The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-02-04
IEsSIE,s YIsIToRs.

harshly, 1T Is true, jessie. When
Charles Greyson went away from here,
your father was mad enough to lend him
q thousand dollars. And the thousand
dollars was not bis TO give-be borrowed
It, and gave mortgage on the housel
The upshot Of 1t all is, that we are
ruinedn
"But mamma" Jessie lifted her large,
wistful eyes to Mrs. Petherege's pale,
wan face, Mr.; Greyson should have
"Your father was fool ever to have
trusted him." said Mrs. Petherege,
at did It for the best, wife; Gid il
for the best" pleaded the old man.
"Charlie was in debt and difficulty. II
he had staid on here, he would have had
no chance. The thousand dollars en-
abled him to start the world anew, in
another country. He should have paid
Il back; but, somehow, he has not. l
think, however, under the circumstances,
Ishould be tempted to do the same thing
"Then you ought to DO put into the
lunatic asylum" retorted his wife.
" And the mortgage to be foreclosed next
week-and the furniture, that was my
mothers before me, to be sold out at
auction; and US to go and live on fat,
In crowded city street, l declare, it's
enough to drive me mad only to think OF
ITS Christmas day, wife," said the
old man, gently. Harkl don't you
hear the bellsP Let Us try and forget all
our troubles-for little while, at least.
Get your mothers hat, Jessie. and her
shawl. Wen go to the old church once
axxI hon Nrd f1x
the blessings of Christmas day"
So the old couple set off together,
through the slow-drifting snow-nekes
that eddied through the gray air, under
the leafless elms aud beeches, to the little
stone church, where, thirty odd years
ago, they had been married. And the
neighbors, wntching them across the
threshold, whispered to one another how
old and broken down Paul Petherege
looked, and what a pity it was about
the mortgage.
While the old man, looking up at the
holly wrcaths that draped the chancel,
and the festoons ofevergreens that made
q green COON in the old church, kept
whispering to himself: 1.-The last
Christmasi the last Christmas!'
In the meantime, dimpled Jessie, al
home, was doing her best to make the
old keeping-room look like Christ
mas, with few sprjgs OF cedar and some
riiliant autumn leaves, relics of the
past October. The muslin curtains were
old and tattered, but Jessie pinned the
clusters OF scarlet maple leaves skillfully
over the worn places; the table cloth
was tbreadbare, but Jessie arranged il
to the best advantage. And then she
| fastened bunch OF crimson berries into
her own jet-black braijs ard took n peer
into the oven TO see how the chicken
was getting on.
mot much of Christmas feast,
thought Jessie, with q sigh, "a she
brought out the apple-pie, and the mos!
basket of brown hickory nuts. which
were TO serve as their modest dessert
81 can remember when we used to have
great glistening turkeys, and mince pies
and cranberry tarts, and real silver fol- ks
Oh. Ii we were only rich again"
As she came in from the back Kitchen
with her apron full of red Spitzenberl
apples. which neighbor Grant had sen
them the evening before, she started Il
see 6 tall stranger warming his hands p
the fire. He nodded carlessly.
"Mr. Petneregc lives hereP" said he
Yes" said Jessie, solemnly; "h,
lives here, but he isn't at home"
"Gone to church, ehp" said th'
stranger.
Yes" said Jessie, "hc has gone t,
church.
"Then I'll wait for him." said til,
stranger, drawing chair to the snug
gest corner, and seating himself com
2rtably.
Jessie Pernerege's large eyes dilatet
with grave displeasure. How did sh
know who or what he WASP She wa
all alone in the house, withnot sou
within call, and she was quite awar
that 1t behooved her 10 be cautious.
81 don't think you had BETTER" sait
che.
Tho gentleman looked up with
smile.
"Ah. ] sec," said he. You tax
me for a-tramp. Do l look hk,
oneP"
Jessie hesitated little at this leading
question.
81 never saw tramp" said she
"but have read that they often dros
like gentlemen. And"
Be easy In your mind,r said thu
stranger, laughing. &c am no tramp
am rather sort of fJrtune.teller
Would you like your fortune told
Jessie frowned until her pretty blacl
brows met.
"Eop said she.
But shall tell it, nevertheless, '
said the gentleman. "You will not let
mo look at tho palm of your hand
Well. then, must manage to read the
future without. In the past there is
poverty and trial; in tho present there
Ii mortgage clouding over your lives. y
How did you known" cried ou
Jessie, involuntarily.
Didn't tell you / was fortune
tellerP But l haven't said all. The
cloud Is destined to pass away; there il
sunshine in store for you yet"
That's all nonsensep" said Jessie
with long breath.
=" Is itP Well, we shall wait and see
And am cot only a fortune-tel,er, Jes.
sic Petherege, am Santa Claus, too
Don't you believe mep"
No." said Jessie, bluntly.
my pack is outside, said the strange
visitant. Here, you hackman," ht
called out through the open window
come in with those things."-
Jessie turned pale; her. large eyes
grew larg than ever.
A'OV A.o 10 ouluuuOuiuS Ills uCcOl1-
plices." she thought within herself
Now they will rush in, and shall be
gagged and bound.".
But the, only accomplish" who an
peared was y stout, rcd faced man, laden
with packages, which the problematioel
STRANGER assisted him in unloading:
=" First, a turkey" said this modern
SAINTS Claus. !" weighs eighteen pounds.
Next, q Christmas pudding. stuck ali
over with raisins and almonds, and bits
OF holly. Next, a pair OF chicken pies.
Next white grapes, fgs, oranges and a
Christmas cake crusted three inches
deep with frosting. Jellies, tarts, mer-
inRoes, and all that sort of thing box
Of French bonbons for the little girl
that's you, Miss Jessie. Now, hack
man. where is the hamper packed in
straw Oh. here 1t is. all right. Where
shall we unpack it, Miss JessieP It's a
set Of gold band dinner china for your
mother, with "P" on the rims for
Petherege. And there's a new suit of
broadcloth clothes for your father, and
9 blue silk dress and sealskin Jacket
for you, and-hold minute, feeling in
the breast pocket of his coat-where is
that parcelp It's what your father will
IKE best of all-the deeds OF the old