Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-12-22

10 the mothers knee aud rcpeats the ques-
ton, " Shan / we have a Christmas, mother p
II overcomes the poor woman she leans
forward and breaks into sobbing-a tempest
Of sorrow, long suppressed, that shakes her
weak frame as she thinks that her husband
is out Of work, desperate, discouraged and
tempted Of the devil, that the rent is falling
due, and only the poor pay Of her needle TO
meet II with. In one Of those quick flashes
which concentrate through the Imagination
the sorrows of years, she seems 10 see her
little home broken up, her husband in the
gutter, her children turned into the street.
At this moment there goes up from her de
spairing heart n cry, such as poor hunted,
tired-out creature gives when brought TO the
last gasp of endurance. II was like the
shrek Of the hare when the hounds are upon
It. She clasps her hands and cries out. o
my God, help met
There was no voice Of any that answered
there was no sound Of football on the stair
case no Que entered the door and yet that
agonized cry reached the heart il was meant
for. The Shining Ones were with her they
stood, with faces full Of tenderness, beamng
down upon her they brought her a Christ
mas gift from Christine gift OF trust. She
knew not from whence came the courage
aud rest that entered her soul but, while
her little ones stood wondering and silent,
she turned aud drew 10 herself her we'll
worn Bible. Hands that she did not see
guided her as she turned the pages, and
pointed to the words he shall deirer he needy
'ohen he crieh he poor aiso, and him thai
hath no helper. lie shall spare the poor and
needy, and shall sare The souls Of The needy.
lie shall redeem their soM from deceit and rio
ie1ce, and precious shall be nev biood IN nj,
sight
She laid her poor wan check on the morci.
ful old book, as on her mothers breast, and
gave up all the tangled sken of life into the
hands Of Infinite Pity. There seemed con
soling presence in tha room, aud her tired
heart found rest
She wiped away her tears, kissed her chill
dren, aud smiled upon them. Then she rose,
gathered up her finished work, and attired
herself 10 70 forth and carry it back to the
shop.
"Mother," said the children, softly, " they
are dressing the church, aud the gates are
open, and people are going in and out ;
mayn't we play there by the church p'
" Yes, my little birds You may play there
If you'll be very good and quiet"
The mother had only her small, close at
tic room for her darlings, aud to satisfy all
their childish desire for variety and motion,
she had ouly the refuge OF the streets. She
was decent, godly woman, and the bold
manners aud evil words Of street vagrants
were terrible TO her aud so when the church
gates were open for daily morning aud even
ing prayers, she had often begged the sexton
to let her little ones come in aud hear the
singing, aud wander hand in hand around
the old church walls. lie was kindly old
man, aud the children, stealing round like
two still, bright-eyed little mice, had gained
upon his heart, and he made them welcome
there. 1t gave the mother a feeling Of pro-
lection to have them play near the church,
as if it were a fathers house.