The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1874-12-23

sturdy StOuI-ncafteQ little cHap, VINO nelpeu
to buy bread with the papers he sold and the
boots he blacked, for Andy was never idle.
Horace came next he was only twelve. but
his little broom aud his clever wsys added
many a cent to the scanty sum in the family
pocket. Then there were three others
young ones to be sure--but assuch are seldom
favored with the formality Of an introduction,
wish to depart from the custom Of sighting
the least, and remark that their names were
respectively Peter, Sarah and Vic. They
were all together this night, oil but Andy he
had not yet returned, though it was getting
quite l,,te, and the candlew was already half
burned.
1"Oh, sech things as I seed to-day, Johnnie,
in the windys, me am young Scrouty,'' said
Horace. "oh, sech piles an piles o things y
Then johnnie turned over on his side, and all
the members ofthe Mentz family fell to listen
ingto Horace who had perched himself on
the bed beside the. cripple, g There was
sleds, continued the boy, ssall yeller an rcd;
the shiniest runners, an the quickest time in
'em | know There was skates--whole
crowds on EN-; they'd iitiittle Peter here, or
any Of us, or me" and perhaps Horace gave
sigh here, and little Peters eyes grew very
large. Then there was trees>-reai uns--
chock full of shining things, an toys, an
dolls, and Noah's arks, an candy horns an
there was cakes there as big as--as--an ash
SITTER every. Bit an all white and crusty
like"
Little Peter licked his chops very like lit
tie dog, and Sarah and Vic swallowed several
times very fast. "And, oh, the oranges-as
big as Vic's head, and as round and as yell
ly I"
can ath thweet?" lisped the pet and
thensthe Mentzes laughed. Ia
AN the fathers would 50 In an pick out
the very best thingsof all for their httleiboys,
an pull out great bills, an never wink once
as they give en- over. An the mothers would
look as smly as ourn, and git the biggest
dolls in the lot ~ here Sarah and Vie pricked
up their ears, while Horace rolledup his eyes,
and looked purposely very sober, added, "but
III be blamed if | can see what dolls are good
fore you can't skate with 'em or eat 'em -
and then he paused iof tue exciamallohs Oh
reproaeh to spbside in the direction ofshis
two sisters. Then he looked queer, as though
trying not to laugh, and said Scrouty had re-
marked, .if dolls was. fonr.bladed knives
they'd be worth talkin' about
Never mind dears," said Mrs. Mentz to
her little daughters "you must remember
Horace and Willie Scrout are boys go onmy
son, we all want to hear
s'There was books.--oh, Johnnie
"Nevcr mind, said JeEnnie, itliltle paler
than usual.
"Oh, but they was so splendid, and Scronty
said the inside o. one o. them books would
take the ache an the cold MI cut of n Teller a
readin' of it, an when saw everyone agoin
in an jest buyin' everythin', as tho twas
nothin' at all, thought what bully stuff mon
ey was, and
Horace stopped his throat clicked, and he
could say no more Then allthe little Meniz
family grew very still, and Johnnie stroked
Horace's hot head with bis.white fingers. i
"If we could only have one Merry Christ
mas, jest 30 see how it seem, said little Peter,
looking down at his bare toes.
There is one precious Gift that money can
not buy said Mrs. Mentz, whose face in SYM
pathy with her children, had been momentar-
ily shaded. bat now shone forth with unusual
radiance, "an all this rejoicin' and presentn'
is because o this Gift. God knows we would
celebrate the bestowin' o His dear Son to MS,
if the power to do it was ourn but it amt.