Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-12-22
BLAZER HIS CHRISTMAS.

Tony and Blazer wore brothers. Perhaps
you never saw Tony blt AN certain uut YOU
knew Blazer. His business establishment. was
just oil Broadway, on Canal Street His stock
in-trado consisted Of o box OF blacang, with
brushes, pair Of lusty lungs, and an in
finitosinal amount Of "cLo1k' Blazer paid
particular attention 70 the feet Of the world in
general, consequently no could well 10 excused
for paying but little regard 70 his own face in
particular.
Tony tool, no part in the mercantile opera
ions; h3 remained et home.
The "homo consisted Of gorrct, not over
spacious, either az 10 length, breadth or height
and furnished ON the principle that imam
wants but little here below"
Tony was q cripple. He hsd not always been
cripple; there was a time when he had run
about as lusty and IS impudant a. Bla2er.
"Whcn vine is in wit is out" Sometimes
that is not AL that % ont either. Timothy
T. JlOr-thats Tony aud Blazers father-csme
home one night With a large amount Of spirits
lin, and pretty near everything else cont "
The evening repast was not such as pleased the
critical taste Of MIR. Taylor, hence the desire
which arose in his mind to chastise Blazer
Blazer objected, stouty There was nothing
else handy TO throw al the boy, and 80 the
father flung Tony.
Tony didn't strike Blazer; he struck the
foot Of the stairs instead. II di Il Kill him,
though il only broke his back
The law stepped in here, and kindly assigned
Mr.. Taylor "quartors out Of town -; the gentle
man through whose means Tonys back was
broken was also kindly lot alone He was
licensed TO do it. Tony and Blazer were let
alone, too.
Neither cared, though: every morning Blazer
said "good-by 10 Tony, and, with a cheerful
heart, went down TO business. Every evening,
If trade was brisk, he went home whisthng
merriy; if business had been very poor, he
went home sOberly and silent until he was about
q block away; then he began to whistle as
cheerily as upon prosperous nights So Tony
never knew the difference.
On this particular evening Blazer whstod all
the way home. II was not alone that business
had been brisk II Was not alone that it was
Christmas Eve, either.
Christmas Eve means great deal of happi-
mess 20 some people, while to others it brings
simply the spectacle OF other peoples happi-
ness. Blazer had seen the time when he had
stood up on the pavement and hated all the
world for going by him with such smiling faces.
But tO-night-ah Tonight was all different
for Blazer had secret
l am almost tempted TO tel you his secret
am afraid though, almost that Blazer would
be angry ii 1 were TO let you know that anugly
tucked away in an old tobacco bag, down in ono
u
mine Of wealth-an III Dorado-hve dollars
Five dollars II didn't mean TO tell, but now
its ont and can't DO put back aglin-somo in
mckals, few scattered quarters, and Q great
many coppcrs, but five dollars, nevertheless
How did he get it2 ] shall not tell you that,
might say how lac had rcsolutey gone by tho
open theatre dO1r--hc who loved the lightH and
glitter as well az any who wont in; / could hint
how he had denied himself the pleasures Of the
hyc-cent restaurant, contented with crust
instead; | might let You know Of the really
Spartan forti.ude with which-but no, shall
not say word, for Blazer would not Ike it
rive dollars what will it not buy for Tony2
Such a dinner such pies and turkey
Apples, too-Ted-checkcd big epples; oranges;
oh, yes Tony thinks 80 much Of oranges
grapes, figs, candy what viii il not buy7
HOW his eyes spnrl0-hOW merrily he runs
up the stairs, to their great dotriment and i'm
minent danger to HIS own neck how blitheiy
he calls out, "Tony. Old follerp
lie always calls this when he comes in and
Tony always opens his eyes and s3ys Blazer"
Ihen Blazer bends down to tho bed and says,
odd boy, how arc yer2' And Tony smiles
always, and says, All hight, Dlazlr."
Something in luny5 voice tonight. and in
ms wan smllc-such pitiiul little smile as il
IL Arrests Bf2grs laugh. lie cannot tell
why he stops 70 suddenly, nor why he comes up
closer to Tony bed and sayF, again:
How are you, TonyW
Why, all right, Blazer" and Tony laughs.
Then Blazer laughs, too his heart is light
again.