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

Aeoop STORY ron rnf stAsoS.
"Please'n, only penny. I'm frozen and
starved !"
The carriage stood at the edge Of the side
walk, and Mrs. Linley was Just going out
with her two children to buy some Christ
mas gifts. Nellie all scarlet and ermine,
her sweet, happy face framed in with golden
curs, and master Frank not a whit behind
in elegance. though n triile more naughty,
as YOU could tell 10y the wide distance he
gave the miserable little beggar.
Get away :" said Mrs Linley with a dis
dainful sweep Of the hand.
The child and she looked at each other
one OF those glances that stamp face upon
ones memory. But She was always afraid
Of street boys. They might have fever or
small pox, or any other infection, lurking in
their rags.
The carriage drove on. The children
were happy, generous well-behaved, and be-
longed to a Christian family They were
going to prove all this now. Besides gifts
for mamma aud papa, and some. little cous-
ms, half dozen poor children were to be
remembered
They spent all the pleasant, sunshiny
middle of the day going from shop TO shop
What hosts Of tempting things A perfect
Santa Claus revel everywhere. II was like
a glimpse of fairy-land Frank aud Nellie
laughed and talked, ran to mamma with a
hundred pretty thugs but did not tease.
They had quite load in the carriage. And
oh wouldn't lame Johnny Ashton be de-
lighted with his books, and the wheeling
chair mamma had bought him, and Susy
Dorr would be the happlest of the happy in
her new plaid dress, and her tea-cups and
saucers
" For poor children love to play just az
well as rich children, don't they, mamma 2"
said grave, sweet Nellie.
81 hope you win never forget, my dear,
that we are all created alike, and that all the
poor little ones are just as precious in Gods
sight"
" Aud it is so nice 20 make them happy 4"
Mrs Linley gave her darling a smile.
"And Christ the Lord was born for
everybody" Frank added. in a reflective man
ner. &" My teacher told me so on Sunday
50 that all little children might be saved, and
have a merry Christmas"
Maybe they can't all have a merry
Christmas. Some are very poor and sick,
and nobody seems to care for them-liks
that little beggar who stood watching us
when we started. q mamma isn't it hard
What becomes Of them 2"
The sweet face was full Of tender pity.
God takes care OF them, like the spar
| rows sad FRANK.
Mrs. llnsley ana not answer she hall
| expected to find the wretched object on her
doorstep. But he was not there.
They shiyered with the cold, and ran to
/ the freside. Then papa came home, and
they had the happiest Christmas eve magin-
able. OF course you could not make your
| charities go all round the world but Mrs.
/ Linley thought she had stretched hers a
long distance So she had. And yet she
might have given the child at the door few
pennies But street beggars were so often
thieves.
lie wandered on. For nearly week he
had slept in u station-house, and begged a
little during the day just enough to keep
body and soul together. lie used to sell
matches and pms, but had no capital to buy
new stock, and thers were so many in the
trade. month ago the old woman with
whom he had lived died suddenly, and her
sharp niece came in and took possession.
Then he had to tramp.
lie went on, asking now and then for a
penny. Some gave him scowl-some did
not even design to look, and one or two men
called him rough name. Oh he was so
hungry aud so cold The bright sunshine
did not seem to warm him bit. lie looked
wistiully into the basement windows; he
stared at the merry, happy children who ran
by IN warm clothing His shoes were out
to the ground his tatters Tapped in the bit
ing wind
1t was growing colder and colder lie
ran along until he came to an eating saloon
such delightful, savoury smell came
through the grating, aud faint warmth
that was most grateful to him Not mouth
tul OF anything had he eaten since yesterday
noon. People went along with great
marketbaskets full men with bundles in
their arms girls and boys with Christmas
gifts.
" Move on, move on yeungster - said stern
voice
What Il he was arrested and sent to
prison lie would have something to eat
And the pain gnawing at his stomach was SC
hard to bear There was a jacket he might
steal-the men around would be sure to see
INN lie reached out his hand.
NO, ne couldn't. lie never had been
thief. lie remembered his mother, who had
died two years ago. The pretty lady getting
INTO the carriage had made HIM think OF her
On how good 1t was that she was up IN
hsaven aud could not be hungry And she
49, N''Ni +'N''' 'N'i " ~ "N'N' s.N"h
lie sat down on doorstep, and began te
cry. 1t was very cold now, and he was SO
chilled that the tears floze on his thin
checks, lie curled himselfu in the corner
II he only could get to sleep
llilo 7" said cheerful voice, and some
one shook INN 10y the shoulder. You'll
freeze to death here It's pinchin cold
You better run home
Let me DO. haven't any home. And
was almost asleep You've brought all the
Old pam back
Joe Dlller dragged mp the iorlorn little OBJ
Ject' and scanned the thin, blue face.
Where have You been 2
sta'ion,house aud such, the child an
swered, sullenly' Alter old Molly died
they turned me out. hadn't any capital
so had TO go out oil trade. I've tried to
beg
doe stood considering What would
tyranny say II he brought, the poor thing
home Don't ask another one to YOU
Christmas party, she had said already
mere won't bs room Tor en- to stand on one
loot
Joe drew his sleeve across his eyes, Some
now ms heart had grown very tender sincs
ne had oeen gong 10 the mlssion-school. A
niue sense flashed INTO ms mind. On Sab
oath' Mr; Llnley' the most splendid man III
the world, Joe insisted TO Granny, had been
explaining TO the boys how even the Saviour