Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-01-18
How Berthe Spent New Years Eye.
A STORY FOR LITTLE FOLKS.

l and sit with you?
AS Mrs. Howard asked this question
she leaned over the couch and gentl,
. stroked Bertie's hair.
mo, mamma, I don't want Jane, T.,
rather be alone" BERTHE replied, turn
ing the rings on her fingers.
| "Well, dear, you can amuse yoursel
with these pretty gifts, "acd Mrs. How
ard pointed to the table near by, whicl
/ was quite covered with books and toys
, '1f could paint as Willie can
J would, or if I knew how I'd play tb'
J accordeon, but 1 don't, and beside
, wanted 'Grimm's Tales and instea(
uncle sent me the German Popular,
so can't have much fun"
: "Uncle selected your book with care
and 1 told him it was just what you
wanted" said Mrs. Howard, gravely
holding Bertie's restless hands.
II wanted both, mamma, and why
can't 1 do things that other people
do?"
"Don't fret, Bertie-what things ?'
II can't paint, or make kite, or teach
Fash to jump, or"
what list but I will tell you the
trouble, Bertie-you are not willing to
work for these things. We must work,
Eeven for our pleasures"
"But do. I spoiled my paint book
trying to do the ducks, and I've tried
lots of times to make kites"
'But, my little son, don't be so eager !;
you are not willing to work in the right
way. Without looking at the copy you
dash on the color and daub the picture
until it is spoiled-is not that the
case?n
Eyes, mamma, but I mean ever time
to try the right way"
'"This is good time to begin. To-
morrow is the first day of the new year
and now make up your mind that you
will be patient and learn to do these
things that you admire so much, that
you will work little for your pleasure,
and next New Years Eve shall see
happier boy, and these ugly frowns
will be gone;" and Mrs. Howard kissed
Bertie's forehead.
"FOr whole year, mammal"
| Eyes. it will not seem long when you
once begin. Now this evening would
write little note and thank uncle for
the German Tales If you had both
books. you could only read one at time,
and it is greedy to wish for more than
we can use"
us not that making good resolutions,
m mamma"
Eyes, and you will find when you
once try that everything will help you
to go on"
Mrs. Howard, feeling sure that she
had given BERTHE amusement in his new
experiment, bade him goodbye, and
answered the calls from the carriage in
the street by her appearance. She was
going with some of Bertie's cousins to a
holiday party, which he was unable to
attend on account of lame foot When
sliding with his new sled Christmas he
had fallen, and as the other boys COM
ing rapidly down the hill they could
not stop in time, and the runners had
passed over his ankle. The injury was
sufficient to cOnfne him to his couch
for some time, and the doctor said he
must not have much excitement, or be
led to use his foot too soon. He could
limp about with crutch a little, and
Mrs. Howard, having promised his cou
sins to go to the party, left him tor
couple of hours. As he did not need
her care, she was unwilling he should
interfere with the pleasure of others,
being anxious that her pretty, petted
boy should not be selfish.
For while after she left him, BERTHE
lay on his back making many resolves
He hardly gave a thought OF regret to
the party, he was so busy with his plans
and from them his mind wandered to
the Christmas just passed. The tree
from which he had his gifts still stood
in the corner, its green limbs gay with
| fantastic ornaments. and the shadows
| bobbed Oh the ceiling, as the fire cracked
and sparkled. The tree stood in a tub
covered with soft moss, and Berthe
thought that would be pleasant place
to lie and think you were out in the
woods. The study-lamp on the table
| cast mellow light, and reminded Ber-
| tie of the note. He was very fond of
| writing, for it was new thing for him,
| and every day he sent his mother let
tiers with printed capitals. So now the
| prospect of sending real note on his
new paper was very attractive. With
| the help of his crutch he quickly got
into the easy chair and spread his ma
| terials before him.
When be was all ready, he raised his
eyes and stared at the picture opposite
to gel an Idea for beginning. It was
his fathers portrait, and the eyes look
ed so kindly down that Berthe forgot
his note, and began to wonder whether
his father could see him then. Fash on
the cushion by his side reused himself,
and shaking his ears lay down to sleep
again. Berthe leaned back in his easv
| chair and said, half aloud:
u wonder whether dogs can think,
anyway"
Fash gave little growl and partly
opened his eyes. BERTHE laid his head
on his hand. and taking the "German
Tales" began to read. Soon he laid the
book down and said:
II wish there were fairies now, and /
would'-after pause-''call one and
ask him lots Of things"
What was his surprise to see his
crutch slip between his legs and bear
him away, right up the chimney
through the blue frosty sky.
Where are we going" cried BERTHE.
The crutch made no reply, for how
could it speak 1t only went the faster
BERTHE held on tightly, and look ed down
| on the church steeple, and on the roofs
of houses. Before him was great
shining giant with a club in his hand.
and Bertie shut his eyes, for they felt
| dazzled, as if he had looked at the sun.
AT this instant the crutched stopped.
tipped BERTHE OFF, and rap, rap, rapped
against something. BERTHE opened his
eyes, and tue crutch was knocking at a
large. white door. At the Ioudest Knock
the door flew open, the crutch pushed
Be tie in, and the door shut very softly.
BERTHE did not remember the doctors
caution, and was standing on his lame
| foot without any pain.
He was in long hall with a green
floor, blue ceiling, with gold bands
across it, and could see rooms opening
on the side. From one of these rooms
came party of boys, with bright dres-
ses, and when they saw him they cri-
ed;
Here is Bertie-now we will go.n
| One OF them gave him silver bow
and some arrows, like those they had,
and as they passed a room beautiful
crown and white spaniel ran out.
Hes for you," they cried, and they
gave him white whistle fastened to a
chain that he could put around his neck.
All the boys had whistles like his. and
when they blew them a dog came out
for each boy. and then they said;
Now we will do our hunting.u
They ran into an orchal where were
all kinds of fruit; apples, pears, plums,
peaches, cherries apricots, oranges, ba-
nanas, grapes, white and purple. Here
thew shot the sfnrlS of tho fr,;t lily,