Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1882-12-20

of fortune could enjoy one such scene
as that in the Jones' cottage tonight
The scene recalled to the memory oil
the old gardener the gala days of bis
childhood in the mother country, until
yielding to the Influence of the hour
and the persuasiols of the children,
that ha would tell them story, made
the tolIJwiDg little speech, which we
| give entire
CHILDREN AND LADIES AND GEN
TLEMEN: Faith au' I'm sure We will
take no EXCEPTIONS to lie addressin' the
childer first, as this is The children s
night-the real Christmas gift of the
blessed Christ-child.
Well, childcr, allow me to expriss
my hearty congratulations that at last,
iviry blessed one OF YOU is in the
fashian. iis, fashion of the genuine
nobilty-the great lords and ladies of
the blessed ould counthry-and thin
CRATE folks in Ameriky who has their
CRATE homes all dark this fine night, or
nobody but their own immediate con-
nictions to see their Christmas tree.
Well, they might as well be out of the
wnrrid, because, YOU see, they're in
tirely out of the fashion, since the
fashion for these hundreds of years has
been to invite their intire acquaintance
to help 'em make merry, and | say.
long live our beautiful Miss Kitty, who
sits the beautiful fashion in Ameriky."
Then came repeated calls for Miss
Kitty. who came gracefully forward
and said, Thank you, dear children.
After little while We will sing some
songs for you but now | will say Just
one word in regard to what our friend
Patrick has said, in regard to being in
the fashion; and that is, that the
fashion of this hour is to breathe peace
on earth, good will to men, and that
means, good will and kindness and
gentleness and truthfulness to little
boys and girls as well as men,
Patrick is right. The new-fashion-
ed Christmas in America is in danger
of becoming a selfish family affair. In
merry England,
,On christmas eve, the bells were rung;
On Christmas eve the mass was sung
Then opened wide the Barons hall
To vassal, tenant, serf and ALL
Power laid his rod of rule aside,
And ceremony dotfed his pride
The heir, with roses in his shoes,
That night might village partner choose,
All hailed, with uncontrolled delight,
The genial voice, the happy night
That to the cottage, as the crown,
Brought tldlngs of salvation down
England was merry England when
Old Christmas brought his sports again,
A Christmas gambol oft would cheer
A poor mans heart through half the year.
But | think | hear Santa Claus
sleigh-bells, and | won't detain you
another minute
Just then Santa Claus entered with
q great sack of bon-bons, and then such
fun. We cannot describe it, but trust
it to your Imagination, since one. should
possess the genius of Raphael,
Michael Angelo and Rembrandt to
faithfully describe the beauty of happy
children.
They bad very dignifed and emf
nently proper Christmas morning at
the Brownies. No mysterious fitting
of little white ghosts, no chorus Of
voices breaking into the room with
Merry Christmas no music, no fun.
Miss Amelia made a rather more care
full toilet than usual, took another look
at the sealskin sacque, given to her the
evening previous, and, upon entering
the breakfast room, wished the family
Merry Christmas after the most ap-
proved method. Arnold Browne hav-
ing caught some of the enthusiasm of
the Jones', had made his first venture
in the way of an actual surprise by
having his photograph taken, and
placing q handsomely framed Cabinet
under each plate. But as one side of
of his collar appeared to be a trife
higher than the other, the picture was
failure in the eyes of his fastidious
mother and sister
After duly examining, however, Miss
Amelia declared that she thought the
frame was lovely, and said, Il would
like to have made you present, Ar
mold, but really | could not find any
thing that | would give. The assort-
ment is very poor. AS for me won't
give anything common. would
rather not make present at all.
Now, that tree at the Jones' last
night, wasn't it common ? Almost
anybody could get up tree like that.
These little cheap dolls and toys, and
coarse mittens, and calico aprons, and
them apples and oranges, and animal
crackers Obi / thought | should
laugh, and Arnold. could not under
stand why you seemed to enjoy your
self 50 much, playing those silly plays
with those common looking little chill
dren'
Arnold Browne looked at his sister
with panied surprise at her heartless-
ness, and announced with more severi-
ty than he had ever allowed to creep
into his tone before: Amelia, If you
failed to enjoy the happiness of those
children last night it is because you
have allowed your heart to become en-
crusted with selfshness. think our
home-life would be much better If we
would be content to do more as other
people do, aud not wait a whole life
time tosurpass everybody. lam asham-
ed to go to fathers Office this morn
ing without at least some little gift for
the employees, when we are so abund-
antly able to do it, and ! am going to
take each one turkey. IL | have to
pawn my watch
4
CHAPTER v.