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

Santa Claus" exclaimed Ned, half mock
ingly.
bring you. Ned 2"
Il don't know. and l don't care much, he
answered, for there isn't any Santa Claus
why, Ned" cried Mamie. in astonish-
ment. Even my big brother Harry believes
in Santa Claus. He's coming home from
school tonight, and we're going to hang mp
our stockings"
''Pshaw !" said Ned, 4 must go home
Goodbye"
Merry little Mamie stood in amazement
and then ran indoors to her mother with her
pe'plleaxity.
said there wasn't any Santa Claus-and he
was real cross about it, too"
"Well, Mamie" said her mother, II would
Mt take any notice of Ned's being cross about
Christmas-time. The Huntleys don't keep
Christmas"
Don't keep Christmas :" exclaimed Mamie,
astonished beyond measure.
Seeing that her mother was busy, she took
her doll Helena Margaret Constance Nicto-
rine, in her arms, and talked the matter over
with her.
What do you think, my dear" said she,
they don't keep Christmas at Ned Huntleys
house! don't know just what mother means
by not keeping il, for you know Santa Claus
comes down the chimney, and so he can get
in during the night and leave Christmas there.
Oh, yes. but they don't keep it. They turn
it out, l suppose Just like mother told me
they acted about the dear little baby Savior;
they hadn't any room for him. and l guess
Mrs. Huntley hasn't any room TO keep Christ
mas in. l wonder what she does with the
Christmas things Santa Claus brings? l won
der ii she throws EN- away? | mean to go
and ask her" and putting her child carefully
in its cradle, Mamie started.
There was some truthin what Mrs. Castor had
told her little daughter the Huntleys did not
keep Christmas in loving, hearty way. They
kept it in so fur that ON this very afternoon
Mrs. Huntley was busy making the mince pies,
dressing the turkey, and doing all she could to
be beforehand with the extra Christmas din
nor, Mr.. Huntley had just stepped into the
kitchen moment TO say to his wife, What
have you settled on for Ned's Christmas 7"
1--WE bought him pair of arctcs-he need
ed EN- and if you want TO spend more than
common, You might get him half dozen
| handkerchiefs.
well, wife, l was thinking that perhaps
the farmer tried to be particular about his
words, for Mrs. Huntley did not seem to be
| in a very good humor-'I was remembering
how you used to enjoy giving the young ones
candies and toys; SO perhaps"
Nov, Noah Huntley, Pm surprised at you!
Buy candies and toys for great numbering
boy like Ned? Why, you must be crazy
man The next thing will be that you will
want Christmas-tree YOURSELF"
''Well, and it wouldn't be a bad idea, I"
thought the father. ''There's my man, Fritz
| he has been in the woods and cut little tree
for his children, and he seems to get a heap
of pleasure out of it. All! if only little Pol
| ly had lived" Strangely enough, the wife
was thinking the same thing, as she sliced and
sifted and weighed. IF little Polly had lived
it would have been different but we can't
throw away money ON nonsense for Ned"
A little red cloak flashed by the window, n
little bright face, just about the age of ''our
little Polly's" peeped in at the door, and Ma
mie asked, May come in, Mrs. Huntley :"
Certainly, child. Here's fresh cookie.
suppose you're full of Christmas over at
your house 2"
"Oh, yes, ma'am And I'm SO sorry you
don't keep it. What's the reason"
Don't keep it Why, we have regular