The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1880-01-22
VOL. V.

, anu tuC uluIDlcb hCIc VI INC D6hlt ~
, Joe is to have no presents at Christmas,
was the often-t xpressed reason for extri
indulgence on this particular birthday
1t was all very delightful, and it mad,
Joe quite the hero of the autumn
creating any amount of envy in The
minds Of other boys who must wait till
Christmas.
But Christmas was drawing on and
Joe soon found himself face to face with
an anticipation which was not pleasur.
able; an entirely new position in his
experience. In fact, tie numerous
preparations in the world outside began
to produce slightly depressing sensa-
tion in the members of Mr.. Foote'S
family; even Bessie, usually firm in her
decisions, could not help wishing they
had chosen Christmas and given up
the birthdays. But it was too late
now, so they all carefully avoided any
allusion TO the coming festival, each
hoping by silence to create the impress
sion in the others that the whole plan
was eminently satisfactory.
Mr.. Foote, quietly reading in his easy
chair, was really the only one quite at
ease; all the minds of the family being
more or less ruffled, on Christmas eve,
by some thoughts as to what might be
going on in Joe's mind; for contrary to
his custom, he had betaken himself to
bed at an unusually early hour. Mrs
Foote and her older daughters were busy
with their sewing near the table where
Mr.. Foote was enjoying the cheerful
fire and his evening paper, when Bessie
suddenly broke into the room with the
exclamation: Joe has hung up his
stockingsl' Mr.. Foote laid the paper on
his knees and the busy needles made
slight pausos, but no one spoke.
He has hung up botb He never
hung up but one before' added Bessie,
dropping helplessly into the nearest
chair.
That was naughty in Joe,' said Mrs.
Foote in tone in which despair and
apology oddly mingled.
Some time elapsed, during which no
one ventured to remark, and Mr.. Foote
still looked into the fire. Strangely
vivid remembrances came to him of
country boy, long forgotten Christmases,
an empty stocking and disappointed
heart. He slowly took down his eye
glasses 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 man who would
rather the fact should not be observed,
rose quietly from his chair and in very
Indifferent voice, said: Bessie will you
hand me my coatP'
why, you are not going outP' ex-
claimed Mrs. Foote, excitedly.
yes; think 1 will take short walk,
replied Mr.. Foote, still indifferently,
though knowing perfectly we'll that
walk was q most unusual performance
for him in the evening after busy day.
4 believe / will 60 with you, said
his wife, cheerily, and going at once for
her hat and shawl.
Let us go too said all the girls.
and with that liveliress which indicates
relief from dilemma.
All were soon ready, and, Mr.. and
Mrs. Foote leading the way, they were
soon on thepavement of well-lighted
street, and moving with the crowd or
pausing at the shop.windows to see the
unusual and final attractions of the
season.
If people would dream facts instead
of dreaming dreams, Joe Foote 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 an impulse, on
an errand which not one of them could
have told to another. Joe awake and
on his feet might have been resisted,
but Joe asleep, with those two expect
ant stockings yawning in the basement,
was an impersonation Of that faith which
moves mountains. 1t all came about
very naturally and easily; Mr.. Foote
first expressed some regret that the
knife he had given Joe on his birthday
had not been of a better quality and,
now that the boy had lost it, it seemed
only fair to get him another. This ac-
complished at the first cutlery store,
his mother followed in the purchase of
o new boys book, which she very much
regretted she had not heard of in time
to get for bis birthday. His sisters,
too, remembered 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 finally
reached their own door.
/ can not doubt that Joe smiled there
in his sleep; and if thefruitful 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' pur-
poses and actions.
The next morning all but Joe awoke
with a slight feeling of uncertainty
whether il was Sunday or some other