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

Christmas dinner as sure as the 2jth of De- |
cember comes round, and Pa gives me a new |
dress. or something that ] need, and we give |
Ned suit of clothes, or shoes, or something |
that he needs"
We'll" said Mamie, "but like our way
best. May I tell You how we keep Christ
mas z"
Talk away can listen
well, You see, good while before Christ |
mas my mother begins to get ready, and | of |
ten see her hide up something quick when |
come in and then she laughs, and think, |
oh yes something's coming and then moth |
err takes me up into her lap and tells me how |
Jesus is coming, and how He did come. Do |
you know Mrs. Huntley"
"You Gun tell me, child 7"
''You see, He came long. long time ago
as a little baby. Mamma says that he began
Mt the beginning, so that no little child could
say, L can't be like Jesus, for Jesus never
was so little rs me- That first birthday Of
His. there wasn't any room for Him Mt the
tavern, and when the dear little baby Jesus
was sleepy, they laid Him right in stable
manger, and the shepherds found Him lying
there Christmas is His Birthday. and sup
pose they give all the children presents be-
cause Jesus loved little children, and then
Santa Claus-Oh, Mrs. Huntley that's what
came about, and | most forgot If You don't
keep Christmas mean as we do" she ad-
ded as Mrs. Huntley frowned 'and if you
don't use the things that Santa Claus leaves
here. can't come over and get EN-? Only
! I'd rather Ned should have EN-"
Child alive How your tongue runs
! Here now take these cookies home with you
guess Ned's too busy to play with you"
Thank you ma'am. And you'll remember
/ about Santa Claus 2 said little Mamie, as she
walked away with her cookies.
Mrs Huntley worked on for few minutes
longer, and then, leaving her dishes, she went
to her own foom and opened bureau draw
er. There lay bright little dress and
pretty white apron. .-Polly's best things
! the little clothes in which she used TO look so
! lovely. There were the last Christmas toys
the mother had ever bought, only n little tin
| bank, u paper cornucopia, and Il doll but
she remembered that Christmas so well
Could it he that it was only three years ago?
How Polly had laughed and chattered over
her stocking And Ned,-now that she
| thought about it.-she remembered that they
bought him pair of skates that year. He
had made great time over those skates, and
had taken his little sister out to see him try to
use them. Ned was SO loving and gentle in
those days. And then the mothers heart re
preached her. Could she blame her boy be-
cause he seemed TO care so little for his pa
rents and his home, when she had nursed her
grief for the loss of her baby-girl, and taken
!
She thought how clearly Mamie had told the
story of the Savior's birthday. Could her boy
who was six years older do as well ? He
went to Sunday school sometimes, but she
had never talked with him about Jesus-nev-
er since God took her Polly And her eyes
filled rs she shut the drawer
Mrs Huntley went back to the kitchen, but
the room seemed different to her. Ned brought
i'll the milk. and looked at his mother curious
] ltr NJ bar cav kaI
Wonders would never end, Ned thought,
when. after tea. she said Father, it's
moonlight night; couldn't you and drive to
the village: Ned will excuse our leaving him
alone"
Excuse" When had his mother ever
asked him to excuse her! And then, as moth
er waited for the wagon to be got ready she
asked him to read about the Saviors birth,
and surely there were tears in her eyes as
father came in. Just as Ned read And they
came with haste and found Mary and Joseph,
and the babe lying in II manger."
Mr. Huntley was bewildered too. To start
of for the village at seven o'clock in the eve
ming! When had such thing happened?
On the road Mrs. Huntley told her husband
what Mamie had said to her, and she added
Perhaps as l tell it, it don't seem much, but
it made me think of our little Polly, aud'-
the woman's voice broke, and the father, sad
dened too, said comfortingly, she's safe, my
dear, in heaven"
Yes, father. but I'm thinking of the one
that's left for all cried little. l guess you
were near right about getting him something
, nice. He's but boy yet, and he'd think
! more of Christmas, and perhaps of the child
that was born on Christmas if we show him
that Jesus has made our hearts little more
tender"
What it cost that hard, reserved woman to
say that, none knew, but think her husband
felt dmly how she must have fought with
herself, and he was silent for some time At
last Ii, said, with tone of gadness in his
voice, My dear, Tn glad to get him some
thing. He's good boy, Ned is"
What pleasant time they had, and how
they caught the spirit of Christmas. They
bought sled and skates book or two and
candles and Mrs. Huntley found n jack k-knife
: that was just the thing Ned wanted. Then
. she said to her husband:
- I'd like to buy something for Mamie. II
! will be nice to buy girls present.
Their hearts ached little, as they chose O
' wonderful little wash-tub and board with q
clothes-horss to match How Polly's eyes
:. would have shone at these.
Meantime, Ned mused over his mother,
=, tears and her strangely kind tones, anG
:, thought Il wonder if she's going to be rs
good to Inc as she was to Polly hated tC
hear Mamie talk about Santa Claus. Polly
II use 10 TAX Just that way, ana we dld nave
y such good times used to get skates anC
7 things at Christmas, but now get some hand
kerchiefs. or n lot of shirts 1t makes me
. mad" Then Ned fell asleep, and SO the
!. mother found him. She woke him gently
y and he went off to bed, bewildered by NOR,
:. kind words.
= Morning dawned and Ned hurried down tC
light the fire in the kitchen, but he went NJ
!, farther than the sitting-room. There was
Lila l. plr
20 books! He put his hands in his pockets tt
= take long stare, and felt something strang,
y in one of them. Why There was a beauti
:, full knife!
u u Mother came in and watched her face, bu
-. at sight of her the boy fairly broke down
=, Laying his head on her shoulder Its lik
y Polly come back" he said.
"a 4 - 90 L..