Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-12-25
POLLY'S CHRISTMAS TREE.


"Well, mother remarked Farmer Wilson
] ITS ahlut time we cut our Christmas trees.
! was ont III the woods yesterday aud noticed
! mat littt PUlly's tree is big enough to cut"
what iatherl interrupted the good wife.
'1ou are not going 20 cut our Poily's tree this
! yeai. are yOu5
why not, mother? It's as shapely as IL il
had been grown to order, and the top is al
/ most as high rs my head, You know size said
that when that tres got 80 big that / couldn't
see over it We were 70 cut IL and have it set M
IN the old dining room right beside the big
fireplace, SO that Santa Claus could fill it full
OF candies and toys Then she was going to
have all tho poor Little children come in and
share the gifts with her."
Poor little dear!' exclaimed the farmers
wife, as the wiped a tear away with her
apron. ''She never lived to see that time
NO, continued the farmer, oking back
sigh. but you know what she said lust befc o
she died. She wanted me TO cut the tee and
send 1t to some poor little children in the cry,
who never see a bit OF green from one wears
end 10 another, and she wo I'D lock down and
enjoy it jus, ar much as # she were alive"
That day Poly's tree lay on the very top OF
huge pile OF eygrgreeus in the farmers barn
yard and the next afternoon 1t was loaded on
a schooner bound for New York. A few days
later II was landed at the dock together with
several hundred other trees ready for the mat
ket, and the agent was looking through Lle
pile with a letter in his hand.
Say, John" he called to his assistant.
Farmer Wilson wants little tree labeled 'Po
ly's Tree laid one side and sent to the orphan
asylum. Will you attend to IT, No charges
are 10 be made It's free gift"
But there were 70 many trees, and the
weather was SO cold aud the clerk was so busy.
that the matter was overlooked. and late that
day Pollys ir-ewas found standing prime and
upright among bundled other similar trees
on the broad pavement IN front Of Washing
ton Market. with the little label half hidden
by the crisp green needles.
That was great day for evergreena. Thou
sands Of people passed along the street felt Of
the trees, measured their height examined
their trunks aud haggled about their prices.
All came and went, but no purchasers for Pol
ly = tree.
1t was too slight, too strong. too short and
too tall. until the dealer began to think it
would never be sold. Finally il stood alone
the last Of the lot. It was late in the after
noon. the day before Christmas, and the dealer
was waiting 10 Ose out to 60 to his own tree
at home The crowd was hnrryins past the
tree, bound on other errands, when a little
girl whose tatlercd cloak hid a still more tat
tered gown stopped in front Of the tree, which, I
short as it was. lowered above her like a forest
tree
ooh, my" she exclaimed, wouldn't like
that tree"
What would you do with big tree Ike I.
thall itpAltN we merchant EruluF
I'D take 1t home to Mother and Johnnie. /.
lie is sick and can't go out to the festival at .
the church."
well, I'll tell you what I'll do. sissy" said /
the dealer, rubbing his mittens together to I
warm his hands. II you'll take that tree away
with you. you eau have it. Can't take it? Well, /
Jump into my wagon here and I'll take it for /
YOU. It's the last Of the lot and hate to waste
H."
Half an hour later large tree was pro-
PEELED up five flights OF narrow stairs bv a
pair OF stout legs aud into a small back room
u tenement house. where 1t filled one side
and lint ont the light from the
hngy windows Ike a great green curtain
There exclaimed the owner Of the legs a.
ne emerged from the foliage, Il guess that
Will do. Here. sissy, take this money and see
What you can do towards filling it. That's all
light. That's all right. Don't say anything
Ioout 1t. was youngster once myself"
The next night Polly's tree was a blaze Of
andles. The green needles sparkled and gis-
ened like green jewels. Never was there a
rec more beautiful. Around it sat little john
lie, his mother and his sister.
II wonder, mother" he remarked, after a
ong pause, whether that tree has got a soul.
I seems to me as If it was growed Just on pur-
'ose for us. It looks happy to see how glad 1t
makes us feel"
Little Polly had her wish.