The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1877-12-27

Die topped tables, AZ one of which they
seated themselves opposite each other.
The man gave bis own order for oyster
sonp and beefttesk, and tried 10 persuade
Harry TO make selection, but the Little
hali-staryed fellow was 20 dsxaied By the
lights, aud 20 faint with Hanger, that be
seemed stupid aud confased, and bsFvily
understood what was said 10 him. 30
the man gave the same order for him
that be had given for himself, aud then
turned and looked sharply II The child,
not quite knowing what 70 make OF his
manner.
just - be looked at bim, Harry closed
bic eyes, and, with qnick, sobbing sigh,
fell from bis chair upon the marble aoor,
where be lay as still and pale as dead
boy. The people In the saloon crowded
around, aud BY bathing bis temples with
cold water, aud forcing a little brandy
into his mouth, soon revived him, and
before long be was ealing so heartily that
the color came back 10 his face, and be
became so bright AMI lively that his en-.
tertaiher was more pleased with him
than ever, aud led him on 70 talk about
himself aud his grandfather.
And how was II, he asked, that | heard
you wondering about Christmas pres.
entsg Did you never have any yourseliS
Wen, said Harry, getting quite conf
dental, and forgetting that he was telling
tales ofhis grandfather, was to bave
some last year I've got a flrst-rate
teacher at the Nilsson School, and ]
never miss going Sunday II | can help
1t. She told me to hang up my stocking,
for was TO get some nice presents 10 1t,
aud Santa Claus would bring 'em after ]
was a-bed knew she meant she'd
bring 'em herself, and | could hardly
sleep for thinking aud guessing what I'd
have. I'd have got up before daylight 10
see, but grandpa says be cant afford ia
have candles lit any oitener than we can
help, so knew he wouldn't like it, and
laid still till il was light enough to see
then crept down stairs softly and | took
down my stocking and run back to bed
with 1t. But there wasn't anything in il
but stones and papers aud sticks. But
the worst OF 1t was, the next Sunday
when teacher asked me how was pleas
ed with what found Ia my stocking,
burst right out crying before the whol'
class. Afterwards she told me she wen
around In the evening and gave grandpf
new book and half dollar and q pail
Of red mittens to put in my stocking.
guess he must have sold the things, fol
he sells most everything; but wish h'
hadn't stuffed the stocking with otheI
things
Your grandfather's an old--ah, ahem
an old man, said Harry's entertainer
speaking very emphstically, and bringinl
his fist down on the table with such torc'
that all the empty dishes jumped up anC
down.
Yes, sir, said innocent little Harry, h'
is most seventy -fve-bnt, oh, dear, wha
will he think has become of me We x
TO bed when it gets dark, because grand
pa says it saves coal and lights, and nov
| suppose he is sitting up in the colo
waiting for me.
Well, shall go home with you, saiC
his friend; want to see where you live
for am coming to see you on Christina
day. That will be here soon, you know
and shall take you out to buy Christ
mas present. | don't want the stocking
business repeated, SO I'll see for mysel
that you get the present.
Oh, how good you are, said little Iisr
ry, giving his new friends hand grea
squeeze, as he trotted along by his side
Haven't you any children OF your ownf
| am all alone IN the word, said tb,
man, aud if | can do anything 10 please
little chap like you, am glad enough L
do 1t.
By this time they had come TO the bro
ken down black shanly where Old Graf
lived, aud Harry babe his friend good
/ bye, feeling quite brave enough 10 en-
dure the keolding he knew would b
waiting for bin. In fact he felt so hspp.
in The expectation OF having a mcrr,
I Christmas with his friend, that lie didn'
care how hard he worked OF how scanl,
/ his dinners were ill lba week passe,
away.
Christmas morning dawned cold, clea
aud bright, aud happy little chiIdre
empiied their well filed stockings, an,
played with their new treasures, an
then, when dinner time came, sat dow
to their Christmas feasts of turkey AM
plum pudding and all surts Of GOO
things. And poor little Harry was jus
as happy as anybody, because be hs
such beautiful faculty OF being content
ed under all circumstances, that he neve
seemed 10 know, as said before, what
hard life be led. lie didn't say Merr
Christmas to his grandfather, becAus
one year when he tried il the Amiable OF
gentleman enfied bis ears savsgeiy, an
told him to consider that was his Chris
/ mas box Bot be said Merry Chrisimi
10 the children be met in the street, whe
he ran about all the morning, carryin
bundles home for grocer who had !
many orders that be couldn't deliver q
The parcels the night before.
Theu be came home iu time TO help b
grandfather get their dinner. II wi
very easy to get, for sIl the courses wei
pot on the little table at once, aud theI
J WAS 30 table cloth. There wss almo
/ half A loaf Of bread aud on the same br