Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1875-12-11

CuuhCJeTlIeu her. one 50 U1reu. |
Wen just have pper and then I'll
hear you say Our Father and Wen
get to bed, and in the morning it will be
Christmas.
Some vague promise of good was in
the very word Ethel did not know what
would come, but surely Christmas would
not be like other days. "Supper was
the rest of the bread. And then the two
little creatures knelt down together and
said their well known prayers, and
think "Our Father heard, for their
sleep was Just as sweet as if they had
been in the warm, soft nest of the chill
dren over the way, tucked in with elder
down. Through the long evening hours
they slept-through the solemn mid
night, when the clear, cold Christmas
stars looked down, just as they had
looked centuries ago when the King of
Glory, Himself little child, lay asleep
in an humble manger in Judea. Moth
ing troubled their quiet slumber until
the sunshine of the Christmas morning
broke through their dingy windows, and
the day had begun.
1t must be ever SO late, said Ethel,
rubbing her sleepy eyes, "and mamma
isn't awake yet. But she was SO tired.
You lie still, Susie, and I'll build the
fire, and when she wakes up she'll find it
all done"
Very patiently the poor little half
frozen fingers struggled with the scant
kindlings and the coal that seemed de-
termined never to ight-but they sue
ceeded at last, and the room began to
grow a little warm. Then she dressed
Susie, and then it began to seem very
late, indeed, and she wondered if nam
ma would never wake up. She went to
the bedside and bending over kissed her
mother gently, then started back with a
sudden alarm.
"Why, Susie, she's SO cold-almost
like poor papa-only you can't remem-
ber-just before they took him away"
"No, she can't be like papa" Susie
said, stoutly, "for he was dead, and
mamma is asleep"
eyes, she's asleep" said the elder
sister, firmly. "We must wait till she
wakes up. Well look over the way, and
then, maybe, it won't seem SO long"
But over the way was brighter than
ever this Christmas morning. The cur
tains had been looped back once more,
the table glittered with lovely gifts, and
presently the little girl who lived there
came to the windows. She looked up
at them-they were sure of it; but they
could not have guessed what she said, as
she turned away, and spoke to her
mother
"Oh, mamma" cried the sweet young
voice, "won't you come and see these
two poor little girls They stood there
all day yesterday and last night; and
now see how sad they look. can't eat
my Christmas candies, or play with my
Christmas things while they look SO pale
and lonesome. Won't you go over and
see them, mamma, dear p
Mrs. Rosenburgh was a woman OF
warm and earnest sympathies when once
they were aroused. When she was a
girl she too had had quick impulses like
her child's; but she had grown selfish,
perhaps, as she grew older, or maybe
only careless, for the quick sympathies
were there still, as you could see now
that her little girl had touched them.
"To be sure I will, she answered at
once. "Poor little things wish we
could make merry Christmas for all
New York; but since we can't, at least
we won't have faces white with want
looking in at our very windows"
So the watching, wondering children
saw the large, fair lady wrap herself in
heavy shawl, and tie hood over hen
head, and then come out and cross the
street, and enter their house.
"What if she saw us; and what if she
is coming here?" Ethel said, breath
lessly.
Then they listened as if their hearts
were in their ears. They heard eetupor
the stairs, and then gentle tap, and
the lady from over the way stood il
. their room. .......
"I saw you at the window" she said
, and came over to wish you merry
, Christmas. How is this9 Are you al
, alone9"
8 "No, ma'am, mamma is in the bed
there; but she was very tired yesterday
; and she hasn't walked up."
An awful terror seized Mrs. Rosen
< burgh. Had this woman died of wan
and weariness, in sight of her own win
: dowsG She stepped to the bedside, ant
: drew away the clothes gently from thu
g face of the sleeper. She looked mo
0 ment on that fair, faded face, and thel
t she grew white as death.
t "Children," she asked, "what ar,
n your names9"
r 81 am Ethel Vanderheyden, the old
est girl answered, "and she is Susie.
d "And your mother-was she Ethe
b Carlisle once?"
a eyes, ma'am, before she marrie'
g papa"
y "And your little sister is Susie 9'''
d "Yes see was named for mamma
IT best friend, one she hasn't seen for
10 long, long time"