Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-01-01
A Christmas Story.
wnAr M sroRM BRouGnr.
ny JAMES L. BOWEN.

WHAT THE STORM BROUGHT
BY JAMES L. BOWEN.
1t was the day before Christmas, not
many years ago. Since morning the snow
had been steadily falling, and now the
hitherto bare aud frozen earth was wrap
ped in pale mantle, and the driving fakes
swept before the face Of nature like a bridal
veil. Highway and field wood meadow
and buildings, all seemed to have lost their
distinctive features As evening came on,
the wind seemed to awaken, so that now
and then a little gust caught up the freshly
fallen snow, aud whirled it through the air
as though 10 sport 1t was growing colder,
too, and the snow was losing its feecy ap-
pearance, as the flakes became harder aud
more yengelul.
Ralph Somerville stood beside his sitting
room window and looked out upon the gath
ering gloom for some minutes. He noticed
the windows as they shook, and felt the cold
air pressing in the well-ftting easements.
But it was warm and cheerful within, and
be turned toward the cozy wood fire with a
careless exclamation.
There1l not be much walking for pleas
uro tonight, Sue"
1t was his wife to whom he spoke, and
she instinctively shuddered as she returned:
" I'm sorry you must 60 to the village, to-
night. | guess johnnie wouldn't feel very
bad if you didn't
The bright boy Of four summers, who
was busy with a primer near his parents,
looked up, but his countenance fell at the
mothers words.
"Of course he would" the father re-
piled. "Such little fellows know but two
holidays during the year, and he has been
looking for Santa Claus ever since the
Fourth Of July. But | shall be back early
the little boy must be in bed and asleep,
and in the morning we shall seel -
The last portion of the sentence was de-
livercd to johnnie, whose face frightened
at the words, and who exclaimed in childish
anticipation "If I'm a good boy, papa
don't you think Santa Claus will bring me
something nice ?"
"Yes, Of course he will, little boy. Sc
you must sleep heartily and wake up early
Half an hour later Mr.. Somerville drew
on his overcoat, and took his hat, while
Susan wound scarf very carefully abou
nis necA' HeI s.,."s H,,u .onu PAN e
it is so very clustering shall feel anxious
about you
fla, ha - the husband laughed, for b,
Justly prided himself not a little upon hi
nuo Anu %c'i''o,i'u 'iiu90u'n, plnSn'
snOu'u tuluN y0I "Ou'ci ,J0' - y
my o'ISIus 1"Iy IL ~ y 80 . 1.. i. ~ 7
.o's' pu' 'lIu Nv @INIu' - . ";o'9eD' 'a'e' ~
III ouaus'u 'Vn'' NuCw - - iuoa
unploAsan' "'gn,' uuu {ou u po ioueson sun
mere atone l !, oC.ie p1OH cary VI Iu E
account "oulun - uoMu 'o'u'su', % ~
IOnnn'e mas sS' us ueal' on SO,n0'n'us ~
Nur'S.'nus, auo nc Houruu .c lo1i oou'eu''
II VIII p'ease n'ui' 'a0 ~''o iesu'lou
auu 'Hon, 40 " nI.0e. eus' " "ln1 - ~
'he mouse 70 , oreaA' ''eu ~ I've s'lehs'n sn ~
Prosseu neI "uspauu ''os''9 ~ no' !. "a ~
nO'nuu', % .nvuu ~ t1 shI'''' T,n IN ~ ~
an eSr'uIy s'ol'iS s anu nuu s'Ouoi1' uI 49, nen y"
Goor opcneu anu o'o'eu' anu ~ niYu,eu n.'
haiPns lpo''Aiis hau ni'is'ou VII" ""N u'''
i away III 'ue s'o'"'
, johnnie was put IN his little bed the LEI
preparations which iorethought suggeste
Tor the morning meal were maue' ana 'he
Susan, with late magazine, sat down t
pass the hour or two which she expecte
would transpire before her husband 5 return
Ralph Someryllle was young iarmel
who by hard labor and prudence had a
ready secured comfortable homestea
= free from all unpleasant encum orance
where he lived very happily with MS Ion
wife and promising little boy. Their hom
was about mile from the village oil F.
= somewhere IN New England ana 1t was
= this village that Ralph had now gone, t
procure some household stores and ais
> such articles Tor the morning as might Dc
. light the little boy and rejoice the iovln
heart of the wife and mother Ralph wa
> in most respects an exemplary young mar
I iie WORKED wen anu lAl'n'ul'y' , cultivate m
I nus nlnu 'u less"'1 ii1'nou's' loseu au
y honoreu us VIC uo'eu upon us poy' uu
q was kinu 10 all win whoh nc oan1 ln Col w
' tac, inese aunl'rs9le s srA''s 9' Inarao'' w
inaue nun many irleuus' anu 'n,s tn ye'
q iriehusniP soue'ihos 'naue n,u "ouo'
I he was aruen''y socia.' ooulu 'e,, a goo
g story ana Iaugu al JOKE WIN al 'no 20 20
9 Oh 'ne pest anu as ooIsegaenoe s' MS @ soo
!. ety was sought; ovine'ilneS Muen ulnon
e ms associates haipn uraaN 700 lreeiy
.hGt cup wnlch cneers ana uoes inenrla' ~
n Like every ',uo'aeAr'eu nao' nc was u
II ways ashamed ana sorry "nen 'no 'niso"i' =
v was uone' a1a maue many rgso''ss s '"a' :
II never would transRress aga'n pu' som SOM
: now tnese resolutions nSu a way q. Del, pciu
a iorgotep' ana nc wou'u ge' in'o 'rouo
A IRON TWO TO nan a uo]en times III inc yea
o % II was hara,y s.rAuge' Un 'nls nlg'