Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-12-24

HILL, Dllly IOWoTS Deuelu COZy
wheeled-chair of black walnut,
trimmed with crimson plush, with
side apparatus, whereby he might
convey himself from place to place at
his own will. No more aching bones
no more painful limping along the
dusty road-no more tagging behind
the other children.
Billy laughed aloud in the plenti-
tude of his delight, while Mrs Powers,
seated on a broken splint-bottomed
rocker, cried almost equally as loud.
s'I don't know who there is in all
this world" sobbed Mrs. Powers, ''to
think of me and you, Billy. But who
ever it is, [ hope the good Lord will
return it onto their bosom, heaped up
and running over"
When Moses Chipley, the eldest of
the family of four who were detached
at home in a state of involuntary
blockade on account of the unsettled
bill at the shoemaker's, opened the
door to obtain satisfactory SNOWFALL
wherewith to anoint the faces of his
four sleeping brothers and sisters, he
bounded back again like magnifed
Jack-in-a-box.
"Mother," gasped Moses, "there's
suthin' there-a basket And I'm
mortal sure | seen tin steam ingine
and dolls legs a-sticking out ov it !"
''Oh, get out !'' said the incredu-
lous Mrs Chipley. "Doll's legs and
steam engines, indeed!''
But by this time, the namesake of
the great ruler of Israel had made a
second sortie, and, bringing in gi-
gantic basket, emptied it on the
kitchen floor.
Give pairs O. shoes !'' bawled Mrs.
c., needless of the herrings that were
.scorching over the fire.
GA doll shrieked little Jemima.
"Hooray! Skates! !" yelled Moses.
''Picter- books p chimed in the
twins.
GA tin ingin and a train O tin
cars !'' cried little Joe, the youngest,
chubbiest, and dirtiest of all.
'sAnd flannel and caliker enough
for all creation - said Mrs. c., in
delighted amazement. "Lord save
Us it's like the miracle the parson
reads about. Wherever could they
have come from?''
Old Miles Simpson lay late in his
bed that morning. Not that it was
his usual wont, but old Miles had
been distanced in the race of life, and
had somehow got discouraged of late.
"Where's the use of gettin' up
SAID Miles, dolefulIy, "with never 6
spark of fire to warm me, and moth.
ing in the way of good cheer to keeE
Christmas with?''
But his old wife could not so read
lily overcome the habit of years.
'sThere's the last of them chair:
father gave me when we went t.
housekeepin' - said she. ''It's al
broken and worn, and it'll serve al
well as anything else to make littl'
blaze to warm our old bones; but i
we're goin' to end our days in th
House, it won't do US no goot
there. And p'rhaps there'll be ;
knotty log in the wood-shed to help i
along"
But presently Mrs. Simpson cam
trotting back with wide-open eyes anC
toothless mouth to correspond.
"Get up, father-get up!' criec
she. "Something's happened p
''It amt the house afre, is it?'
croaked Miles, from under the bed
clothes '"cause that wouldn't be 81
uncomfortable ON such day as this =
There's ton O. coal in the wood
house !" cried Mrs. S.. land loaC
O. kindlin' wood, and turkey hang
in up, and basket O. potatoes, ant
a peck O. cranberries, and tea, an,
sugar, and"
"Old woman, you're crazy!" sai'
Miles, sitting up In bed.
'sCome and look for yourself =
said Mrs. S.
"Who sent EN-" demanded breath
less Miles.
''The Lord knowsl" piously re
sponded his ancient helpmate. ''Oh
husband, we can keep out of tn
poor-house for another month a
least -
And Mrs. S. wiped the tears o
gladness from her poor, rheumy oil
eyes-eyes that had been dark AM
brilliant once as Lulu Ripley's own.
i =
The ruddy freight was pencilin'
its shifting arabasques upon the draw
ing-room walls, where Lulu's ow
hand had hung up a tiny cross of iv,
; and hemlock twined together, an
upon the table lay the material of he
Illuminating work-a half complet
text:
n ''Though He slay me, yet will trust in Him..
t Thus she sat musing, until th
unexpected apparition of Emma
: round-eyed, and rosy with her Ion
!. disturbed her.
"Pm sure, miss, beg pardon fe
" comm in without the bell bein' run
- for me p fluttered she; ''but thel
l. has been such doin's down in tt
village! Please, miss, it can't be mi