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

poverty, tears, and disgrace TO the happiest
home, takes all the sunshine out of little
children's lives, and clouds even the blessed
Christmas day. After that night 7 was
scarcely ever empty John drank every day
more and more, and our dear mistress began
to look pale and shabby, and the children
couldn't go to school, their clothes were so
patched and their shoes were so broken. As
for the baby"
"Bless her golden curls p barked the
bronze dog.
"--She battered about the house in her
tiny bare feet, because she had no shoes at
all, and every thing grew dark and forlorn,
and at last there was scarcely money enough
to buy bread Christmas eve came. Agnes
Our dear mistress-sat before the small
fire in the CRATE, holding baby Lou"
"Bless her blue eyesl" barked the bronze
dog.
"--Upon her knee, and the other children
were gathered around her. John was living
| on the lounge asleep. Mamma said May
in old times we used to hang up our stock
ings on Christmas eve.' did we 2 asked
Tom. Il don't member. What for why,
Santa Claus used TO come and fill them with
nice things answered May. ooh, Santa
Cans said Tom 'the boy next door was
telling me something bout him to-day. Why
won't he come here to night2 We've been
good chilluns, and mamma is the honeyest
mamma in the world May made no reply,
but Maud, glancing up where stood on the
mantel, said, in whisper, guess he don't
come where there's a bottle
ain a short time their papa awoke and
went ont into the street. Mamma looked
sadly after him. and the little ones knet by
har ciIo and uai1 thar
ending with God bless dear papap and
babe her goodnight. If bottles had hearts,
mine would have ached, am sure, when
saw that sad, lonely woman bury her face
in her hands and cry-oh, so bitterly las
soon as the children were gone, and heard
her sob out, 'Oh, save him, save him, dear
God, and bring back the light of happiness
to my dear children, for the sake of the
Christ-Chld born on the holy Christmas
day. And as she sobbed and prayed the
door of the room opened, and John came in,
sober, and with tender look in his face
and bright light in his eyes. Down on
| his knees he fell before the sweet mamma,
and held out his arms to her, while he cried,
in a broken voice, with the tears running
down his cheeks, Never again, my good,
patient Whenever, neuer, NEVER again."
"Oh dearl' said the bronze dog, " wish
| could move my tail far enough around to
wipe my eyes with it."
"And the small stockings" continued
the bottle, "were hung up after ALL and a
few toys and candies put in them and John
who hadn't been asleep on the lounge"
al knew it p screamed the feather duster
jumping straight up and down in its glee.
-" But wide.awake, and listening to what
his children said, has kept his word, and
never, never"
aid like to drum" interrupted the drum
mer-boy on top of the match-safe, "but my
arms are so stiff, holding them in one posi-
ton so long, can't"
And" said the bottle, looking up at the
ivy, "you were brought here with the au
tumn leaves and grasses, and from that
Christmas to this the parlor has grown pref
tier and prettier, and the little home happier
and happier, and the baby has the cunning
est blue shoes"
"Bless her dimpled cheeks !" barked the
bronze dog.
And May and Maud go to school again
and are getting to be fine scholars, aud Ton
is a jolly little fellow"
&C But there's bottle in the house yet,
said the feather duster, slyly.
"Thats true" said the bottle, /" but it ha'
joined the temperance society, and thai
makes all the difference in the world ant
in consequence of its taking to water, to
morrow will be-
Stop moment" said the clock. "To
morrow is here-l'm going to strike twelve :
aud it struck with sweet, silvery sound.
"Three cheers ~ cried the feather duster
waving its feathers about so wildly that lit
tie bits of them flew all over the room.
"a merry Christmas" chimed in all thu
other little voices and then silence reignet
in the parlor once more-Seiected.