Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1874-12-18


the Child, with smile; you ought to be
glad Of that. I Iam--only wish there were
morei" ~, "
'sWell, I'm sure would like to make one
more" cried the shoemaker; "but | can't do
anything particular to show it. You can't
stay with me all the time; and if you could, |
don't see what | could do to prove that I
loved you by making you any happier"
At this. to his amazement, the wondrous
Child threw both arms around his neck, and
nesting close on his knee and to his breast
whispered. "Prove that you love me by max
ing everybody happier" Then it slipped
away swiftly and noiselessly, and Old Pegs
scarcely knew it was gone, for he felt still on
his neck the clinging arms, and In. his heart
strange new warmth which never went away
again. While he yet sat there, motionless, the
door opened and in rushed the boy.
"Look here, Uncle Downstairs, see what
have gotl Don't yon think that lady must
he an an oal9 Such h,lliSs @tcsi we Couldn't
Afford I'd 'em in our family, yo1 know. always
had to slide"
"What, barefoot ?" said Old Pegs, with a
jolly laugh. Egt
"Why, YES" replied the boy, "three good
slides and then run in the house and warm
your feet. You see winter is good deal
better than summer; because when you are
hot you can't get cool to save your life; but
when you are cold all you have got to do is
to wait till you get chance and then warm
yourself! But | sha'n't have any cold feet
now, you know. Look here, Uncle Down.
stairs, wish you'd let me do something for
you. Now, tell you what; I'll give you
your choice. It's great fun to have your
choice, know by experience! SO you just
listen and take plenty of time and make up
up your mind. rll sell you the newspaper
every day at half-price CHATS just what it
costs me) or I'll run errands for you for
otl, lyo
That's the best of all, think. The carpen-
ter says could make anything if only had
the TOOLS By George, wish I could make
shoes"
Old Pegs looked at the eager boy for mo-
ment and then spoke with an odd trembling
in his voice Il don't think it was age that
caused it; for he was looking ten years
younger than usuaD: "Well, youngster, |
take my choice and III tell youAwhat it is. 1
choose to have you live with me and go to
school every day; and while you \are out of
school I'll teach you to make shoes. How
does that ftp"
For one second the boys face fairlylblazed
with happiness; then it fell, and he said firm
ly: 81 couldn't break up the family, sir.
There's only my little sister and |, She's our
little housekeeper and Pm the head of the
house. couldn't leave her. You must choose
something else. But / forgotZthe lady's
compliments, and she would be pleased to
have your company in her parlor.'
So they postponed their talk and went up,
stairs 1t was getting dark and the maid had
closed the shutters and brilliantly Illuminated
the rooms with wax candles. The musician
was there in swallow tailed coat and a white
vest and white cravat-the dress he used to
wear when he played at evening parties: The
lady looked happy even when her eyes fell on
the portraits of her husband and child, from
which the Grape had been taken away; for
hair, foo tn mil
say, "This is as we would have it. Keep our
memory fresh and green, not dark and dead"
Then the musician took his violin, and
somehow, in spite of himself, began to play
CHEEKY old tunes-tunes that the critics don't
praise but that people sing and hum and
fore long the lady, who knew them all very
well, stole to the piano and opened it and
struck in with a lively accompaniment.
They nodded their heads to keep the
time correct, and once the musician, forget
ting himself. called out Ladies' change! to
everybody's amusement; Unfortunately an tnere
were not enough people to get up dance,
for the little girl was lame and the shoemaker
was too creaky in the joints, though he kept
time vigorously with his toes and pounded on
his knee as if it were lap-stone. But the
boy delighted them with most remarkable
double-shuff1e, in the course OF which he
managed to wave his new shoes frequently
before the company and rap the new heels to-
gether three times during single jump, and
at last the lady played alone, while the musl-
clan danced with the maid, who had been en-
jeying other peoples pleasure all day and
certainly deserved some attention on her own
account.
lures and telling stories. Everybody had to
tell story about a picture, and wish L mad
time to repeat them, especially that OF the
boy, who found an engraving of tight with
lions and provided it with a thrilling narra-
tive, promise you; and the story OF the
musician, who selected a picture of Little
Dorrit and made the loveliest talk on the sub
ect, though the youngest persons in the COM
pany could not quite understand what he was
driving at.
When it was time to part the lady said /:
"My friends, hope we shall never be stran-
gers again. For my part | am ashamed that
have been so selfish and reserved hitherto;
and mean to make amends. For my dear
child who is dead shall take this little girl
to live with me, and hope to make her happy
"Hooray!" shouted the boy. "Tlen can
live with Uncle Downstairs. We've all had
our choice!"
eyes, and knew how the wind lay. Iheres 5
Uncle Upstairs yonder hasn't hao ms cnolce
yet"
"Well," said the boy, "he shall have 1t II
any of us can give it to him; shan't ne, SIS
ter% But you can take your time, uncle
Upstairs"
At this startling speech the little maid
(who had long admired the musician In Sc
cret) grew quite scarlet and the musician
(who admired the little maid now quite open
ly, and didn't care who knew it) checked
himself in what he was going to say, and
merely remarked that he had made his
choice, but he would say no more about 1t
until he found out whether he could get what
he wanted; but he certainly shouldn't take any
more time than was necessary. And there
upon he offered to see the young folks safely
home.
An instant before the party broke up the
shining Child appeared once more in the
midst of them, and looked well pleased from
one glad face to another. Then it vanished
saving as it went:
"The ioy will not stop with to-day; for a
Merry Christmas makes Happy New Year y
/ was going to say the Child never returned
again; but it would be more cor
rect to say it never fairly departed
for in homes and hearts the sense
of its presence remained perpetual, and
where once was heavy toll and thoughtle>
grief and useless discomfort tnere was now
music, and Joy, and love and healthful life
up-stairs. downstairs and in my lady's cham
ber.
o dear Child-spirit of the Christmas tide
Wilt thou not come to us likewises
The New York Journal Of Commerce
has the following: We desire to call the
attention of underwriters to a new
material used for martingale rings, knife
handles. combs. etc., which we are in