Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1883-12-20
A CHRISTMAS BREEZE.

o, what breeze of temper it wasl i
can't tell just how it happened to blow
up all of a sudden, but l think it began
by Zaidee's letting herself feel so cross
that afternoon al Mrs. Springs. l am
sure of all you little girls and boys too,
know very we'll how
One little heart with anger stirred,
Two little lips by a naughty word
Danish the angel of pearly wing,
Darksome spirits instead they bring.
oh, it's dreadful to have you children
act so when you're 'specting company,
said Zaidee, shaking her largest doll
why, Bluebell, how rude you arel Now,
IL you go and get the friZ out of your hair
you shan't have any cake for your part,
MIR Butterfly is just as bad as your
Bluebell, only worse cried little Jessie
Spring. Sometimes | wish | hadn't any
childrenl And we working so hard tO
make 'em happy, and give 'em Christ.
mas party. Zaidee. how long will it be
before Christmas
Zaidee always knew how long il
would be before anything, and could act
ually tell the time on the clock, though
she was only seven years old.
1T will be three nights, and two DAYS
and one afternoon replied she promptly
why, Christmas is almost here. and my
naughty children haven't made any pres.
ents for their mother went on Zaidee
growing more indignant and more she
thought of their base ingratitude.
So she shut up the whole family
there were nine of them-in large bas
ket which served as dark closet. Their
made her any presents, and they must gC
into the wood-box and stay there til
they were sorry.
While this severe but just punishment
was going on, the two wise little moth
ers sat on the rug and fell to talking
about the Christmas-trees.
Il know one present that will be OF
our tree, and | wish l didn't know it,
said Zaidee, who seemed to look gloom
ier every minute. Its gold bracelet
splendid beauty. Aunt Fanny bough
it last week, because l asked her to: au(
promised her Id forget AL about it
but somehow | can't forget. Don't yot
think it's just awful when you try t
forget and can'tT
g." Yes. Only something's are awful
ler,' said Jessie, 4 little spot in her hear
aching with envy. Some folks DON
have any aunties to buy 'em bracele,s
A. never saw a girl have so many thing
as you do, Zaidee Selden, neverr
We'll, you needn't be so cross at mi
for that. | can't help it, Jessie Spring
There now our children have been II
long enough to feel sorry, so we'll TAX,
'em out and pacify 'em. Oh. I'll tell you
what my Bluebell wants to do. She ha
been teasing this ever so long to 90 up il
a balloon; and she shall go up, so sh
shallp
Away they go, up in the sky. Isn't
gay? 1ewish | could go up in a balloon
myself SAID Jessie daintily setting th
white plume in Butterhy's bonnet.
And perhaps it WAS at this precis
minute that the breeze really began: fo
Zaidee said very sharply indeed:
"Well. don't want to go up in a bal
loon. shouldn't think anybody'd wan
to l should think they'd rather wal
till they are dead
There, now, Zaidee Selden. ye
needn't say anything about me bein
cross. It's you are cross! You kee
saying, No, no. to everything l say
And it's just because you're SO prou
about that bracelet
"No, it isn't, either said Zaidee, wit
dignity. She was subject 10 little al
tacks of dignity. Il forgot all about tha
bracelet. It's the first time I've forgo
it this whole day. | only said / didu'
want to go up in the sky; and VIII
should want to go up in the sky, whe
I'm not dead at all ?
AS she spoke, she glared at Jessi
with her large black eyes in a remarka
BILE way; and Jessie, whose patience ha