St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-12-26
Dp. A house with the curtains up at

She walked up the steps and rang
the bell.
"If you please, MISS" she began as
the door opened.
'Back gate for beggars," said the ser
want, shortly.
With a choking feeling in her throat,
Aunt Kizzy stood staring at the closed
door.
You can't stare money enough ont
of shut door to fill a stocking, unless
a miracle takes place, Kizzy H." she
said cheerfully, as she went down the
grand steps.
House after house was passed before
another struck her fancy.
Don't look quite so grand rs 10th
er," she said, as she looked in at win
dow. 'There's picture o. Christ bless
ing little children. 1t makes me feel
orful old. Dear little creeters! / don't
believe the grand brass images and
tiumiacks have pushed everything good
out of this place"
And she went up the high steps, As
her hand touched the bell, a igh step
was heard behind her, and a pleasant
voice said: "Whom did you wish to
see ?r
II came, Aunt Kizzy's voice was
little unsteady-''I-I came to ask if
any of the ladies here wOuld-would
like to hear a little Old-fashioned sing
ing"
81 certainly should" said the young
lady, pleasantly; "and I'm snre grand
mamma would"
"Open your eyes and take in all the
style, old Kiz, to tell Car'ine," said the
old woman to herself, as they walked
up the broad, handsome stairs. But
when she found herself actually stand
ing before sofa, where lay a proud
looking old lady, she forgot "Car'linen
and almost her errand.
"She is going to give us some old
fashioned music" explained the young
lady, as her grandmother stared at them
both.
Aunt Kizzy clasped her old hands
neIvously together, but though she
pressed them very hard, no song came
to her mind. What would they think
of her -? Her breath came in little gasps
and the red spots frightened in her
cheeks.
'Sit down and rest yourself little
while," said the young lady, kindly.
81 brought you up too many stairs for
you to sing right away"
"There wasn't so many stairs, miss,
as there's years since l sung afore folks"
said Aunt Kizzy, then adding mentally,
"DOn't act like fool if you've got
common sense, Kizzy H. ~
She stood respectfully before them,
and in voice not by any means to be
despised sang simple ballad of Eye
olden time.n
"Can you sing another ?" asked the
young lady, as the last note died
away.
Aunt Kizzy's heart beat jOyfully. She
had forgotten money there was hap
piness in the thought of being able to
give pleasure. She sang until her old
voice sounded weary, and they declared
she should sing no more. The young
lady gave her dollar.
''ToO much," said Aunt Kizzy, firmly.
81 sang ten songs, and two cents apiece
is high enough to reckon 'em."
"A dollar for a good concert is cheap
enough, and l have not enjoyed one so
much for many a day, madam"
"lf you insist on it, | can't help it,
said Aunt Kizzy, with shining eyes, as
she thOught of Carols stocking.
81 do not consider that | half pay for
NY pleasure" said tie young lady's
grandmother, as with bld school dignity
she placed five dollars in Aunt Kizzy's
hand.
81 couldn't sleep tonight if 1 took
that7" she cried. "Don't make me
think I'm dreaming, now, and wake
up without a cent for Carols stocking"
She held out the money to the young
lady, who took it, saying:
''You shall not be overpaid, but let
me give You a mutf; your hands will be
cold going home. This is an old one.
but it is warm, and here are some pieces
of silk for a new lining"
"Tell me all about it I" cried Carol
on Christmas morning as he stood with
a full stocking by the fire place in the
little sitting-room on the fourth story
of No. l, Crawlin Place.
81 WON'T"
''Sit right there, Aunt Kizzy, till you
tell me where You got so much money.
"a Christmas present ought to be
bought with money that don't need
washing p"
"Well," in whisper, s'if you must
know, boy, 1 sang for 1t ~
''Sang for tt" Carols surprise was as
genuine as Aunt Kizzy's had been, but
he recovered himself and said: Like
a beggar 2"
NO. said Aunt Kizzy demureIy. 81
didn't ask for money they gave it to
me without"
"Dear Aunt Kizzy, don't you call
this a lucky Christmas ?" said Carol, as
he pulled on new boots, while Aunt
Kizzy, with new bonnet on, took snuff
eXtravagantly, and his mother stood
with her hands in the muff.
"NOthin' to do with luck" said Aunt
Kizzy. "We worked for something,
and faint sense to expect when you
work for something that you'll get
nothing" With "a merry jerk she pulled
out pair of warm gloves from the
long, black stocking. "Cast your bread
upon the waters, old Kizzy H. Give
Car'line an old muff and get new gloves
from Santa Claus ="
81 shall not allow you to give me this
muff," said Caroline SIT is Just what
you have wanted for so long; anda new
lining will make it just as good as
ever"
"Massy, Carline! the silk for it is in
my pocket. Plenty of it you see." As
she unrolled it, she gasped "Carol.
hand me the campfire bottle ~ for,
carefully folded in the little bundle of
pieces, lay the rejected five-dollar bill.
at must be mistake" said Carols
mother.
"Of course l shall take it back, Car
line"
'If it makes you feel so sick, Aunt
Kizzy, H., will take it, and you shall
never see it again." said Carol, kindly.