Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-12-23
A CHRISTMAS SKETCH.

It was cold, bright, crisp Christmas Eve,
everything seemed to say that. The streets
Of the big city were full Of busting men, wo-
men and children, all hurryng along with
their arms full Of mysterious bundles and
packages, and with such jolly good natured
faces which seemed TO say, "Merry Christ
mas, merry Christmas. There were, TO be-
gin with, the dear little rosy children looking
so full Of Importance as they ran along beside
some good papa, mamma, or aunty, very
busy making their last little purchases, which
were TO be such very great surprises to every
one. Then there were the papas and NAM
mas and aunties themselves going first into
one great store and then into another pick
ing up here and there something for each of
the loved ones at home. We must not forget
the grandmothers either, indeed not; for what
wont grandmothers do for little folks at
Christmas timer SO away few the dear old
ladies homeward, quite tired out with their
unusual exertions, but with the seats Of the
sleigh loaded with parcels, and looking as
happy as possible 1t was beginning to grow
quite dark and the crowded thoroughfares
were commencing 10 thin little The street
lamps were lit and one by one the stars peep
ed out, twinkLng away brighter than ever for
Christmas Eve, and seeming TO keep time to
the merry jingle of the sleigh bells, that rang
out on the clear night air. Even the poor
children Of the great city seemed 10 have
caught the joyous spirit that was everywhere,
and little knots of them would gather in front
of the brilliantly lighted shop windows and
gaze admiringly at the tempting display of
dolls, sleds, drums, candies, etc, etc. One
little fellow was standing in front of one of
these tempting windows, looking wistfully at
the goodies inside. He was evidently poor
child, from his little ragged pants and thread
bare jacket His feet were bare and his little
curly head was hardly protected by a torn
wooden cap that he wore. For all that he did
not seem unhappy, but was a bright, merry
little fellow, standing first on one foot and
then on the other, and thrusting his lfhe blue
fingers into his apologies for pockets He
held tight in one hand a big rosy apple which
some good-natured grocer had given him and
which he was carefully keeping TO give to his
little brother next morning. He felt rather
hungry, but still he did not mind that much,
and he considered this as having been quite
festal day, for in one of his pockets were
jingling three "A four pennies which a lady,
attracted by his bright little face, had given
to him. Suddenly he darted off, up one
street, down another through alley after alley,
and finally he went in at a door at the further
end of small court. There was his home.
In one corner stood a bed with a little Grip
pied boy lying on it, looking so very thin and
palel These two little fellows were orphans
and until now, little Chris, the older one, had
done manfully in taking care of his little
brother, but somehow the cold winter seemed
to have been pretty hard for him or else he
wasn't so strong as he used to be. The night
grew colder and colder, people in their COM
Portable houses up town drew nearer the fire,
and the children were snugged warmly into
bed, with visions of all sorts of gifts and sur
prises for the morrow. Little Chris crept
under the old shawl on the bed beside his
brother and wondered why he felt so cold and
strangely sleepy. Christmas morning came,
and the sun peeping into that desolate room,
saw two little boys fast locked in each others
arms, with strange sweet smiles on their little
faces. They would never be cold any more,
or hungry, and never want for kind, loving
words and tender care, for God had taken
them to his beautiful heaven, and they were
with the holy angels singing with all their
hearts and voices, ''Glory to God in the
highest, peace on earth, good will to men,"
For Christmas was indeed come to them
forever.