The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-12-24

| Ine slfeam was frozen over, ana only
needed few CLEANS of sunshine to
make 1t bubble on, laughing and gurg-
ling as in the best OF hearts.
Jack related his adventures to his
| mother in whispers, and hid the Christ
mas articles in the wash-bOller until
such time as they should be wanted for
certain small stockings. He told his
mother how sorry lie was not to have a
present for her, and that little speech
went a long way toward making her
happy. That night she sat up-I
wouldn't dare tell you how alternating
cOoKles-something that hadn't been in
the house before that winter. She cut
them out in all manner of shapes that
feminine ingenuity and case-kuife
could compass, not forgetting bird for
Janey, with remarkably plump bill,
and little girl tor Mary, win the Toes
turned out. Sne also mdue some balls
Of brown sugarI the Boyus never thought
OF such a luxury as white sugar), 10
make believe candy, lor she dldRL know
Jack had bought any candy.
Now l am going to tell what Mr.. Boyd
did after ne met Jack by tue toy-stOre.
| lie mad gone to the village to have a
good time " That didn't mean, as it
uoes with some men, TO get tipsy; Out it
meant he was going 10 Munger's q ocery,
where he could meet people, and talk
and joke, and keep warm.
! Mr. Boyd had been chOpping wood fer
farmer, and had received his pa, but
ms tead of going duutully home ana con-
sulung with his wife about what he
should buy, he was going to "lOUk
around" ana sec what Munger had. He
was touched at the sight OF Jacks poor
little package of gifts; but doubt If 1t
would have made much impression OH
his mind il somebody hadn't walked into
| MungerS and asked, IN a brlsk, loud
voice: "Got any Brazil nuts, MungerT'
| The man with the brisk voice bJugu, 1
don't know how many quarts OF Brazil,
| nuts, ana Walnuts, and tllUerts, and al
monds, with all The louugers looking On,
very much interested in the spectacle
Then he bought raslns, and candy, and
| oranges, Mr.. Munger growing mo e
smiling every minute.
"Golng to keep Christmas, l guess"
said he, rubbing his hands together.
"That l am; Christmas comes but
once a year, and there are little folks up
at our house who'ye been looking for il
with all their eyes FOL fortnignt."'
Then he bought bushel OF apples,
and, filling peck measure with them,
passed them around among tue men VINO
sat and stood about the stove.
"rake 'em home TO your little 10 ks il
you don't want 'em," he said when any
one hesltated.
There were three or four apples
apiece, ana Mr.. Boyd put all his in his
pockets, with slight ceiling of Christ
mas warmth beginning to thaW his
heart.
| After this oheery purchaser had gone,
some one asked: "Who is thaJ ch4pW
| "He's the new Superintendent of the
Orphan Asylum" answered Mr. Mum
ger, rubbing his hands again; "and a
mighty nice man he is, too. Pays for all
them things out of his own pocket. Very
fond oflittle children. Always likes to
see 'em happy"
There were two or three men around
that stove who hung their heads, and
Mr.. Boyd was one OF Them. He hung his
| the lowest, perhaps because he mad the
longest neck. l don't know what the
other men did-something good and
pleasant, l hope-but Mr.. Boyd thought
and thought. First he thought how the
"orphans" were going TO have brighter
and merrier Christmas than his own
children, who had both father and
mother. Then he thought about sweet,
patient little Janey, and quiet Mary,
and generous Jack, who had taken so
much pains to give pleasure to his sis
ters, and great rush of shame filed uis
heart. Now, when MI. Boyd
was once thoroughly aroused, he
| was alive through the whole
of his long frame. He thumped his knee
| with his fist, then arose and walked 10
| the counter, where he dealt out rapid
orders to the astonished grocer for nuts,
candies and oranges; not Ill such large
quantities, to be sure, as he "orpants' "
friend had done, but generous enough
for three children. Aud he bought u
calico dress for his vile, pair Of shoes
Tor each OF the little girls, and cap
for Jack. That store contained every
thing, from grinds tones tU slate pencils,
and from whale oil to peppermint drops.
These purchases, together with some
needful groceries, took all MIR. BOyUs
money, except. u few pennies, but a
| Christmas don't-Care feeling perVadeu
his whole being, and he borrowed bag,
into which he slowed his goods, and sci
out for home.
1t was pretty heavy baglul, but its
heaviless only made MIR. Boyd's heart
the lighter. When he reached home,
he stood the bag up in one corner, as il
it held turnlps, and said, Dom
meddle with tnat, cnlldren." Then he
went out and spent the rest OF the short
| day III cuOpplnB WOOu, Wnlcn was very
cheering tO his vile. So many Sunday
had dawned with just wood enough to
cook breakIasi, that Mrs. BOyd began to
dread that day particularly, lor her nus
| band was almUsG sure 10 so right away
alter breakfast and spend the Who'll G
day at the neighbols' houses, while his
own family snivered around hail.
| empty stove.
MI. Boyd said never a word about the
| bag, and the unsuspectlng household
thought it contained corn OF some otner
unlnLereslng vegetable, and paid little
attention 50 it. IL also stood there all
the next day, and the children grew
quite used to the sight oil it.
| sunday went by quietly, and, to the
surprise OF all, Mr.. Boyd stayed at home,
making it his especial business 10 nOlu
Janey on his lap, and keep the stove
| we'll filled with wood. Janey wasn't
feeling we'll that day, aud his unusual
| attention to her made the family very
kindly disposed toward their lath er
whom of late they had come to regard
| almost as an alien.
| Jack, whose shoes were not yet worn
out. went to Sunday y.school, aud after
his return the winter day was soon
gone. Then he began to tidget, and was
very desirous thaE his mother should
put the little girls 10 bed; while, strange
to say, his father was desirous that tne
whole family should 20 70 bed, excep,
himself. In course OF time The Little
| Urls were asleep in their llltle trundle