Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-12-19
OF USE IN THE WORLD.
A CHRISTMAS SKETCH.

CfAsh bang jingle jingle
The noise alarmed the whole household the
Dambers thereof rushing excitedly INTO the
room 10 tind Sadie, pale and frightened. stand
mig IN the midst OF demolished chair. frag-
nents Of eartnen tower-pots and broken glass.
norvousiy smoothing ont her dress.
well, do declare ~ calculated Aunt NATL
a. spinster sister OF Nj Benslns. a. she
surveyed the destruction through her spec
tAnies.
'Im real sorry. Auuty. I'm sure l did not
mean 70 break them, ap1lugized Sadie. hum
by
Oh no" answered Aunt Matilda, CURLY.
holding d crushed tuchrIA trndgrIv loo her hand
@children never mean On DO ANYTHING wrong
after the mischefs been accomplished You
0ught to have been hurt az a punishment i1r
your iugul-Iilveues- size continued with CHI
phRslE. Tho flower was blooming no beaut.-
fully 70 rapidly, and then consider the care
and pride took ia decorating the pot the ap-
Proprlate desigus, thu exquisite la imouv OF
ooloT-al my labor gone o. uaught Oh dear
NE ~ she luterrogaied petuleuuy, "oi what
use are children 10 tls world anyway p
"Remember Matilda. quietly interposed
Mr.. Benson, ''you were a chlld."
ayes, uut uullls your ch.-1reI.. John Benson.
was taught never CO. uitdl % with things which
did not belong O. me. ami sou klos 1t" she
Feloined snrca-ileil.y. a. -h- swept with al ar
81 Indignant dIsdain from the room
II was SUNDAY before Christmas, one OF those
gloomy, mOnutOuuu- DAYS. with leadeu clouds
Seating overhead III biting wind howung and
moaning through zoe streets, and a dr.zzlng
EAin descending steadily upon the earth MAI.
ing everybody morose and cross and fretfu..
In fact It WAS what children call keep IN" dav
when they roam sImcssly from room to room.
q are u.ied 20 sleep bv the pattering rain
drops against the " udov -panes. And tins
particular Sunday wa keep IN" day
with sadie Benson, and It was while attempt
ing 10 move the flower stand that the misfoI-
time narrated overlook her
''Oh, NY ~ she YEARLY so'uoquiz-d g. she
sloOd gazing out OF the window. after thu ev-
atement had subsidized, 4 wish til. sun would
shine
As she turned away an open Bible on the ia
bic caught her notice Picking It up she be-
gan 20 read, and coming presently 90 a pas
SAG which -he did not clearly comprehend.
she hastenel with the book 20 her mother. Il
vas this.
"Give, and 10 shall be given unto you: good
measure, pressed down and shaken together
and running over. shall men give luto vour b1-
SONS. For with the same measure that Sc
mote vl'hal, u shall be measured 20 you again. q"
st. Luke ~. 81.
"Wel. sadie" answered her mother. per
haps I'm mo-, competent to give Won a really in
oeIigelt Interpretation. but maybe / can give
you an idea Of it, meaning; that We should be
generous; that those who have al abundance
Of everything should give TO those who are
poor anu needy; that what We give must be
gwen ~ q free, uuselhsh spirit. God repavs
6Ouby, or IN measure pressed down and run
ming over. N some unseen manner II l. not
benevolence 70 boast and tel the world what
you give and do for the poor That Is vanity
and accommodation inspired by selfish mo
tves, and God does not recognize such gifts a.
true charity. What We give from the hand
must be prompted by a clean, generous and
sympathetic heart
Thank Won, mamma, said Sadie, respect
fully, A. her mother ceased spesk Ing, 4 thlnk
understand now.
Mr. Benson entered the room, lit a cigar.
picked up the paper and, settling himself COM
fortably in has char. gave himself over 10 a
perush Of the events OF the day
Presently sadie looked up from the Bible.
Papa" she asked, ARE you rich Y'
Mr.. Benson looked up from his paper as he
answered:
God has been good TO me. daughter: He
has blessed us all with excellent health and
prospsred me in all my undertaking.
Eyes, sir, but papa she continued, looking
him directly in the face, do you ever give
anything 70 the pOorY
An expression Of sudden confusion crossed
ms features. He seemed TO sit uncomfortable,
and be shifted his position severa. times ere he
answered IN q somewhat abstract way:
"NeN, Ycs-that ls-sOmetImes. But what
prompted that question 2 he inquired. gazing
At her curously.
She read the verse over for him
He made no reply at its conclusion, but
pulled away vigorously at his cigar and tried
70 get interested IN his reading But some
how or other his mind wandered; he could
concentrate his thoughts upon no one particu.
lar object in the journal His couhtenance
had relaxed into grave and sober expression.
He picked up his nat and went out INTO tn,
nipping air.
'Do ever give anything to the poor? Ti-
true I'm rich, but since I've acquired my
wealth there's something left undone. What j,
Mp he mentally querled.
Conscience whispered give and it shall bt
given unto YOU"
Christmas came at last bright and crisp
and the whole world seemed joyous and glad