The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1875-12-23
A MERRY CHRISTMAS.
BY KATE SUTHERLAND.

BY KATE SUTHERLAND.
"I don't think it worth while at ALL
said Mrs. Lamberton. "It's great waste
of money, and, besides, does them no real
good"
every true" remarked Mr.. Lamber
ton. Thousands of dollars are spent al
Christmas for one trumpery thing and
another that might be far more usefully
employed. never liked the system. II
does children, as you say, no good"
"How much did we spend on last
Christmas for drums, horses. and dogs,
and the dear knows what allr
ooh, don't ask mel More than I'd
like to count up. And it was all sheer
waste. If the money had been given to
the poor, there would have been some
satisfaction in thinking about it. But
now there is none." ia
"Well, Pm not in favor of spending
a single cent for toys and such like
things"
"Give them all fifty cents or so apiece
and they'll be happy enough" said the
father; "and then we'll have no crying
over broken dolls heads, crippled wagons,
or legless horses"
"Harry will be dreadfully disap-
pointed, Pm afraid" remarked the
mother, already half relenting. "He
has done little else all day but talk about
what Kriss Kringle will put in his stock
ing tonight. And Anna will cry her
eyes out if she doesn't get new doll" !"
GA little crying isn't going to hurt
them; and I'll guarantee to dry all tears
with a half dollar"
Uncle Joseph and Aunt Rachel were
silent auditors of this little conversation.
Just then the lights were brought into
the room, and Annie, Harry and Charlie
came bounding in with them as wild and
playful as young fawns. They had been
looking forward to Christmas for l can't
tell how long, and now that it was only
one day off they could hardly contain
themselves.
ooh, papa, to morrow's Christmas!"
cried Charley, climbing upon his knee.
"To morrow's Christmas! And won't
Kriss Kringle bring me the nice things?
I want a horse, and a sword, and a
wheelbarrow, and whole heap of sugar
plums."
"Pm afraid Kriss won't come this
year." returned Mr.. LambertOn, wishing
to take the edge off of Charley's disap-
pointment.
"Oh, yes, he will" spoke up Anna
and Harry, quickly. "And he'll bring
me-" said the latter, ga gun, and a
sword; and then won't / fight the Mex
icans2 Bang! boom bangp
"And he'll bring me the dearest wax
DOLL! said Anna, " with curly hair, and
eyes that open and shut just as if it was
alive! Oh, won't it be nicer.
"Don't be too certain, Anna," said the
father; "Kriss Kringle don't come every
year." ..
"Oh, yes, he does! Yes, he does! I"
answered two or three little voices at
once. "He came last Christmas, and
the Christmas before" added Anna, "and
he'll be here this year; know he will"
"But suppose he shouldn't come 2"
suggested Mr.. Lamberton, and he looked
very grave.
There was something SO serious in
their fathers voice that the children felt
that his words really meant more than
they had at first believed, and their
faces became sober also. Just then the
tea-bell rung, and all thoughts of toys
and dolls were for the moment dissipated.
After supper the children were washed
and dressed i'm their niphtclethes. Each
hung stocking in the chimney-corner,
ready for the advent of the good genius
who loves children, and then yielded to
the oft-repeated solicitation of Mar
garet, the nurse, to "come along and go
to bed"
"I must say my prayers irst," lisped
dear little Charley, running up to his
mother and kneeling down before her.
"Our Father" said the mother, in a
low, serious voice.
Wont Kriss fill my stockings full,
motherT
"But you are saying your prayers now.
You mustn't think of toys, Charley. Our
Father"
"Our Father" came musically from
the sweet lips of the child.
"Who art in Heaven"
"Oh, I hope he'll bring me whole
pile of wagons, and dogs, and horses p'
And Charley clapped his hands with de-
light; -. .,,.,
about toys now. Who art in Heaven"
"Our Father, who art in Heaven"
softly murmured the child.
Hallowed be Thy"
won't good old Krissy come, mo-
therT'
Charley must say his prayers good
If he wants the dear angels to stay with
him while he is asleep. Come, love,
now don't think any more about toys
and sugar-plums. Hallowed be Thy
naIne."
But 1t was no use. Charley couldn't
say his prayers. His head was too full
of Christmas. Harry met with but little
better success; and Anna, after she had
been in bed five Minutes, remembered
her neglect on this score, and kneelinp
under the clothes piously lifted heI
thoughts to Heaven.
Ere this scene closed Mr.. Lambertor
had half repented his resolution, and the
mother of these three dear little ones fell
her heart almost too weak to carry ou'
her purpose.
"f declare" said the former, "Pm
afraid It will be felt as too serious dis
appointment"
"And 10 am !, ;" returned the latter.
at IL such a useless waste Of money
"I know il is"
Besides, 1t does children no real good
in fact, as far as my observation goes, L