Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-12-22
The VIII and the Way.

A CHRISTMAS STORY.
"Well, girls, there is one way we can help
both father and ourselves in these hard
times" said Bessie Foot ave can give up
our birthdays or Christmas" began Bessie,
slowly.
"That is good idea,' broke in Emily,
the older sister "These numerous gift-days
and pleasure-makings draw too heavily upon
all our pockets"
"But what will Joe say This time
they nearly all spoke in concert
After a little pause, Bessie said, with
hopeful decision
"Oh, perhaps he won't care"
Now Joe was the last, but by no means
the least, member in Mr.. Foot's family. lie
had arrived late, after this goodly row OF
girls, and after his parents had given up an
earlier and often expressed desire that boy
might be among the number. And if help.
full hands and warm hearts make the recep-
ton, Joe came.
ITO the world as a gentleman comes,
To a lodging ready furnished"
He was now twelve years old but had
not "worn out his welcome" OF plant,
pleasant nature, he fully answered, so far,
all the demands made upon him. No one
had ever heard him speak rough or uu-
kind word, and in all the little affairs of
every day he was easily helpful enough to
satisfy his loving family. 1t is true, Mr..
Foot, who had struggled up through hard
and self-denying youth TO an honorable
position in the law, began to have some I'M
easiness about his sons character, and to
suffer the first disturbing and perplexing
doubt as to the future of boy to whom
life was such a holiday affair.
But these fatherly thoughts and fears Mr..
Foot carefully kept to himself. His family
was very loving and confding, and Mr..
Foot was not without courage; but doubt
II he would have been willing to contem-
plate, even in the retirement of his own
thoughts, the shock that would have come
to all if this beloved son had been closely
criticised. So Joe spent his thoughtless,
pleasant days undisturbed by criticism, and
when Bessie preached the question of the
morning for her brothers decision-Christ-
mas being nearly year away and birthdays
close at hand,-he chose in his easy way TO
keep the near pleasure, and so it came about
that there was to be no Christmas ceebra-
ton that year in Mr.. Foot's house.
Bessies plan worked admirably. The
birthdays, scattered through the year, had
n September had really been a great affair.
Joe himself had enjoyed it wonderfully
sven beyond his usual happy way. 1t was
very gratifying to have so many new things
in advance of all his playmates even the
attest fashioned sled had been procured by
extra trouble and expense, aud the balls and
the books and the knives and the marbles
were of the bes', for "Joe is to have no pres
ents at Christmas" was the often expressed
reason for extra indulgence on this particu-
lar birthday.
But Christmas was drawing on, and Joe
soon found himself face to face with an an
ticipation which was not pleasurable-an
entirely new position in his experience. In
fact the numerous preparations in the world
outside began to produce slightly depress-
ing sensation in other members of Mr.. Foots
family; even Bessie, usually firm in her de-
cisions, could not help wishing they had
chosen Christmas and given up the birth
lays. But it was too late now.
Mr.. Foot, quietly reading in his easy chair,
vas really the only one quite at ease, all the
minds OF the family being more or less
ruffled, on Christmas eve, by some thoughts
IS to what might be going on in Joe's mind I;
'or, contrary to his custom, he had betaken
himself to bed at AN unusually early hour.
Mrs. Foot and her older daughters were busy
With their sewing near the table where Mr..
Foot was enjoying the cheerful fire and his
evening paper, when Bessie suddenly broke
into the room with the exclamation "Joe
has hung up his stockingsw Mr.. Foot laid
MS paper on his knees and the busy needles
made slight pauses, but no one spoke.
" He has hung up both he never hung up
but one betorel" added Bessie, dropping
helplessly into the nearest chair.
"That was naughty in joe" said Mrs.
Foot, in tone in which despair and apology
we're oddly mingled.
Mr.. Foot meditated, apparently unheed-
ing, while the girls went on with their
sewing.
Some time elapsed, during which no one
ventured to remark, and Mr.. Foot still
looked into the fire. Strangely vivid re-
membranes came TO him of a country boy,
long forgotten Christmases, an empty stock
ing and disappointed heart. He slowly
took down his eye.g asSes from their perch
and put them in his pocket; he folded up
his paper softly, and carefully laid it on
the table, and with the air OF a man who
would rather the fact should not be OBJ
served, rose quietly from his chair and in a
very Indifferent voice said:
Bessie, will you hand me my coat p
"Why, are you going out ?" exclaimed
Mrs. Foot, looking up excitedy.
Yes, | think | will take a short walk
replied Mr.. Foot.
~ believe | will 90 with you," said his
wife, cheerily.
"Lst US go, too" said all the girls, with
that liveliness which indicates relief from a
dilemma.
All were soon ready, and, Mr.. and Mrs.
Foot leading the way, they were soon on
the pavement of a well-lighted street, and
moving with the crowd or pausing at the
shop windows to see the unusual and fiual
attractions of the season.
II people would dream facts instead of
dreaming dreams, Joe Foot might have
smiled to himself as he lay asleep in his
little bedroom in sole possession of the
house, while the whole family had gone off,
moved by one impulse, on an errand which
not one of them would have told to another.
Joe awake and ON his feet might have been
resisted; but Joe asleep, with those two ex-
pectant stockings yawning in the basement,
was an impersonation of that faith which
moves mountains. 1t all came about very
naturally and easily, Mr.. Foot, himself, first
expressing some regret that the knife he
gave Joe on his birthday had not been of a
better quality, and, now the boy had lost it,
it seemed only fair to get him another.
This accomplished at the first cutlery store,
his mother followed in the purchase of
new boys book, which she very much re-
GREETED she had not heard of in time TO get
Tor his birthday. His sisters, too, remem.
bered various little things that Joe liked, or
had their memories quickened by the sight
of new devices for good boys, as they walked
along, and so they were each well laden with
Christmas things when they returned home.
| cannot doubt that Joe smiled then in
his sleep, and il the faithful stockings ran
over with their numerous gifts, the family
wisely concluded not to make any remarks
that might bring into light the inconsistency
of the givers purposes and actions.
The next morning, all but Joe awoke with
a slight feeling of uncertainty whether it
was Sunday or some other day. Joe knew
before he was awake that it wasn't Sunday,
still, he did feel little doubtful if it was
Christmas.
But slowed away in seldom-used nook OF
his closet were some very good reminders of
Christmas, until he should descend to the
basement. Joe's father would have been
pleased enough if he could have looked into
his boys closet just then, as Joe was taking
out from their hiding-place six small pack
ages, all neatly wrapped and tied with long
loops, so that they could be hung on door
knobs These presents he had pnrchased