very worst thing that can happen. for then the apple sticks fast before 1t gets down very far, and there isn't much room for the other thlRgs. But guess, '' said he, glancing down at the hermit feet, that an apple wouldn't stick fast in your stocking until 1t got down to the very toe."
 e. II they were going to put in any thing of that sort," said the hermit thoushtfully, "I think l should perfel potatoes.
 |" Ha! ha! hap laughed the boy "Who ever heard of potatoes in ( Christmas stocking? But must hurry home, for they're waiting for these greens.'
 cts not late," said the hermit, witE a weary look at his big book. ''Mus you go so soon ?''
 "Oh yes," said the boy. "I car stay no longer now. But I will com, and see you to morrow, if you will pro mise me to hang up your stocking to night
 "Very well," said the hermit. "''l hang it up." And then through th woods, with his trailing load of greer leaves and glancing berries, went tn happy boy.
 The hermit always kept his promises If he had promised the meanest cat t. meet her at Michaelmas, on tue top vf hill forty miles away, Michaelmas woul' have found him there, whether tn meanest cat came or not. So, that nigh he hung up bis stocking on tree. H was stout man, and his woolen stock ings, which came up over his knees were larger than those we generally SC in the shops.
 eff they will fill that with potatoes, said the hermit to himself, "they will d we'll"
 Late that night a poor wood. cutie was hurrying home through the forest The 'n was shining brightly throug the tr' e., and he was still far from hi home, when by the side of the path | saw basket. Stopping down he lifte up the lid, and there was little bit ( baby, ot hardly any age at all. Tn ---.oL @1 --.Il =