Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-01-03

them. Think how we'll it will be to teach
them the Lord cares. If you approve of it,,
Jemimy, I'd like TO go right over aud ask
Mrs. Leach for few pieces. think she'll
have some"
It's cold and snowy, Sereeny, you'll get
cold.'
"I'm going that step, dear. There are
my old socks to pull on, and my muller.
The Lord is very good to u.s."
"Now, du tell Christmas patches sakes
alive / never heard of sich thing. That is
jist like you, Miss Sereeny. Hev ! emmy
Well, / shouldn't wonder ef | he'd, but
hewitt emmy time. l would like to help.
Poor leetle creeturs dear knows I've
thought of 'em often enough. IF only
could do sumthin r'
"But you are doing something, you are
helping" explained Miss Serina, as she
folded one large patch inside of another.
"What could we do without patches and
not man or boy in the house these years
Everybody can do something in this"
1t was remarkable how the news Of the
novel enterprise spread in the parish, and
how pleasantly it struck SO many. The sis
ters found enough of patches, and, better
than that, whole pairs Of pants only little
out, and dresses not very much the worse
for wear. Then two of the storemen sent
their buttons and thread. They had neither
of them learned either tailoring or dress
making, yet they managed to cut out quite
few respectable, if not stylish suits, and
several young ladies offered to help in the
| sewing.
"a splendid thing" the Rev. Mr.. b. pro.
nounced it, and he wiped his eyes suspi-
ciously. When on Christmas eve Miss Je-
NINA marched into church heading twelve
comfortably dressed girls, and Miss Serina
followed timidly behind her with the same
number of well-patched boys.
"The best of it all is, they every one have
learned Bible verse and know that Jesus
loves them," said Miss Serina enthusias-
tically to friend. "And to hear the way
Miss Jemimy did tell those little girls about
| the baby Saviour was beautiful Jemima
is so smart ~
Do you think the other members of that
| church intended to be outdone by those two
humble sisters Not a bit of it. They
had prepared a royal supper in the vestry
for these Christmas pick-ups, and, from a
fund which had been raised by some of the
young people, called 4" The Christmas patch
fund.-" small present had been procured
for each child.
"Miss Jemimy want to thank you for
starting this church on such blessed
course" said the minister, after the close
of the services.
al didn't do it," said Jemima. 1T was
all Serina's get-up."
"Come, Miss Serina," cried the minister
laughingly. "What am | to believe You
send me to Jemima, and she sends me to
you. Which is the culprit p
"Now, Jemima, you know you suggested
the patches"
al know did no such thing l wouldn't
have thought of rags or patches if you
hadn't read that poetry and talked as you
did,"
| "Why, to be sure" admitted Serina. "Mrs.
| Browning started it all. She said { Put a
thought beneath their rags and Jemimy
said they needed patches more than
| thoughts"
eyes," interrupted Miss Jemima, "and
you said let us put thought and patch to-
gether"
"a clear case" laughed Mr.. B. well, -
taking hand of each, "God bless you
both" "And Mrs. Browning too" added
Jemima "No," said Selma gently, " He
has blessed her already. Let us ask him to
bless the hearts under the rags and patches.
"Amen," said Pastor B. solemnly.