Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1879-12-19
Widow VintGrpippin'S Wonderful Dream
A CHRISTMAS STORY.

A CHRISTMAS STORY.
This is just how affairs stood in the
house in which we lived-brother Ma.
thaniel and lit was tenement house
not what they call " first-class" one
but very nice one--on the Christmas
Eve before that Christmas night.
In the basement the three little chill.
dren of Mrs. Rose, the ,janitor's wife,
were quietly playing with their dolls
for the first time in several weeks, hav-
ing been sick nigh unto death, and theil
poor, tired mother was lowering about
them, her thin, pale face lighted up
with thankfulness and Joy, albeit q
cloud did fit across it. every now and
then, as she thought of the debts con-
tracted during their sickness-debts
which at the present momentum. Rose
having been out of work for three long
months-she had but the faintest hope
of ever being able to pay.
On the first floor Mrs. McChilly-old,
obstinate and-well, to speak plainly
stingy Mrs. neutrality-suspicious. on
nose and head held close to the lamp,
was looking over for the fiftieth time
the bonds, willed her by her brother,
who had lately died in San Francisco
and received by her few days before,
making her already in comfortable, very
comfortable circumstances - what in
our sphere of life would be considered
rich. Her girlish-looking granddaugh-
ter, by marriage, was darning the old
lady's stockings, and thinking of the
dear, merry, young brother-in-law
banished from his home half year age
hn, h fot, ho1
shiny since-because he had dared tC
fall in love without his grandmother
consent, and the boyish-looking hus-
band of fthe granddaughter, by marriage
was writing cheerful, affectionatt
letter to the banished one, under cover
OF the daily account-book.
On the second floor pretty, gray eyed
brown-haired Mrs. Summer was hush
ing the baby to sleep. and dropping
tears on its little, golden head when
evel, which was very often, she glanced
at her husband who lay snoring on the
lounge, having left a convivial party
late that afternoon to stagger home, as
he had done many times during the las
unhappy year, with aching head ant
empty pockets.
On the third floor jolly, plump, black
eyed, rosy-cheeked, generous (out of hel
income of thousand year she gave
away at least one-eighth) Widow Win
terpippin was calmly sleeping in hel
bed, thoroughly tired, out by hare
days work, and Mamie, her little maid
with the cat in her lap, was doing il
spasmodic manner in rocking-cRail
by the kitchen fire.
| y,I ~, 41o cO,,r@I Coo,, l,o4Ho,, NJ
thaniel and were taking late supper
because / had been obliged to remain
longer than usual at the store where
was clerk, it being the custom of ou
employer to exact extra service all holi
day week (without, however, thinking
it necessary to requite such services will
extra pay), and dear Nathan whom
there never could be kinder brother
would not, though he be ever so hungry
eat supper until was there to max,
and pour out the tea. "It tastes 81
much better from your hand, SIS" h,
used to say.
Nathaniel was a printer, and haC
been a fine, stalwart, singing, whistlins
fellow until that dreadful day in Sep
tember when he met with the terrible
accident which resulted in the loss O
his right arm.
Since then he had been on the invali,
list, and sang and wllistled and joked NJ
more. We had, fortunately, SOM
money saved when this misfortun
came upon us, but it was now almos
exhausted. And Nat began to worr,
about that, among other things; but
never lost heart. Why should IP
had youth, health and strength an,
twelve dollars n week. And we coul,
manage not to starve OF freeze on twelv
dollars week, and Mats overcoat an
my cloak could both be turned, and
somebody was coming home soon.
Widow Winterpippin-God bless he
proved an angel of goodness durin
our trouble, coming to sit with Nat her
self when his arm was at the worst
had to go to the store after the first fey
days, or the salary would lave ceased
though they did, for wonder, give m
an extra half hour at noon when wen
home to understanding Mamie to wal
on him when he was getting better, an
making all sorts of nice dishes to temp
his appetite, and lending him all til
incest books and keeping the rool
bright with beautiful flowers. But
wasn't this kindness which made NJ
fall in love with her. Oh, no! for b
| had fa lion in 1ovp with hpr lonu hnCor