Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-12-19
A Pair OF Clutches.

'N'N '''' ~ Ni-'-HhNAh 'nfi'iNNos
Guesswheretown was in a state of great
excitement one afternoon last winter-the
afternoon of the day before Christmas
Copies of wonderful proclamation had
been posted up at the corners of the princi-
pal Streets flung down areas, showed under
doors, and distributed in all the public
schools and this is how they read
To my beiored chadren, greeting:
Santa Claus, otherwise known as st. Nicho
las, and kriss kringle, having on Christmas Eve
for more years than you would care to count
filled little stockings and shoes with goodies and
left in all convenient places many gifts for small
people now call upon all who remember my visit
in years gone by, for some return of the favors |
have bestowed From every child who loves me-
| expect, tonight, a present. | care not how
small II may he, or what 1t may be. In my wide
kingdom can be found use for anything and
everything And knowing that nv dear children
will respond quickly and cheerfully, and that thu
gifts will be many more than would fill both my
stockings, request that each church of this town
receive and retain them until further orders
from me. With much love,
hereby atfix my hand and seal
SANTA CLAUS.
Such a hurrying to and fro of eager,
bright-eyed children, as there was that
Christmas Eve, though the streets were filled
with snow and the snow still fallingl Babies
toddling along with toys-some of them
sadly battered aud broken, it must be con.
fessed-for dood ole Ianty Caws;" boys
with books aud balls and cast-off Jackets,
and coats, and hats, and hundred other
things girls with more books, and dolls
and little aprons, and mittens, and dresses
and a hundred and fifty other things
bakers children with loaves of bread and
cake; shoemakers' children with shoes toy
merchants children with toys; confectiou.
ers children with candies and fruits gro
GERS children with tea, sugar, raisins, figs,
rice aud potatoes. On they all troOped
laughing and singing, carrying anything
and everything" as the proclamation read.
How jolly it was to see them pressing into
the different churches with their offerings,
and laying them upon the long tables, over
each of which was hung the inscription,
printed in fat lett, RS, made of evergreen and
bright ed berries, Christmas Gifts from
the Children to Santa Claus"
But one poor little boy, in poor little
room of poor little house in poor little
street OF Guessw heretowii, sat by the side OF
poor little widow, his poor little mother
disconsolate, and forlorn. in years gont
by" he said-he was all old fashioned chap
and spoke with lisp" when father watl
alive, Thanta Cauth wath very good to me
He didn't give me anything lath Chrith
math, but thuppothe it wath becauthe h,
didn't know where we'd moved-tho' that
walnut hith fault And here" looking
wistfully at a copy OF the proclamation
which lay on the table before him. g"
can't give him thing, we're tho extremely
| poor"
| Then a sudden thought struck him. "My
crutheth-they NTH pair; aud now thai
| I'm all well exthept extremely little limp
| can ther-tain-ly do without them. Mother
do you think he'd laugh at them, or it'll il
| poth-ible that he hath little boy or cir
who it'll lame 2"
1t is just possible, my darling" said the
poor little mother, looking into the serious
dark eyes, with a fond smile Anyhow
| IN sure he wouldn't laugh at them"
Then hurry up, mother, or we'll be late,
he said, eagerly jumping from his chair, anC
running quickly, in spite OF his limp, to til,
corner where he hung his hat. Its nea
nine o'clock"
Wrapping the little fellow in all old shaw
he had no overcoat and his jacket was
summer oue-the poor little mother tool
him 10y the hand, and away they trudge,
through the cold street, with the tiny pal
of crutches.