Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1873-12-26

self.
Christmas day coming at the end of the
week he received his wages upon leaving
work Oh Christmas eve. There it lay, a
goodly heap of silver, in one of the pockets
of his trowsers. What should heedo with
it ? AS he asked himself that question, a
great conflict between selfshness and self
ton of the society to which he had PROM
ised himself that night urged him on the
one hand, the expectations Of his children,
SO pitifully expressed, and with such child
like confidence, drew him on the other hand.
In the midst of his conflict he came to
brilliantly set out toy shop. What did he
care for the sight Of gaily-laden Christ
mas trees, chubby wax dolls, wooden
horses, woody lambs, drums, and carts,
and boxes Of toys And yet he stood gaz-
ing, quite oblivlous of the keen, frosty
wind that was blowing i'll his face. The
fact was he was gazing with his children's
eyes, so to speak, and every toy seemed a
treasure to be earnestly coveted. All, if
Maggie could see them Surely the Queen
had never sent better to Great Ormond
street to gladden. little eyes and hearts.
sWell, which is it to be-lnyself or the
children % heasked himself, unconscious
ly thrusting his hand into his pocket, to
feel the silver there, and us he stood gaz-
ing still, he thought, IF don't go there
tonight I shall be looked upon rs a shabby
sheep for backing out of the expense of the
supper and the treating; and it Won't be
pleasant to meet 'em all afterwards. And
then it would be treat-tle beef and the
sort at home A fellow that works hard
all the year round ought to have a bit of
a treat now and then. If don't 60 know
shall feel sort of shame-faced in meeting
'em all again. Then said voice within
him, God speaking through his conscience
to his soul. 'Why should you ever go with
them again? Why should you be one of
them In times gone by did you not learn
to distinguish between good and evil, and
were you not taught to choose the one and
hate the other? Is it becoming of you
you, the husband of an over-worked, ill-fed
wife, and the father of neglected children
to be wasting your substance in riOtous
doings? If you have your treat, what will
suffer deeply for it if you are self-denying
you will afford them happiness to which
they have hitherto been strangers" So he
unused in the cold night air. es..t
All, the crowds of hurrying paSserS-by
little knew, even if they noticed the work
ing man looking in at the toy shop at all,
that that spot was an arena in which good
and evil were struggling for mastery over
an immortal soul-that it was a spot on
which God and angels looked down with
interest-that the decision arrived at there
might affect the entire future temporal
and eternal welfare of that man and his
family. Such mighty issues often depend
on trivial circumstances. He had been
looking down during his last bit ofreverie.
Now he looked again at the display in the
vriu1om apd ouain the OnAStjOn arose
myself or the children ?" Another short
reverie. and then his face became lighted
up with beautiful father-love and pity, so
that it was easy to see for whom he had
decided.
He walked firmly into the shop. Iflittle
Tom and Jack could only have been there
how they would have lifted up their voices
in loud hurrah.
When he came out again his tool bag was
crammed with medley of fairylike treas
ures that might we'll have made the prosy
old tools .uddle themselves together in one
corner, quite COMPOUNDED. Never before
had they found themselves in such society.
A snow white lamb nestled costly against
a fierce pair of pincers; a wooden horse
stared defantly down amongst gimlets and
brad-aWls, and tweezers; boxes of toys
scorned to notice the tools on which they
rested, some of which they had been IA
miliar with when being manufacturers
Tops and balls made themselves comforta-
BILE amongst small heaps of sharp-pOinted
nails. and a delicate wax doll laid her cheek
confidingly against a saw which protruded
out of the basket. s.lf.5. ise.e
Never before had Stephen Gregson car
ried his bag home SO carefully or SO laden
with precious spoil; and never before, /
may safely add, did a working.man trudge
home to his wife and little ones with such
a happy heart and joyous step.
There is nothing, my friends, among
earthly delights to transcend the joy of
trying to make home happy and to cheer
those we love and those who love us. And
what is more easy to do Kind words,
gentle, thoughtful deeds, loving smiles,
wlic we are often so lavish in dispensing
out of doors-let these be INDUCED in to
the full at home, and the thing is done.
Home becomes bright with perpetual sun
shine, our joy is increased through the
10y of those we love. This may involve
self-sacrifice, but what is there so elevating
to our character and so pleasure giving to
our own hearts as Self-Sacrifice for the
good of others ?
When Stephen arrived at home at tea
time that Christmas eve, Of course nothing
was expected of him. He looked round
KluQly dI tilG lluClG Ollo5, DIS lie Ildu uOu6
the evening before, but he did not take his
bag from his shoulder as usual. His wife
moving about getting tea. perceived a Wis.,
ion Of wax and lace in one end OF the bag,
and wondered greatly,
"Why don't you put your bag down ?"
asked little Jack.
ssWould you like to know why?" asked
the father, with meaning smile, at which
four pairs of eyes were suddenly raised to
him, as wide open as they could be.
sYou've got something, know dad, !"
said Maggie.
s'Have +? Then I suppose you must see
what it is,'' he replied, lowering his bag to
the ground with us much straining and eff
fort as if it were as heavy as a sack OF
flour.
Then there was such a flourish of voices
and clapping of hands as might have made
the entire dingy old court ring again.
:sBless the children you'll frighten Bob
into fits!'' exclaimed the mother, when she
could make herself heard. But baby seemed
more inclined for fit of delight when his
father put into his little hands a puffy
white lamb, On a stand with four wheels.
How he croWed and shouted over his treas
ure.
AS for the other children, Bessie could
scarcely believe her own eyes. Maggie was
trembling with happy excitement, and the
little boys were lost in admiration OF tops,
balls, and the other wonderful things pro-
duced from fathers bag.
ssIt's a dreadful piece of extravaganza
for such folks as us, you'll say wife, re-
marked Stephen, as he watched his happy
children rejoicing over such treasures as
they had never possessed before; but if I
had spent the money, instead of this way
by having jollifcatiou at old Stills tav-
ern tonight, as l intended to do, l shouldn't
have thought it a bit Of extravaganza nor
have I thought it extravaganza to spend
many and many pound of good money
there. for whcllI got nothing worth.
s.Oh,'' said Maggie, under her breath,
tt,oo ,r,bot God has sent uS bAc9uSA we