Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-12-24
The Story OF n Bottle.

CHRISTMAS STORY.
The bottle, filled with water, was hidden
behind picture in the pretty parlor, and in
the water was growing sturdy ivy vine,
which had climbed up and caught hold of
the cord that held the picture, and, in its
joy at reaching so great height, had thrown
out two cheerful, glossy, light green leaves
that looked smilingly down on the larger,
darker leaves below.
The children had all gone to bed. Their
stockings were hanging in row under the
mantel in the dining-room. Four Of them.
One pink and white, and very short in the
leg-that was the two-yearold baby's; one
red and black-that was five-year-old Toms !;
one striped with buff and purple-that was
seven-year-old Mays; and one checked in
blue and gray-that was nine-year-old
Maud's.
The grown people were up stairs dressing
this spare room--( grandmamma-the dear
old lady was coming from her cottage in
the county to spend holiday week -with
Christmas greens.
The parlor was already dressed. Festoons
of Jolly, cold-defying winter vines dotted
with bright red berries hung from the cell
ing and enwreathed the gilt chandelier,
wreaths, garlands and crosses of autumn
leaves frightened the gray walls, and punches
of slender dried grasses nodded from quaint,
small white pitchers and pretty little vases.
How lovely the parlor looks tonight |"
said delicate voice from one corner of the
room, and tall, feathery spear of grass bent
gracefully forward.
"Lovelyl" repeated bunch of autumn
leaves from the opposite corner.
"And how happy we should be-" said the
ivy, "to think that zoe help to make it so
Aud yet when was first taken from my
parent vine-'twas in last October-I
thought should never cease to regret the
outer life But have been sheltered from
winters cruel winds and heavy SHOWS, and
tended with kindly care and tender love,
and I've no doubt, if | remain here during
the summer, shall find it just as pleasant
to look at the sweet faces and hear the
happy voices of the dear children as to see
the gay butterflies and listen to the songs of
the birds. But you, Bottle looking down
at the bottle which held her and the water
that gave her life" aren't you rather
lonely? Shut in between the back of the
picture and the wall, you can see nothing"
81 can see you, dear Ivy" answered the
bottle, in clear, ripping voice, and you
are a very pleasant thing to look upon; and
III Vie iuOlIluSS 4 eau oCC q iou6 buuOtduI
on the wall, and that is a very pleasant thing
to look upon. Aud as for being lonely
not bit of it; I'm as happy as | can be.
And you would say ought to be happy if
you but knew the life | used to lead before
| had the honor and pleasure of supporting
YOU"
"Tell us all about it-pray do" begged
many little voices.
"Hearl hear hear !" barked the bronze
dog that stood on top of the marble clock.
" A story from the bottle"
"a story from the BOTTLE" repeated the
feather duster, as it hoped quickly in on its
one wooden leg, from the hall, where it had
been lying on the mat. 81 must hear it
too. Clock, couldn't you stop ticking for
little while ?"
"Sorry can't oblige you,' said the clock,
in a fairy, bell-like tone; "but was wound
up this afternoon, and 80 | must go on for a
week but III tick as softly as possible and
you won't notice it as soon as the story
begins"
"Now, Bottle" barked the small bronze
dog, "we're all ready"
"Yes, go ahead" called the drummer-boy
from the lid of the match safe.
"Well if you insist upon it, and it really
| will give you pleasure" said the bottle,
modestly, "although had no intention Of
| telling story when spoke of my past life,
| wM go ahead. III begin with the time
just after | left the mandatory"
Mandatory" said the ivy.
Manutdctory," explained the bottle" a
place where they make bottles"
"Oh - said the ivy. "You see, didn't
know, cause there's no place where they
make ivies. Ivies grow"
81 left the mandatory" continued the
| bottle, "with a number of other bottles
enough like me to have been my brothers
and sisters"
Perhaps they were, 'barked the bronze dog.
Very likely" said the bottle. "And we
were all carried down into dismal place
called cellar, and filed with some dark
looking stuff that both tasted and smelled
very"
Unpleasantly," limited the ivy.
Unpleasantly, yes; thank you, that's
the word,' said the bottle. "Then corks
were forced into our mouths, and we were
taken to a large store, where we were ranged
arountcon shelves in company with hun
dreds of other bottles of all shapes and sizes
| OF course we couldn't speak to each other
out for all that, we didn't lead quiet life
for the store was always full OF men from
morning until night, and often far into the
night too. Such thirsty crowd as they
were always wanting something 10 drink
and getting noiser and thirster all the time
Well one evening bright-looking, pleasant
faced young man came in. : A bottle Of
your very best whiskey,' said he. 'It's my
birthday, and have some friends coming to
spend the evening, and must make bow
OF punch The man behind the counter
took me down from the shelf (Oho T thought
|, its whiskey hold, is it ? wonder wha
that's good for y wrapped me in whit'
paper, and handed me TO the pleasant-facec
young man, who put me IN his overcoa
pocket and hurried home. That was thu
beginning of it,"
"Ah, indeed" said the feather duster; :" Sc
that was the beginning of it Blythe bye
may ask, the beginning OF what 2"
''The misery and unhappipess in thi
house." answered the bottle.
ain this house 2" echoed the many littl
voices.
"Yes," said the bottle. 81 wasn't wei
come visitor, assure you, for as John-ou
master, you know-took me from his poke
and set me upon the table, Agnes-our mis-
tress, you know-said, 'Oh, John, John,
wouldn't But he only kissed ner and bah.
Lou"
"Bless her little heart p barked tn
bronze dog
Aud said, Nonsense, my dear An,
Johns friends came, and the punch wa
made, and that was the beginning of it an,
| began to find out that very night not wha
whiskey was good for, but what it was ba
| for"
"What 2" asked the ivy.
! "For mems heads and hearts," answere
the bottle, solemnly, at makes them sill