The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-01-06
THE YOUNG FOLKS.


What DO the Bells sayp "Mistletoe and Holly,
Christmas pudding, Christmas sights, everything
that's jolly.
All mothers loving heart can plan Tor chsist%ss
Magic nights with bright iootlishts, and knights
Harlequin aud Columbine, and real fairy dances
Christmas tree set all abazs with lights and gilt
which Santa Claus sent In at night for happy girls
A Christmas kiss, Christmas bliss, thousand
Some loving words from loving heart, Of One who
To warm mems frozen snow.cold hearts one Christ
hristm1s tale, and carols by the Yule-lOss cheer
full glow"
That is what the Bells say. Listen to the Snow,
Frozen ground and snowy street-Oh, SO cold for
Little day-dreams Cdrs.mt on nssO Of something
OF something warm and good to eat, instead Of the
hungry, frozen street. a.
n the sIS SsS z
A ardsr fight to pass the shops with OF such gilt
sssp Is t dsy cola msonsh asA
Instead Of mother, cold closes their eyes, and
wakens them up L eew they RISE"
Unto the young the Bells have sung oil JOY and
But to the old they simply tolled the passing Of
year.
And 10 the frozen street-babes, "More cold" the
But to the grave they softly say, "Tus quiet sleep
the dead"
LAZY JACK AND HIS FAIRY GoD
sMoTHER. Once upon time in pretty
village, and many miles away from busy
cities, there lived a boy named Jack
Burt, nice enough little fellow in his
way, ood-tempered and generous, but 30
given to idle, careless habits, that he was
known in the village as Lazy Jack !"
and his mother, who was poor widow,
was greatly troubled in her mind what
to do with him.
When in school, instead of attending
to his book, he would be up to all kinds
of mischief and was kept in school after
hours Oitener than any of the others, be-
sides being the greatest Ounce there.
If his mother wanted a pitcher of wa
ter from the well in the garden, our
young friend would be gone. so long a
| time for it that his mother, at times get
ting out of patience, would follow, and
generally find Master Jack playing at his
| favorite1 game of marbles out in the
road or else see him walking leisurely
X,
he passed, and whistling to himself,
whilst the water would be running out
of the pitcher with every step that he
took. rut E.r1.e
Beatings and talkings seemed to have
little effect upon Jack, though he was
forever promising to behave better in the
| future. But as time went on he did not
improve, and, at last, Mrs. Burt was ad.
.vised to send her son to sea, he being now
ten years of age. N~
This rather frightened the young gen.
tleman, and for the space of week Jack
was on his good behavior, and coaxed
his mother to let him stay at home, and
in the goodness of her heart the poor
woman believed all his promises; though
at the end of week Jack was to be
/ found playing Oftener marbles than doing
anything else.
However, one day, on going down to
the we'll to draw some water, Jack heard
his name called thrice, and on looking
round, perceived a most extraordinary
looking little man sitting by the side OF
tie well.
He was hardly any bigger than our
young hero, and very ugly-at least so
thought Jack, as he noted the long nose,
pointed chin and mouth that seemed to
reach from ear to ear; his eyes were
sunk deeply in his head, and were black,
with lurid glow in them, that gave a
strange expression to his. impish-looking
face.
"Ha, ha, Master Jack, how are we Y
asked the little man with an impish
grin.
"Quite we'll, thank you, sir" replied
our young friend, who hardly knew wha,
to make of his strange companion.
Very busy?" queried the little Wis
itor. "Have game at marbles p
-" No, sir-yes, sir" stammered Jack
almost under his breath, as he stared in
wonder at his questioner.
"Here we are, them" said the little
man diving into his pockets and bringing
out handful of marbles "Come along
I'll show you new way to play. But
what about your pitcher of waterp'
ooh, mother will wait till we've had
one game" said Jack, eagerly; all bis
fear vanishing as he drew near his com
panion.
"Ha! ha! Mother will wait, will she
He! he! like that, Master Jack. You
are jewel Of a boy, | can see. But
| give me your hand, and I'll show you 8
better place to play in than this"
Jack obeyed, and as he did SO the
ground opened at his feet, when he be
came senseless with fright, and could not
remember any thing more until at last he
opened his eyes on quite different scene
altogether.
For few moments he felt bewildered
by what he saw-a large hall with an
arched roof, from the center Of which
hung an immense Chinese. looking Ian
tern. Down each side of this hall were
three stone pillars, and round each was
fastened row Of smaller lanterns. The
floor was Of white marble, here and there
covered with curious looking straw mat,
on which sat or rather squatted, several
groups of boys of all sizes and ages.
All were doing something-some spin
ming tops, some playing marbles, some
tossing money, but Jack noticed that
none of them appeared to take any in
terest in what they were doing. There
was listless, wearied look on every
face. Not one of them spoke, but they
made each other understand by all kinds
of dumb signs.
ooh, this is dreadful" thought Jack
rs he gazed in dazed way at the specter
like company ~ f-rftt
| Hal. hal hap laughed voice be
hind him. "And how does Master Jach
like his merry companions
Jack turned to meet the gaze of hi
impish friend.
ooh, please take me awayp he said, in
trembling voice.
"Hush, master Jack you surely cam
be in hurry TO leave our company re
turned the little man, with cruel leer
his black, beady eyes twinkling will
malice. ...Lt.l.st
ie"Yes, Iam," replied our young hero
trying to feel very brave, but really feel
ing very frightened. "Let us goW
"Not so fast, my little friend" re
turned the imp, grasping Jack by tn,
arm. You must stay here as long as