Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-12-24

SthObhOts
SO 'Lijah plodded humbly up and
down the tracks, scattering his show
fuls of sand, lodging passing yehi-
Giles as he best might, and living at
peace with all men. Oftentimes
Mars George, to whom, as his only
tie in the world, he was as devoted
as a Newfoundland dog, would spend
the long winter evenings with him in
his little room.
Once Lijah had the supreme de-
light of nursing Farley through a
short but severe illness. Then it was
that his musical accomplishments
which had at first attracted his bene-
factor, again came into play. His
repertoire, it is true, was scant, in
Guiding only "Whiter than Snow
which he had heard at one of Mr..
Moody's revival meetings, and ESwing
Low, Sweet Chariot" doubtless a
relic of the old days when the slaves
sang at their work in the cotton-felds,
or among the huts at night. OF tune
he knew absolutely nothing, and the
different airs which he improvised for
the words, according to the mood he
was in, gave the effect of a much
greater variety than the two hymns
would otherwise have afforded.
Tonight he was as happy as
child, and went to and fro about the
house humming,to a tune which seem
ed a combination of "Dixfe and
Coronation
All the way down to the store after
supper, he murmured by turns "Sweet
Chariot and "Mars' George done
trus' me sho'ly!" People noticed his
lightsome looks, and some one must
have given him a sprig of holly,
which he wore proudly, after all the
berries had dropped off, in his button
hole.
AS he trudged along in his happy
mood, he came to the windows of a
brilliantly-lighted toy-shop. A tho't
struck him-daring but practicable.
Why not step in and buy Christmas
present for Mars George? He felt in
his pocket to be sure that a certain
precious twenty-five cent piece was
safe, and entered.
All, that toy-shop! Such heaps of
blocks and marbles, and sleds such
dolls with eyes that would wink up
side down, exactly like hens, and
placid countenances quite out Of keep
ing with their arms-these members
being so constructed as to occupy
only two positions, one of which ex-
pressed unbounded establishment, and
the other gloomy resignation such
transparent states, portraying dim
COWS and architectural designs; such
troops of horses and caravans Of
teams; such jingling of toy-pianos,
and footing of toy-horns, and shrek
ing of toy whistles (these instru-
ments being anxiously tested by port
ly papas and mammas, apparently to
be sure of a good bargain, but really
for the fun of the thing); such
crowds of good-natured people, car
rying canes, and drums, and hoop
skirts under their arms, taking and
giving thrusts OF these articles and
being constantly pushed and pulled
and jammed and trodden upon with
the most delightful good-humor such
rows of pretty girls behind the coun-
tiers, climbing to the SUBMITS of Ara
rats where innumerable NOah's Arks
of all sizes had been stranded; all
these girls being completely used up
with the days work, of course, but
more cheerful and willing than ever,
bless them such scamperings to and
fro of cash-boys, and divings into the
crowd, and emergings in utterly I'M
expected places never seen be-
fore in this quiet old city.
'Lijah embarked on the current,
| and with broad smile on his round
face, was borne halfway down the
store before he could make fast to q
counter.
"What can / do for you, sir?" ask
ed brisk and business like young
person behind the counter.
'Lijah was rather taken aback by
her promptness, but managed to STAN
mer.
"Wh-why, [ want Christmas
present fer"
s'Boy or girl, and how old? p
'Lijah chuckled. ''It's boy" said
he, ''an' a pow'ful big one, fer sho' y
The girl glanced along the shelves
at her side, and reached toward row
of woolly sheep, on wheels.
elbow would a lamb do? Real wool
and natural notion! p in proof of
which latter assertion she set all their
heads nodding in the most violent
manner, until it made her customers
quite dizzy to look at them.
Whether or not there was some
vague association in 'Lijah's mind of
these little toy creatures with the
shepherds and their fiocks at Bethle-
hem, I cannot tell. At any rate, his
decision was made at once; he paid
for the best he could purchase with
his entire funds, and left the shop
happier than ever, with anticipation
of presenting his gift on the morrow.
He found Farley waiting impatientiy
for him, and was at once instructed
in the duties of his two-hours' watch.
He was to sit in the main office, which