The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-12-24
for tbe CHILDREN.
What Mabel Did Christmas Morning.

Inc gray udWn VI O0TlSITluS morning
peeped through the dingy windows of
the Grand Union Depot. The rays of
light fell upon the face of boy about
twelve years of age, and awakened him
from his sleep. The boy opened his
eyes and, in a bewildering manner,
looked about him. He was all alone in
the large waiting-room. He arose from
his seat and walked about, but there
was no one to be seen. He went up to
the ticket office, but that was closed.
He was cold, and stepped to the large
stove in the middle of the room to get
warm, but the fire was out He went
to one of the outside doors of the wait
ing-room and tried to open it, but it
was locked; he tried the other doors,
they were locked, too. The little fell
low looked very sad, and the tears be-
gan to come into his eyes. Presently
he heard some one unlocking one of the
doors, and man came in.
How did you get in here, boy, and
what are you doing?' he asked in
tone of establishment, as soon as he
closed the door behind him.
81 was left" replied the boy. CT
must have gone to sleep and let my
brother 90 in the train without me-"
Brother? Did you have brother
with you? Why didn't he wake you
up and take you along with him, l
wonder?n
The man kindled the fire, and then
he went out and came back, bringing a
policeman with him.
"What are you doing here?" asked
the officer, in gruff tone of voice.
60 DON'T lynnU II ic onninct
rules to allow passengers to stay all
night in the depot?"
The little fellow burst into flood of
tears.
" Please, sir, I was left, l was, and
went to sleep, and didn't know any
thing about it until morning. My
brother, he told me to sit here
while he went to get the tickets, and
that is all know about being left"
"Where did you come from?" asked
the man with the gilt buttons.
"Chicago, sir; we got here in the
nine O'Clock train"
"Where are you going?"
"To Kansas. My brother was prom
ised a job there. Ny cousin wrote that
he better come as soon as he could"
" kansas is a large state, boy. What
is the name of the town you were going
TOP"
81 don't remember, sir. l think /
never heard it called anything only
Kansas"
where are your folks-your father
and mother?''
"They are both dead, sir They
died three months ago of typhoid fever.
My brother had it bad, too He
wasn't real well when we started"
''How old is your brother?'
"Twenty-one, sir"
"He is old enough to take care of
you, / should think. A case of deser-
tion," the policeman said to the depot
master.
"Don't you think your brother
wanted to get rid of you, Bub, and left
you on purpose?'
80, no sir. My brother was very
kind to me; we are the only two of our
family left, and he promised mother he
would always take care of me-"
Well, sit down there" again said
the officer, in a more kindly tone of
voice, " and wait until the ticket office
is open, and you will probably find a
dispatch there for YOU"
The boy sat down, and the policeman
went out. AS soon as the window of
the ticket Office was opened he went
up and asked if there was a dispatch
for James Alison. The ticket man
asked the telegraph operator, but he
said, emo, there was none"
The boy went back to his seat with a
heavy heart. People began to fill up
the seats in the waiting-rooms. Trains
were coming in and going out. The
boy looked intently at every newcomer,
evidently expecting to see the familiar
face of his brother.
The policeman came in and an
nounced the outgoing of different
trains, some from the left side of the
depot, others from the right. Passen-
gers got up and hurriedly went out
Soon very sweet-faced little girl
came in and took a seat next to the
boy. Her whole face was beaming full
of happiness. She looked very kindly
at the young traveller seated beside
her; probably she saw traces of tears
upon his face, for she said, in a very
kindly tone of voice, " Merry Christ
mas!''
The boy seemed astonished; he had
forgotten all about Christmas, but he
said, -" Thank you, l wish you the
same"
:" Are you going far ?" asked the lit
tie girl.
g am going to Kansas, but l got
left here last night"
Have your folks gone on without
you?"
81 was going with my brother, but
we lost each other, somehow, in the
depot. The policeman says he thinks
he will send a dispatch for me-"
That is perfectly dreadful" ex
claimed the little girl. "You mus
be terribly frightened and lonesome
Haven't you had any breakfast ?''
~ don't want any; l am not BIZ
hungry" replied the boy.
But you must eat something, o.
you will be sick. Come to the luncl
counter with me, and have something
please. You know it is Christmas morn
ing.'
Before the boy was hardly aware o
it he found himself standing by thu
lunch counter. The little girl laid {
quarter of dollar on the counter, ant
said to the man in waiting, "Pleas,
give this boy good breakfast. There
the whistle of Aunt Jennie's train, an,