Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-12-19
TOMMY'S CHRISTMAS.
BY CHARLES RRAINARD.


Such queer placel
1t was not house nor q schoolhouse. 1t
was high and dark, and like q cavern.
On one side plain wall went up into the
dark somewhere overhead. On the other,
stood a row Of great wooden pipes with black
mouths all in line, like the mouths of drag
ons, with teeth and great ears at the sides.
Beyond these was piece OF heavy woodwork,
and further on great arches stood in the dim
light. And in one place was bit Of colored
light and part OF an angels face, shining
like gold.
Close to the row Of black-mouthed pipes
stood Tommy the bellows boy. II was ten
o'clock in the morning, and he was dragging
the wooden handle mp and down as fast as his
little hands could move. As it went down,
his long yellow hair fell over his blue eyes, and
as it went up, the locks flew back above his
broad, white forehead again His task was a
hard one. 1t was Christmas. The four singers
who stood in front Of the organ, sang long and
loud and the huge instrument roared and
Numbered so that he could hardly think.
Poor Tommy 1t was sorry Christmas for
him. At the long rehearsal, the night before
his arms and body had ached so that when he
went to bed he could hardly sleep, and to-day
there is a great deal of music. They are sing
ing about the Christ child, and peace and good
will TO men. The great pipes seem to thunder
around him He would like to stop and listen
only that little piece Of white lead before him.
that shows whether there is wind enough in
the organ, keeps dancing up and down, and he
must blow and blow or the music will stop.
The anthems are long SO very long, and his
arms ache, and lis head aches with what seems
10 MIN, in his WEAKNESS, the growls that roll
out of the dragons mouths. Still they keep
singing about good will toward men, and
Tommy tolls away at tine heavy bellows. II
they would only stop just short time. On
and on flows the glorious music, and Tommy
pushes up the bellows with sigh and presses
it down by hanging on to it with all his little
weight.
There The choir had stopped Now there
will be a little rest while the minister prays-
The tired boy sinks down upon the floor his
head resting on one of the dragons ears upon
the side Of the huge organ, and shuts his eyes,
There il no seat, not even STOOL and he must
sit on the floor He does not mean TO sleep,
only to rest-rest that his poor little weary
body longs for. The organist will knock on
the wall when he is TO begin again.
It was a very long prayer, and the tired boy
after trying in vain TO keep the heavy lids from
closing over the weary ewes, fell fast asleep IN
the great dark organ loft.
Suddenly there was q little knock on the
wall Tommy's head sank lower, and his poor
little blistered hands fell listlessly on the floor.
Another and louder knock. Tommy paid
no heed and the knocking increased. Then 1t
was quiet for a moment, and mans step was
heard on the creAking floor Then Tommy re-
oeived a cruel blow on the head, and woke up
TO find the organist standing over him ready
TO strike again.
ne CF6pL OUT Ol reach VI INC
hand and tried to get up, but his little legs re-
fused TO hold him.
''Take hold of the lever and blow for your
life, or III"
you'll what2" said a sweet voice behind
him.
Tommy looked up and saw the soprano singer
beside the organist. Tommy gazed upon the
grand lady in her elegant silks, and thought
that somehow one Of the angels had stepped
down from the painted windows.
Oh Aul,a m atriEA
Poor little fellow, he was tired, and no won
der. Think how you have used the organ last
night and to-day"
'.But the voluntary. 1t must go on. There
The prayer is over What shall do2 Get
up. Hurry It's no time now TO rest"
Tommy got up and took hold Of the bellows
handle to keep from falling down. The organ
list skunk away, but the beautiful lady remained.
Tommy looked tnndy up and said;
II was tired, ma am, and it's Christmas day,
and"
Here he began TO drag up the heavy handle,
and the music broke out i'll fierce roar-And
then died away with groan and squeak
and that was all Tommy knew about it.
The next thing he knew he felt himself held
in something soft and warm. He opened his
eyes, and the face of the beautiful lady was
close TO his. She was holding him in her arms.
He felt the soft silk next her face. He was "a
tired. and it was so nice and warm that he shut
his eyes. What was it? Was he dead and
gone TO heaven? Was this one Of the angels
his mother spoke about when she went away
Perhaps it was his real mother.
He opened his eyes. No. There was the
organ. The great pipes were booming beside
him, and oh, how queer The tenor man. with
his white gloves was blowing the organ.
"Do you feel better, my child" whispered
the lady.
'Yes'm."
"And were you sick?
Nom. l was so tired. There was 4
'hearsal last night, and it's Christmas, and they
always have lots Of music, ard fell asleep.
was very tired"
poor child Don't they give you seat ?
Nom. l always stands and"
'IOok out" said the grand gentleman a
The bellows, "your part Zones next.
ayes, see. Never IAind; will sit and SIM
here. They will nev4 know the difference
Bay. little boy, do you feel COMFORTABLE
Tommy smiled au,f said Eyes, it's Yery
pleasant But you " y be tired