Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-12-21
4 CHRISTMAS BOX.

',Dr Barrett, indeed About us much
doctor us my nose is-humph!" :" and the old
gentleman tucked his hands under his coat
and warmed himself. The mirror behind him
gave back his bald head. and the mirror op-
poste showed him his face, with its look of
impatence. What was the matter with him
He looked up at the gold cornices and back at
the carpet, and sighed discontentedly. Not
that there could be much TO sigh for in the
way of comfort or luxury either, for the mas
ter of that house Without there was snow
and frost, but that was nothing to him. Warm
curtains covered the windows, and the fire
leaped and cracked merrily. and the chande-
lier laughed into the looking glasses which
lined the room. On the table was tea-ser-
vice of silver waiting for him, with loads of
good things to tempt him to forget his troub-
lie. But no, something was the matter with
him. He took pinch of snuff angrily, he
muttered again, Doctor indeed. as much
rs my nose-hang :" And the old gentle
man stamped out his discomfort till the chan
delier chattered and the cups danced in their
saucers.
"A low. mean, driveling apothecary." NUT
tered the old gentleman. Doctor, forsooth
Well, let's have some coffee, and see if there's
any good in that"
But the cofTee-pot had choking in its
throat. and wouldn't pour; and the sugar
tongs like an ancient pair of snuffers, pinch
ed his fingers.
Hang it :" repeated the old gentleman.
Then he got up and began walking about
the room again. And he took from his pock-
ct small pocket-book, and from that little
crumpled piece of paper, the writing on
which was yellow and old. He smoothed out
the bit of paper carefully, and read it for a
third time that evening, with running COM
ments and sundry jerkings and holdings of
his bald head.
'Humph only wants to be forgiven
daresay- the wilfullness and
disobedience-of course--begs only for a word
of forgiveness-all very fine. Why it's five
years since got this precious scrawl. What
in the name of all nuisances has made me
think of it so tonight"
'Its Christmas Eve" whispered something
under the old merchants wastcoat.
Christmas Eve. Well l know it is; what
of that"
Look around you ayarcious old miser, :"
said the voice Me avaricous Ne mser!"
cried out the merchant tiercely, and looked
round his luxurious room, Mt the gliding and
graceful drapery, the perfection of every
thing down to the tea-seryice, which he had
not been able to use that evening. "Avari-
cious! Me-"
Yes" said voice doggedly isn't it all
for yourselfI Who shares or benefits by it,
| | should like to know. Where's your daugh.
ter old gentleman tell me that"
"How should | know? Didn't she run
away from me:'
And didn't she come back and cling about
your knees, and kiss your hands, and beg
you to forgive her and her husband"
"A pitiful, sneaking apothecary!"
| And didn't she write to you that very let
ter, all blotted with tears and incoherent with
| a.. .l,..,.l f,,.s
to forgive, and your own flesh too you heath
en?"
''She chose for herself" muttered the mer
chant land she must abide by her choice
When, five years ago, | closed my doors anC
purse against her and her driveling -humpf
| husband, | swore-"
More shame for you if you did but yOI
didn't swear, you only turned them ont lik,
thieves, and came back to your loneliness
miserable wretch as you are still, and Away
will be, unless"
Hang it," cried out the old gentleman.
Where is she! Where is the bright littl
figure that used to fit about this very room
and make sunshine in it. Where are tn
warm little fingers that used to clasp your
when you came in out of the street cold ant
weary? Where is the warm cheek that woul'
be pressed tenderly against yours to warm it
You're nice sort of father you are; VIII,
don't you enjoy yourself amongst all you
riches and luxuries, eh?"
The fire blazed up merrily, and still tn
merchant stood with his hands under hi
coat-tails, but he did not feel the warmt
comfortable, neither was his mind easy.
Its Christmas Eve," repeated the voic
under his waistcoat, solemnly.
''Well don't know it? OF course it is !"
''Yes, but you don't know what sort of
Christmas that little sunbeam of yours ma
be keeping though. Perhaps with three G
four children round her, crying for the brea
which she hasn't got to give. Think of i
you old miser."
Once again the old gentleman walked u
and down the room, and grunted out his cui
tomary "Humph!" and then the fire shon
out, and the chandelier looked down benil
nantly on the silver service, as much as
say, II told you so, knew how it would /
all along" For the merchant had gone ou
and there was no longer any living presenC
in the room.
We will leave that little room also for IL
street; not that it was at all inviting, how
, ever, for the frost pinched the children
noses, and sent the hands of the big boy
down deep into their trousers pockets. W
! will stop before a modest house of three sto
les. yery narrow il was very prim, eYiden