Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-12-22
LEON MATURINS CHRISTMAS s.
EVE.
ny c. T. JACKSON.

ny c. +. JACKSON.
The snow was falling thickly and steadi
ly, and the evening shadows were gather
ing so closely around the house that Leon
and Annette were glad 10 turn from the
window where they had been for the last
half hour, and nestle down together in one
corner Of the big fireplace. There was no
lamp or candle in the room, but the large
fire of peat and brushwood sent forth
| ruddy glow, which frightened everything
Immediately around it, while an occasional
leaping flame would suddenly bring into
view some more distant object, and send
the shadows chasing each other into the
farthest corner of the low kitchen.
The pot was boiling over the FIRE, and
Mere Maturin was walking backward and
forward preparing supper.
"See, Leon" whispered Annette, "how
funny graudma's cap looks on the wall
When she goes over TO the cupboard It is
quite small, and when sue comes nearer
here it grows up, up, half way over the
ceiling. Look, there it is now, just like
one of Maitre Caussn's hay-mows in Ju-
lyW
"Yes, and see The spinnlng-wheel change
and turn as If the fairies were spinning on
itr
"Do they ever, Leon? Perhaps they are
doing 1t now. Oh, If we could see them r.
"You little silly" replied her brother.
"Who ever saw fairies Christmas Eve? If
1t were midsummer nowl st. Johns Eve
is the time for them. See here, Annette, IL
you are very good from now till st. Johns
Eve,-if you do everything I want you to,
Ill, if,'' said Leon, Wishing 10 make as
good bargain as possible, elf you always
drive Blanchette home from pasture when
want TO play with George, If you will al
ways get grandmother the crosses when
don't want TO go 10 the brook for them, 1
will show you the faiiles on that night;
that is" added the boy, thinking, perhaps,
he bad not better promise too much, 81
will let you go with me TO the big stones in
the middle OF the wood yoDder, just at
midnight, and there-Maitre Caussin's JOS
eph told me so-you will be sure to see
them.'
"Oh, Leon, will do anything for you II
you will but let me see them But 1t is SO
long TO wait perhaps grandmamma knows
If one can see them any other time. Grand
| mother" (raising her voice., do the fairies
ever come Christmas Eve, and do they ev-
er turn spinning wheels TO help peopleH"
"Nay, child, who ever heard of fairies
then2" said Mere Maturin, land II they
| did take the trouble to turn spinning
wheels, ii would not be for idle folk like
you'll Come and put the dishes on the Ia
BILE, for the pot is boiling, and IL is time we
had supper"
Annette speedily obeyed, and there was
no more talk of fairies for an hour. Amer
that, the dishes being all washed and put
away, and grandmother being seated in the
chimney-corner with her knitting, the chill
| dren took their places, side by side, on the
hearth opposite to her, and began TO plead
with her for some legends and stories, such
| as they loved TO hear.
Leon aud Annette lived in Brittany, in a
lille old cottage not far from the sea, and
| few miles from the town OF st. Malo. Their
eldest and only brother, Louis, had gone as
q soldier, two years before, and was at Tou-
Ion with his regiment. Once in a great
while they heard from him, and his last
letter but one had told them lie was mar
| Tleus lucy WCIo lOOhluS AOA a lCtlCi lIOuA
him now, forit was six months since the last
one came, and they said:
"Louis will surely send US message for
| Christmas"
This Christmas Eve, the father and moth
or had gone into 81. Malo, TO be present at
the midnight mass and Christmas morning
service, aGter which they were ~ come
home, and the children had been left with
their grandmother. Since sunset, the snow,
which had been gathering overhead all day,
had begun to fall, and was rapidly cover
| ing up the well-beaten road, on which for
many weeks no new snow had fallen.
"Tales, tales" said the old woman, "you
have heard them all many times, my chill
dren. have no new stories for you"
"Then tell us old ones, dear grandmam-
map
"They say, then, little ones, and have
heard it ever since / was but half your size,
that on the holy Christmas Eve, when the
hour Of midnight strikes, all The oxen and
cows and asses can speak like us human
creatures, because they stood by when the
Blessed Mary laid the Holy Babe in the
manger," and the old woman made the
sign of the cross deVoutly.
"But is il true, grandma r. said little An
neite eagerly.
~ cannot say for myself as never heard
heard them speak, child; but why should
not poor brules Lave a voice given them
for once for sake OF that blessed night, and
that they may praise Godf There was An
toine," the old woman went on, murinur-
ing to herself, 'sat up on purpose to hear
them one night, and at twelve he went out
to the stable, but the poor fool made such a
Gathering in undolng the door, that the
beasts heard him through their sleep, 80 the
ass and the COW were well warned, and
never word would they speak before HIM
and ihev were wiser than some folk II they