St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-12-26
Christmas at Number One Crawlin
Place.
BY SARGEGNT FLINT.


Most certainly, Number One, Crawlin
Fiace was dingy abode at any time,
put as Carol came in sight of it, one
oright afternoon a few days before
CHRISTMAS, with his mind full of much
pleasanter places, he gave little sigh
OF disapproval, and muttered, not
gioomIly, but honestly, as if he had
been called upon suddenly to compare
1T candidly with brighter places he had
seen:
"lt looks meaner than ever!"
A ray fIom the sun as he looked up
at No. l, seemed to contradict him, for
it fell brightly upon a window in the
fourth story and lighted it up wonder
fully F; or was it the bright, deep-set
eyes of old Aunt Kizzy, as she looked
down and nodded cheerfully A? Howev-
er that may be, little Carol forgot that
Crawlin Place was dingy as he darted
up the old stairs. The faded face OF
Aunt Kizzy, her bright eyes and worn
wig, were Il part of his home; and
when Christmas is near, home is dearer
than any other place in the world, il
it is dingy. Besides, Carol-but let him
tell his own secrets.
"Darn up the old stocking I saw
dangling on the line, Aunt Kizzy," he
cried as he came breathlessly up to the
window where the old lady sat.
"I'll make it strong enough to hold
up two cents worth of snuff" she said,
cheerily.
81 feel sure this will be lucky
Christmas" said Carol. 1 saw three
stars shoot last night--a star apiece for
US, Aunt Kizzy. Now quick-before
mother comes-cOunt that, please !"
'Massy massy Where did you get
it, child 2" as the coppers and bits OF
silver fell into her lap. "You amt"
"All right, Aunt Kizzy. Good, hon
est money. For mothers present. You
go buy it, for l must get more or there
can't be any snuff"
She caught him by his worn jacket as
he was flying past the door, and sat him
down in the old rocking-chair.
''Sit there, sir, and tell me where you
got this money! A Christmas present
ought to be bought with money that
don't need washing"
81 won't tell.n
Aunt Kizzy's back became very stiff,
and she handed him back the money.
''It's all right" he said impatiently
waving back the extended hand. "But
if you must know" dropping his voice
to mysterious whisper, ~ sang for
Hm
"Where, child"
''ln the street."
"Like beggar 7"
"NO, not quite. | didn't ask for
money; they gave it to me-"
"What did you sing, you scamp,
you9" said Aunt Kizzy, forgetting her
point in her curiosity.
81 sang every song l knew-even the
one you sang to me the other night"
"Where I? Anywhere about here 2"
mo; away uptown where the big
folks live"
"Don't you do it again."
81 have promised Santa Claus two
cents worth of snuff for an old lady who
hangs up black stockings"
"She can't have it,"
''She must"
Aunt Kizzy dropped the money slow
ly, piece by piece into her lap.
Seventy cents, CarOlm
''Get anything you feel sure she'll
like" he whispered in her ear, and
darted away.
Seventy cents! Well, well, well |!
May be you're not ashamed of your
want O. faith, old Kizzy Hopkins No
good comes O. twitting, so I'll only say,
faiths good thing always. Now step
along and see what you can buy. Sew
enty centsl And ten way down in your
pocket for him, that he couldn't see.
No, you can't get much for ten cents,
butstart out and do your best. Straight
Ell your wig, old Kizzy count up your
change and don't go out with envious
feelings in your heart because other old
women carry heavier purses Seventy
cents and ten is eighty eighty cents
aint to be sneezed at. Didn't you ex-
pect to have to start out with only ten ?
You know you did ! Then why not look
little cheerful ~
This remark was evidently addressed
to the faded, patient face that looked
out at her from the small looking glass.
But Carols mother heard.
"Don't dare find fault with that wo-
man in the glass;" said she, coming in
and smoothing the rusty black ribbon
on the Orn-Out bonnet.
"She's orful ungrateful, Car'line. In
stead of bein' thankful for bonnet to
cover her old wig, she's wishing for
veil to hide her old bonnet"
"'The more people have, the more
they want, Aunt Kizzy. But where are
you going ?"
"After Christmas presents" said
Aunt Kizzy, proudly. "Good-bye ~
''There is a dear, strong heart under
that old shawl" said Caroline, as Aunt
Kizzy turned the dismal corner.
''Only ten cents for both of 'em," NUT
tered the old woman, as she left the
narrow street. 'That boy is off trying
to get something for me. Aint you
ashamed of yourself, Kizzy H.?" she
continued, falling into her favorite mode
of addressing herself, which she called
giving a dose to her pride. "Think of
the times you might have earned a lit
tie, if you hadn't been so proud!n
II would do anything now," she fore
ed her pride to say.
"No doubt you would" she returned,
severely. "COme in at the Eleventh hour
and take what you could find"
81 would do anything in the world
that could that was honest" said hel
pride, humbled now to the very dust of
self-reprOach.
"Would you sing for money 2"
Aunt Kizzy said this abruptly, almost
triumpbantly, as if she had proved her
pride now, and found it nothing but a
vain boaster. A little red spot was
burning in each faded cheek.
She had left Crawlin Place far behind
her. The houses she now saw were be-
ginning to wear very well-to-do look.
On she walked until the streets grew
wide and the houses very fine.
What contrast to Crawlin place ~