West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1885-01-09

chime!
our Bennie at the peep OF day
Threw drOwsy thoughts far FAR away,
Aud at the window stood 10 see
The rising sun SO gloriously
Proclaim To all the listening earth:
- This Is the day of Jesus BIRTH"
Into his clothes he scrambled fast,
Ana down the stairs he flew at last;
Cried; merry Christmas TO Aunt Prue
The same To Uncle Amos. too;
Then out across the barnyard. where
He rang his greetings on the air,
That all his tnrmyard pets might know
What made his heart with pleasure glow.
throwing the barn doors open wide,
He pokcd HIS curly head inside.
=" A merry Christmas, good old Grcy"
Tho mare responded with IA neigh,
And Bonnie standing on his toes,
Kissed lovingly hor soft brown nose.
." Now thCn the first thing / will do
Must DO TO tiud for Auntio Prue
Some eggs for that big pudding she
Is going To make today for me:
Oh shhu't have'--alus! what thought
In bennic heart Just then was born
To drive the sunshine from his eyes.
Aud make him sad that merry NORM
He knew his mother thought of him,
IN hor poor home, with eyes so dim
With unshed tears, she scarce could sec
ghc work she eewed so YEARLY.
No happy Christmas day for her;
No Joy TO make her pulses stir
As Bonnie did. nor TO her share
Would fall ms sumptuous Christmas fare
What wonder that all signs OF Joy
Filed from the blue eyes of her boy!
But she has got my money HOiri"
Back rolled the cloud from Bennie's brow.
Ana ! have helped mamma al LAST!
On, cheering thought Straightway our Beu
Became merry boy again,
And when the party was bog1in.
No happier child beneath the sun
00uld ecr be- found than Bonnie Moore,
And oh! the dinner! there they sat,
Tho childrcn-rosy- checked and fat.
Their appctitcs far more than able
To do fun Justice To the table.
While farmer Green and Auntic Prue
Helped them TO cat aud chatter, too
Ho! for the garnet dim and wide
Iohwcbbcd with dust from side TO sidel
nhither the children, girls ana boys,
B"tOOk themselves ana all their noise,
Intent upon a hunt throughout
The mc-worn rubbish stored about.
What fun they had and how they played
Ihat they were pirates. making raid
lpon such prey as came their way.
Till Bcnnie, with "A shout 80 gay
That il went ringing through and through
The house and startled Auntie Prue
Ana Uncle Amos as they sat,
Having au aftcr-dinner chat
Discovered I'm AN old-timc chest
n httlc sailor suit. In jest
lie slipped u on See fellers, see!
it almost little enough for me.
Ike 10 be n sailor boy
Ana 20 TO places far away,
ANA see such lots of curious things
As sailors see. l will some day.
Ny father was sailor he
was fourteen when he went TO sea,
know, because he told me so.
But then, you see, he didn't go
As big men do. he ran dlCdp-
My father did, one summer day,
Anu LETT his home. ! think that
Would rather have stayed To say goodbye.
lie dldnt tho, he thought twas fun
10 run away. The thing was done
before he scarce had planned IT, see?
lie used to tell IL all To me,
Ana then he'd look so sad. as tho
some things had grieved him long ago"
Now II had Glanced that Bennes shout
Had drawn the farmer from his chair,
IAAhl hhstenlng TO the garnet stairs,
lie paused awhile to listen there.
~ for Ike as not some mischief they
VIII do before the close of day"
thought he and standing there, had heard
~ ltcnnie story every word
Ana still he stood with his gray eyes
Grown wide with wonder and surprise.
Mhle httle Ben, IN suit of blue,
telling his story, little knew
vi the one auditor, unseen
whose listening ears grew sharp and keen.
pen. slit little heart was stirred with pride,
~ Ten US more! the children cried;
lie loved 10 talk-they loved to listen
As IN his childish way he told
. The story now to him 40 old.
" Wen, papa used 20 tell to me
How hc grew red of the sea
Ana went back To his home again.
Shd stayed awhile, and then-and then
Spmc trouble came 10 him, and so
lie wanted once again TO 20
Away from everybody. and
lie did so. ! don't understand
EXACTLY how IL was. for he
would often put me of his knee
AUD up and down the floor would walk
anu stop me when wished to talk"
me farmer face grew sad and white
lie clcnchcI his strong hands hard and tiRhtt
Long years ago maynard brother
ihc youngest bOrn-whOsc widowed mother
HAD lett MIN with a dying PRAYER
70 brothers and TO sister care
HAD quarrelCd with his brothers will
And run away, alas! and still
me grief within the hearts he left
Was such as then. The hope bereft
OF that young brothers form and face
S St,1l 'l1 "a ~, Ior MN welcoming place
And OF his life no word was known
Iill now. the elder brother heard
dHTD bennie lips, sad word by word
~ him tncir love had borne i'm mind
WIN thoughts so tender and so kind
HOW plainly now could all be seen
By the excited Farmer Green!
Ills wandering brothers very name
Hc changed, that he might quit all claim
6 iGS t thT IeSI nome and none might know
But Bennie stu talked on and told
row poor thcy were: 80 often cold
. ana hungry too. But yet, said he,
talhcr was always kind To me
Ahd my mammal! so kind " he cried,
Speaking the words with boyish pride
IN That dear fathers love, that when
no died, We scarce could smile again
Tor zach weary while: / kHpsC
mar something veNed him long ago.
iuse once heard my mother say:
on u see your home again some day
nave no home save here with You
Ny father said; TOO proud am
TO turn TO those I've hurt and cry
Aitcr 20 many years. for aidu
These are the very words he said"
WIN tears upon his suu-brOwupd cheek
Old Amos Green his sister sought
. loinc. a. she stared az him amazed
Tome, sec what this strange DAY has brought
10 us tie Ted her tycmbiingly
Up the old stairs, that she might see
Ihc little 'ChOrg-buy'' of the farm
stu loo the sailor suit arraycd
Inc farmer grusped his sisters arm.
speak Pruc, whose suit does Bonnie wcpry'
rlc turned, and en- her face shade
Oi anger passed. How did they dare
10 use mat iu their play She cried
Oh Amos drew her 20 bis -ldr
~ our long lost brother dear. is dead
ben ffdr7- iis-f 0Iisr's siVt" ho suid
VI
That night happy little boy
kHtIt down 20 pray iu words Of ioy
Ana prdi-e 70 the good God above
CUT OF "a heart % or full OF love
For had Doc not at Auutie'4 side
- armed how fhr blessed ChrI-frnqe.ffds
H1d given him legal right
TO love bis new found home 4o brfghf9
AHl u-louluE ~ tho sud sweet tale
W hIS dnn1 father hOyi-h ycGra.
" ntt E.ft moro treasured than the suit
Dnc' Iad away with many tears.
nut which in merry, boyi-h play.
Jifp proudly worn that Christmas davy
An1 think you 30 was long before
ilH saw Ni- drIr mamma once morrt
An 300 indeed for Farmer Groom
NO UNuruf wasted Gro hr rarrr
10 our HIY city ono fine day