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

in great Guy, cOiu, gray anu oio
NAL. Up town the dust collected in
little ridges at the street corners, and
whirled alike into the faces of the
rich and the poor on their way home
from work. Down town, among the
markets, there was little rest. Here
and there were great boxes overflow
ing with evergreen and holly-boughs,
many of which the dealers had taken
out and stuck into all sorts of cram
MES and corners of their stands, so
that the glossy leaves and the scarlet
berries ghstened in the faring light of
the lamps. Wreaths of every size
and description-sOm made of crisp
grey moss, dotted with bright anna
ranths, some of holly-were threaded
upon sticks like beads, and were be-
ing constantly pulled off and sold to
the muffled customers who poured
through the narrow passage-ways in q
continuous stream.
Even the night wind, which came
scurrying down from the northwest
evidently bent on mischief, stopped
moment to rest among the bOughs of
the mimic evergreen forest of fir and
spruce along the sidewalks, refreshed
itself with their spicy fragrance, and
stole away again, gentler than before.
And when, of all the wear, should
eyes be brighter, hopes higher, voices
merrier, even wind and winter air
more mild than on this blessed night?
for it was Christmas Eve.
"B-r-r-r-r," shivered 'Lijah, trying
to pull down the ragged ends of his
sleeves over his black wrist; "dis
yere's what l call right cold. Gwine
ter snow fore mo MIN, fer sho'."
Plunging a small shovel into the tin
pail he was carrying, the old man
proceeded to scatter its contents, a
sort of earth gravel, along the slip
perry rails of the horse-car track.
s'Hullo, 'Lijah ~ called passing
driver, with one hand on his brake
and the other holding a tight rein;
"where you goin' tomorrow 2"
dunno; Merry Christmas - re-
turned the other, Strengthening his
old back, and waving a salute with
his shovel.
One after another greeted him in
much the same way, receiving the in
variable "Merry Chris'mus,' given
with broad smile and momentary
CLEAN of white from eyes and teeth.
The pail was empty land 'Lijah was
about to leave the scene of his days
work, when a strong, young voice
called to him.
''Evening, 'Lijah. Wish you a
Merry Christmas -
"Thank We, thank We, Mars George"
cried the negro, answering involunta-
rily in the old plantation dialect, and
turning delightedly to the new conner.
E'Wh-whar We been, Mars? an how
are YEP
''I'm well, 'Lijah," said the young
man, with a cordial hand-grasp. 81
have been away from the city for a
month. Tonight l was going to have
q good time with some of the boys
but"
esRnt what, but What, Move
George?" queried the old man eager
". EFF POI ole mig could do any
thing fer We, he'll do it sho'. Any
thing, Mars ~
George Farley looked at him kind
ly. 81 know you would, 'Lijah. And
YETI hardly know-if 1 hadn't been
away so long
He was a generous young fellow,
and he wanted to do right both by
his employers and his humble COM
pan1on. The fact was, he had been
charged to remain in the store that
night, the regular Waterman being al
home sick.
He had been looking forward during
his long absence on the road to that
very Christmas Eve, which he was te
spend with few of his comrades al
their rooms in a distant part of the
city.
The temptation was too great. ''It
won't come again for year" he ar
oued to himself; sit won't ever be
Just the same as tonight. One hour
or two would do no harm, and 'Lijaf
is as faithful as a watch dog-bettel
than / would be, if anything"
The result was, as may easily be
imagined, that 'Lijah agreed to take
his post at the store at just half-past
seven, and remain until Farley came
which would be before ten.
The old man made his way home
through the darkening streets will
many a delighted chuckle at his gooo
luck. 4 chance to serve Mars George
didn't come every day. Giles a-gwint
to trust me!' he said to himself Over
and over again.
The strong attachment between
these two men, so far removed from
each other in social position, but close
ly knit together by that brotherliness
of humanity which reaches to deptl
or height-where there is neither
rich or poor, bond nor free,-this
powerful attachment had begun at {
summer hotel year before. Farley
had been walking idly about the read
ing-rooms and Office, when he heard 6
cracked voice grooming softly to it.
self. Something in the tones attract
ed him. and he was interested enough