Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-12-24
A STORY FOR CHRISTM1S ~

The two little Merryweathers had hung up
their stockings and gone to bed, under pro
test Strange, wasn't it, that Mamma Merry
weather insisted, after being assured over and
over again that there wasn't the least wink Of
sleep in their eyes? But, then, mammas
know better about some things than the
young ones, and it was 80 on this Christmas
eve for it came to pass that Al. began to
nod while he was unlacing bis shoes, and
Bertic- dear fellow gave only half good
night kiss to his mother, bestowing the other
half upon Santa Claus, who appeared over
her shoulder with all his traps and filed the
wee bedroom with frosty cheer
BLESS their little hearts :" breathed Nam
ma Merry Gather and then she patted them
aud tucked them up and took the candle and
went back into the kitchen, where sat Papa
Merryweather staring into the fire.
Those blessed boys were of before their
heads touched the pillow" she began, in
u lively voice, perching herself on the arm Of
his chair. Dear little souls They'll be on
hand long before daylight to see what's in
their stockings. Let's fill 'em right away,
Rich. l verify believe I'm as much of
child as they"
But Rich" didn't appear quite as jubilant
as the little mother. In fact his eyes looked
out gloomily over his mousiache and heavy
beard, and seemed TO see nothing very pleas
ant ahead Now, Rich, don't be glum :"
coaxed Mamma Merryweather, patting him
ON the shoulder. Christmas doesn't come
but once year, and We must make the boys
happy, and we must be happy, too, mustn't
WEI"
Its n dreary look, Kitty, for merry max
ing. Ten clerks discharged to-day, married
men, every one of them, and my turn is like
ly to come any minute, and then" Rich
pulled his moustache and persiStently stared
into the fire.
"Ihen isn't ROir," said the little mother,
'and l don't mean to cross bridge till
come to it, Rich -
"Well, Kitty
Lets fill the stockings"
katharine, I'm in no mood for tri1ing."
''Now, Rich" and Mamma Merryweather
Strengthened herself up and took his face be-
tween her strong little hands, bringing it
around SO that he could not help looking at
her, "here are you and l, and there are the
children, all well and hearty-not days
sickness in the whole year; we don't owe
penny in the world, and there's fifty dollars
in the bank against rainy day; we have
had enough to eat and drink and wear, and
a trife over for those that are poorer than
We. Now aren't you ashamed of yourself
Just little bit z"
No matter what Rich said but in some
WLhl l0hh llhl Two Llluulcb uG hho hullhDlJ
holding open the mouths of the boys stock
ings, and watching Mamma Merryweather as
she stuffed and crammed them with nuts and
candy and such trifes ms her clever head had
planned and her deft fingers fashioned, while
she chattcred and laughed like magpie.
Il did want to buy them some jack knives,
dull ones you know, Rich-the little shavers
are so crazy to whittle, but couldn't afford
it this Christmas, I'm sure that will be the
thing they'll look for first"
Rich put his hand into his trousers pocket
and jingled the loose change He had fully
made up his mind lot to have anything to do
| with all this nonsense, but, somehow, the
way Kitty said jack knives carried him back
to his own little boyhood and its pleasures,
and made such a deightfully vivid picture
that no sooner were the stockings stuffed than
| he put on his overcoat determined to repro
duce it for the small lads in the bedroom.
| Then Kitty laughed in her sleeve for Joy,
and while he was gone slipped beneath his
pillow the pretty purse she had crocheted for
him, containing a bright, crisp ten dollar
bill, and-"Dear old fellow !" she said to her
self, whisking away tear, "Tm so glad
was able TO save it for him, just when he
was feeling SO blue and discouraged !"
l don't suppose that Papa MerryweatheI
ever began to suspect the amount of manag-
ing and economizing it had required on the
part of a certain little woman to make this
| gift possible, but that is of 10 consequence
she never meant he should.
Well, in the course of half an hour, Kitty
seated at the table demurely darning the
small breeches that were forever wearing out
heard Rich at the door make some kind of al
unintelligible outcry, which brought her tC
her, feet in an instant, and sent her with (
candle to let him in.
| L., ,;,,I ovI Nl,o gtt
gled with her when she drew the bolt. l
seemed as though they were bent on keeping
out everybody but themselves as they rushed
furiously in. They took the candle in hanC
at first onset, and Strengthened Kitty's crimp
with a Whit, but in the midst of their roy
stering Papa MerTyweather managed to stun
BILE into the entry and grope his way to tn
kitchen, while the little mother pushed t.
the door and made it fast against wind ant
weather.
Rich had brought burthen in with hin
and deposited it in the middle Of the kitchel
floor.
ut wasn't on the doorstep when wen
out, he averred, while Kitty relighted tn
candle, "but came within an ace of break
ing my neck over it when l came back. Wha
under the sun can it be "
"a Christmas box" cried Mamma Merry
weather, quiver of delight in her voice
''The fairies are at work for us tonight
Rich now you see !" and down she wen
upon her knees beside long wicker basket
carefully wound about with heavy paper.
Rich helped loosen the strings and pu
away the wrappers. Under the paper was
thick wooden shawl, and beneath that a blanl
ct, and when they got SO far there was som
I trembling of the investigating hands, an
Kitty held her breath, for she knew we
enough what was coming to light, and so di
Papa Merryweather as he sat back on b
, heels and pulled his moustache. Underneat
! the blanket something moved and nestled
E and that something Kitty caught up in h'
, arms and ran with to the fire, crying;
, ",Such night as this" and then 81
/, dropped upon a stool and unrolled the small
5 mummy shaped bundle of flannel, an