News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-12-17

far as possible, the broken arms, legs,
and even the heads of dolls, and making
them new dresses. But some of the TOYS
we're beyond repair, and had to be sent
- cart minus wheel, dogs, cats, horses,
with only one, two, or three legs each :;
a walking doll that could walk very we'll
sometimes, and then again obstinat ely
refused to take a step; a little music
box that needed 6, great deal of coaxing
to get out a tune. Noah's ark was
whole, but most of the animals had de-
parted, and Noas- was left with only
Ham to keep him company. But there
were some smaller boxes whose contents
were beyond criticism. One was full of
little bags filed with candy, nuts and
raisins. Anotherrnad little mice and
apple turnovers. another. Aunt James
best doughnuts and cookies; and there
was a good sized basket full of apples,
reddest of the barrel.
When the packing was done there was
little space left 81 ton, and Alice said,
81 believe | will pnt in a dozen or two
of these old "DSo1D Animals" papers
they may do little good to some one
there"
And so on the e3ay before Christmas
the expressman cAu..ss=and carried off box
and basket to theSf destination.
1t was the afternoon of Christmas
Day. All the morning Mrs Donnelly, Dick
Conroy and his mother had been as busy
as bees getting ready the tree. Dicks
money had bought the tree, and some
candles to put on it. Mrs Donnelly had
made some loaveesof bread, that all the
children might have a good slice of
bread and butter. They had found an
old barrel put it into the middle of the
room, and set the tree in that, and they
all agreed that lit did look beautiful !"
Great was the excitement through the
yard, and great was the difficulty in
keeping the children out of the room.
The party was to take place in the even
ing, but by three o'clock in the after
noon the excitement became so great
that Mrs. Donnelly and Dick said, 'it
was no use, they might as we'll let them
in now, and have it over with; they
couldn't stand so much teasing" So
they trooped in-ragged. dirty, hungry,
forlorn little beings, fifteen of them, all
ages and sizes. The room was not
very light one at any time, and on that
short winter day it answered very well
to light the candles even at three o'clock.
To these poor little children it was like
a glimpse from another world than
theirs The candles shining, the bags
hanging all over the tree, bright red ap-
pies tied on b. their stems glowing
through the branches, ssand even Aunt
James doughnuts tisd all over the tree,
and as many t6-s az could be fastened
on. Then, on q table Mrs. Donnelly had
brought from her room, were nice slices
of bread and butter, and cookies, and
turnovers, piled up on plates. The
children were silent at first, then faint
''Ohs" and other exclamations were
heard, growing louder, until Mrs. Don
nelly demanded silence, and she, with
each child present, and kept going
around until the tree was once more left
bare, excepting for the candles. Then
they were all invited to come to the
table and each take slice of bread and
butter. There were no.plates and few
chairs. but they all seemed to enjoy it
as much as if they had been feasting in a
palace. When they had satisfied their
hunger and that was not until about
ga, 70 am SOC - an nng theBb
see how pleased and grateful they all
were, even for the shabbicst of the books
and toys. One little boy who had sue
ceeded in making pin answer for a
missing leg in the dog he had given him.
l think really seemed happier than some
children have seen with gifts of new
and beautiful playthings. Just as they
were about through their supper the door
opened and little girl, apparently about
six or seven years old, appeared on the
the thresho'd d. Her head was bare, she
had on shabby shoes, but no STOCKINGS.
and her dress, almost the only garment
she had on was so thin that She was
shivering with the cold. OF all the poor
children who had come that day, she was
the most shabby and forlorn. She said
not a word, but there was pathetic
look in her sad dark eyes as she glanced
about the room, Jat-tt44Te att The tree, the table
and the children, that was enough to
make one weep to see. Mrs. DonnelIy
came up to her and asked her who she
was, and where she came from. but she
answered no questions, and looked wist-
fully at the table. Then Dick and little
Maggie came and took her hand and led
her to the table, and she was hungrily
devouring the food set before her. They
could get no word from her until after
she had eaten, then all they learned was
that her name was Biddy, and she had
come to the party. Mrs. Donnelly's kind
heart was touched; she went to a drawer
where there were a few Clothes that
had belonged to her Ellen, and though
they were rather large she made them
answer, and put on the poor little
shivering form warm stockings, under
clothing, and good thick dress that
she was saving for her own Maggie. Il
do not know who was the happiest, Mrs.
Donnelly or poor little Biddy, whose
eyes were 50 big with astonishment at
this wondaful Christmas, they looked
as if they never would close again.
There was one toy that Mrs. Donnelly
had not disposed OF. That was the walk
ing doll. It was such a wonderful toy |
she thought she would exhibit it by-and-
by before the children went home. Per
haps it would he obiging and walk for
them. Soft was stasiing on the table,
and old Mrs FinlF spied it out and
took it un 10 look at. and suddenly it
began to walk, andit walked right out
of her hands. The old woman Was SO
frightened that sh let it go, and it
dropped with a lou crash on the floor,
while she cried out, VS. bewitched the
/ Old Boz is in .Ad her daughter
had to run to hei and try to calm
his fears, and explahto her; but it was
some time before Nj Finley could be-
lieve that they reay made dolls that
could walk, stoutly i1sisting that the
thing had an evil spit in it. Meanwhile
the dolls fall broke a little more, and
/ it would never walAgain. After this
excitement had sUbssd, and Dick had
exhausted all the gees he knew. the
children still seemed 9Th to leave the
scene of so much pIsure, and Mrs.
Donnelly was wondeIg what further
amusement she couldlan for them,
when she happened Z think of the
'Dumb Animals" papeAliss Alice had
sent. ''Now God forgime," " she said, !
that I should forget ,se, and Miss ,
Alice so anxious that slid give them ,
away. I'll get them n, and Won
Dick. shall read them aory.n Now
Dick was rather proud ohis readino :
He was fond of books. Hwbole so9I ,
Ionped for an education, bti was littIo
he had been able to get scr. So he I
found what seemed to be an ,teresting
story about horse, and rest Tbis !
was received so we'll that he re another ;
about dog, and another alt a cat +
Then ND spoke Johnny Morey. crnoi .
how of the ward, II never thoGt of - .
be}ore. " he said; al wouldn't 70 bo .
ieved the creatures minded soncb :
but | won't do so any more !'rhen q
4. |