Lexington weekly intelligencer., 1877-12-29
CHlCKERY'S CHRISTMAS
A STORY FOR THE CHILDREN-ANI
FOR THE GROWN FOLKS, TOO.


Christmas d,y renenberI is never too late to
do good. Christmas week Is not yet over.-(Ed.
Come, Puggie, lets ask mother for
our suppers, and well go to bed
now
Yes, lets said Puggie:
Ii was the afternoon before Christ
mas, and Grandma's great clock in
the lat! had just stuck three.
'NoW.' said their mother, with n
puzzled look, while she held her
white sewing-apron over some work
she was doing. Now, my darlin.s?
Why, where should we find two rosy
faces to fill two chairs at our table
tonight, and what would papa do
without his babies, when he cam"
home tired =
kim, the wise man Of seven, looked
sober; and Pug.ie, who always diGt
precisely as Kun did, drew down
| her little face and was silent.
who ever heard of such none
sense said grandma. what Will
you two ask neXt?' ~.
we n"!y wanted to get our night
over, 80 we could ca:cl! Santa Cia', :
when lie came, said Kim, with a
pout.
On" said mamma. We'll, my
dears, You couldn't do it for the Old
fellow Is So very shy. if he should
tind your peppers upen,he would run
away. Can't you think of something
to do until hrd-tllnc?'
No. said klIa, mIournfully.
No. echued little Puggic.
just then Maria, the servant-girl,
| opened the door, to say: They have
come again, Marm, for the waste;
ana you asked me 10 speak to you.
Mrs. Christy united her apron
strings, rolled her work up i'll it,
put II IN her large work basket, and
! went down TO the Kitchen, followed
by the children.
| Coming in at the sidc-gate was a
very old-loukIng little company--a
ragged boy, with II hat on large
enough for grown man, dragging
II small two-whccIed tip-cart, IN
which WAS seated II little girl, not
much Older than Puggie.
'Ah children, said Mrs. ChrisLy,
kindly, as they came to the back
door, Il am glad to see you. Maria
has good dinner saved up for your
piggies. and you must come in a
little while and yet warm
Il huiu't cold said the boy, look
ing timidly out from the rim of his
torn Int 'and she ain't neither.
Yes, are, too. Teddy said a
sharp little voice from the cart.
My fee, ache ever So
Bring her in, Malil,' said Mrs.
Chri-iv. The ltlIe Thing looks blue
enough. Come, Teddy, leave your
hail unyy anI emma with ynttr Ia a
sister
| Kim aud rug.ie stared al the
visitors, but dill not speak.
why dId YOU never briu" your
little >I-ter III the yard before Z asked
Mrs. thristy, as she drew the rag
.cd, dirty cuiId. so unlike her own
dainty Pug~Ic, up to the range and
began to warm her hands between
her own.
Father said not replied The boy,
with trown. | didn't never tooh
her with me till she died but the
other folks is cross 10 her, So
brings her now most places, and
she stops out.
But, do YOU walk far, little on. :?
said her new friend, rs the litilr
! tace under the ragged hood grew
r | Drlghtcr ana hrlghlcr.
Teddy brings me. When he take.
the slop out, he cleans the cart out
with an o.d paper aud puts me III
aud we play grand folks. Teddy,
my horse, ana am L fine lady
riding OUT
Mrs. Christy gave a little shiver
OF disgust, AS she thought of hel
, little Puggie riding IN such a vehicle
But he" kind heart would not ALLOW
hcr to show it to her new charge
And how do YOU go home 2 sh,
asked, with a glance at Teddy.
Then I'm Tcddv's driver, and ht
is Al city team taking gravel, anc
t he pranccs and looks nice like The
city horses. Teddy know. how
And YOU love Teddy very much
do YOU 2 asked the lady.
The child did not answer; bu
. crossed over and put her hand il
her brothers while the boy Eiushe,
aud looked at Kim.
f Il wonder how much older YOU ar
than my little son. said she.
Most eight, father says, replied
the boy. And Sissy is five. She WA
only three when mother died Chick
crv takes care ot her sometimes.
'Who is Chick'rY, my boy p sal,
Mrs. Christy, while she was busy fit
ting - W arm WOODEN saclur of Pug
gic's on the child. IL she voIr sister:
NO, marm. She's Only Chickerv
and lives with her faith i'll the to
of our house. She washes cars and i
little and crooked
Aud good cried little Sissv,intcr
rupting. Ever and ever aud ever 5
good
Does she give you candy?' askc
'uggIe, who had gradually crswle
up anl slipped n small fancy crackc
III the child's hand.
No, never. Something nicer, some
thing goody good said the little on,
who WAS tlawing out in more way
than one.
What , said Kim, who had II,
spoken once before.
'neut, said the child. Real mea
Aud she toa>ts it on u fork, and oh,
smells so nice and tastes so good. b,
it never tastes quite so uicc as
.meis. Does it, Tcddy?'
The boy smiled, but did not amswe
white Mrs. Chrisiy gave her scrval
look which she seemed to unde
stand, tor Maria brought out pla
of sandwiches, some light cake, and
glass of warm milk for each of 1t
children.
80 Chickery is very good TO YOU
She said Mrs. Chrlsty. i would TIL
to see her
She ism much to see, said the DO
She's huuChiackcd and the bn,
plague her. But they won't dare
when am big
'Dnas her father know =
'l1e never knows, marm. Hes be-
rid, he is. Never gifts up. Had
stroke OF something. But he's FUN
and tells us stories
rChickery cried once said htl
Sissy, quite Delighted to tell all 81
knew of her kind friend.
That is sad Tor Chickery. Cnu
you comfort her
No. said Teddy, taking up II
conversation whenever he thought
too hard for his little sister. .Chicl
cry couldn't help it. lou see, h,
father was that bad she couldn't d
her cars for a whole week and 81
had to use the money she was savil
up to get him something beforeCbris
mas
Poor girl said Mrs. Christ
What was 1t, wonder?'
Il know, l know said Sissy. 6
was bed with telegraphs not to hu