Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-12-25


almost merry, through 1t all.
"Must be a-going? Where?" said Jer-
ry, still keeping his hand on Budd's shoul.
der.
81 don't know, indeed don't, Mr.. Jerry,
but s'pose l can tramp on right along
without going newheres in particular" and
the boy cast wistful look at the bright
fire as though TO remember its warmth in
the cold days to come.
"See here, little chap" and the fisher
man drew Buud close beside him, "you say
as how you've lost your mother, and as how
there don't seem to be no home left for you
somehow, and you came tramping miles
and miles till you came here with your lit
tie fists as cold as yesterdays potatoes, and
with your toes awful good friends with the
holes in your shoes; and you tell me all
about it, straightforward like, and I takes
you in and we eat beautiful together, and
you never once kicked O. nights. Then
you read out O. the books yonder as was
left when the missus was here-spellin' for
the hard words, but astonishing smart on
the everyday ones; and l sat and listened,
and says I to myself as how it's my old
Jim again, as if he wasn't gone with his
mother where there's no winds a-blowin'- -
no squalls, nor danger from rocks on an
unbeknown coast, where everything is
smoth salin', so the preacher says-and
know it myself every day in the week.
By this time Jerry cocldn't see the fire
very well. 'There's the only place as how
l can't stand salt water" said he, drawing
his sleeve across his eyes and winking hard
at the cracking logs. Il don't think as how
I've cried since the day of it.''
Budd crept to the old fisherman's knee
and felt a strong pair of arms about him.
Il don't know just where l was, lad, in
my talking, but if you'll say the word we'll
just keep together, you and me, and pull
on without mindin' what nobody says. Is
it bargain, little chap?'
Aye! That it was!
n =
The village at Ocean Point is fast asleep.
No light from any of the cottages lining the
st.eets near the shore nor from those scat
tered back toward the country. Well might
the place be sleeping, for the old clock in
the school-house is just striking o'clock.
But stop Bit there is light, it is coming
down the street. Now it is joined by
another and still another. The streets
seem suddenly to have become alive with
dancing lights. Nearer they come. Now
we can see gigantic legs reflected on the
legs-ah, there is no mistaking them, they
are school-boy legs, and without the bob
bing lanterns, very small some of them are,
too; but yet legs that you might almost ex-
pect would break out into whistle at any
moment. Here they come; can't count
the lanterns because they don't keep in one
place long enough. The legs and lights
come toward the school-house. They crowd
through the gate and up to the door.
Here one pair of legs fumbles around
good deal and at last pocket opens and a
hand goes in and brings out key, and the
next moment finds our old friends, Barton,
Moore and all theother school fellows whom
we saw the other day, gathered about the
stove.
"Here's luck for u.s." cried Moore; ''the
fires kept over first-rate. So let's get to
work"
Bright is the room with lantern light.
A dozt n boys are here, and under a dozen
arms are as many
That was pretty near a tell, wasn't? It's
the hardest thing in the world for me to
keep a secret.
How they hammered and sawed while
some of the little fellows held their caps so
that no sawdust or shavings should drop
on the foori And how the hands on the
old clock seemed to spin around as the boys
worked on!
Four o'clock already and the hands still
galloping. Barton was carpenter r-in-chief,
and even with the twelve pairs. of willing
arms it did seem, at one time, as though
they wouldn't be there IN season.
Five o'clock, as sure as yOn live! "Lights
out, fellows, mooa's up" called Moore, as
locking the door behind them the boys fl
ed down the yard once more, out through
the gates and toward the beach. IF they
worked in the school-room they double
worked down by the old fisherman's cabin,
and the moon shone bright and clear-al-
most too bright the boys thought as they
toiled.
"Lucky it's q warm night, or the snow
wouldn't stick worth a cent" said Barton,
stopping moment to rest. "Now, fell
lows, just one turn more"
The lone turn more" was made, and
they stood looking at the result of their
work.
"Isn't she bouncer" cried a little fel-
low, who had been very busy all the time
trying to find something to do.
"Hush! they'll hear" said Barton, eau
tiously. "Who's got the placard ?'
1t was found and placed in position, and
UAoAi AH~hy oAi OnOnWoAO oiiO
boys went home again, leaving the old cab
in with the mysterious something guarding
in the moonlight the black wooden door.
"Moore," said Barton, as they separated,
81 don't think Budd of Nowhere will feel
bad again of coming to school because he
hasn't anything to wear, do you?
81 rather think not, old fellow" rejoined
Moore.
And it was Christmas morning.
Old Jerry rubbed HE eyes. "Come here,
Budd, and let me know what you think of
it. Did you ever see the like in your lifer'
Budd came to the door. There, just in
front of the step, was huge ball of snow,
rolled from the covered field near by. A
perfect mountain Of snow it was, and no
wonder that the chool-boys had puffed and
rested, and rested and puffed over it for an
hour that morning. Over the whole waved
flag, on which was printed in large letters
with much more Ink than skill
'LooK SHARP,
BUDD OF NOWHERE,
FOR A