The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1890-12-24

warm clothing and substantial presents
only, but soon her intentions were en-
larged.
What would such an undertaking be
without tree2 Not that the Miller
family had ever had tree themselves,
but Bertha was so sure that tree was
the proper thing for poor children that
the rest decided in favor of it.
Now, obviously, cloaks, hoods and
other substantials would not make a
very attractive Christmas tree, so there
must be toys and decorations.
The work increased on her hands.
She saw boundless possibilities in every
old garment rescued from oblivion, and
it was not long before she had pressed
several girl friends into the service.
Bertha had picked out six boys and
six girls to attend the Christmas tree.
The boys, sturdy little Germans and
Swedes, had early been indicted into
long trousers and miniature coats by
their fond parents.
They had looked very queer and I'M
interesting to Bertha heretofore, but
now she studied their broad features
and square figures with deep interest.
The little girls she felt more easy
about, but she also noted well their
length of arm and limb and the general
size of the little maidens.
Aunt Fanny secured the pattern of a
wonderful hood consisting of three
pieces. Small bits of merino and silk
could thus be used advantageously in
its manufacture, and furthermore, when
completed, the hood could be drawn up
by a magical string, into just the size to
fit any head.
Then Mother Hubbard coats and
dresses, with very broad hens basted
in at the bottom, to be let up or down
at will, in order to make them of suit
able length for any child, were con-
structed.
l do not need to tel you how mamma
found some bed-ticking that, trimmed
with the leavings of dress braids, made
wonderful petticoats, or how all the
little feet were provided with bright red
stockings, knit out of yarn bought for
an afghan.
All the bits of bright silk were made
into astonishing neckties for the boys.
The rest of the afghan yarn made their
socks. They were also provided with
handkerchiefs contributed one by each
of the children. Some considerate
friend crocheted each Tam O 'Shanter
Bertha worked early and late. She
wanted shoes for all the children. But
alas Shoes cost money. They can
not be concocted out of piece bags, or
conjured out of -breadths, or, in
fact, secured in any magical way.
But if Bertha had looked out for the
substantials, she had by no means ex-
hausted her ingenuity on them.
All the toys were sorted over, and the
boys mended those that needed mend.
ing. Then one of the girls made six
beautiful dolls out of white wadding
and blue worsted.
A bottle of gliding that was left over
from last Christmas made significant
ornaments for the tree.
The boys went to the woods and
found some large cones.
These were gilded, so were oranges
and bananas, and nuts and egg-shells,
with bits of bright ribbons drawn
through them to hang them to the
tree.
Mamma had been little doubtful
about the way in which the Christmas
guests might behave.
"They won't act any worse than
Tommy Brown did at Jamie's party"
said Aunt Fanny.
AS it would have been impossible for
any one to behave worse than the rich
and aristocratic Tommy Brown did,
Mrs. Miller had nothing more to say
The children were invited to come at
six O'Clock, and each was asked to
bring a basket.
AT precisely six to stroke the bell
rang, and upon opening the door there
stood the three Hoffmeyer children,
scrubbed to such a degree that their
faces shone like polished cherry. Back
of them were the two Davis girls, look
ing blue with the cold-but oh, so
happyl Farther in the background were
the Truckles, the Wagners, and last
the Vanderberg twins.
They bore baskets of all sizes and
shapes, from very small lunch basket
to an exceedingly large market
basket.
"Merry Christmas " exclaimed
Bertha, and she never uttered the wish
with such deep meaning in her life.
merry Christmas!" replied a dozen
rough little voices.
The troop was admitted, and as soon
as their hats and coats were removed,
they were carried away to scene of
surprising beauty.
The back parlor was indeed charm
ing as it looked to these little ones.
From the chandelier to the corner of
the room were suspended cords, and
upon the cords were hung bright
colored Chinese lanterns.
An immense lantern graced the chan
delier itself, which was further orna-
mented by flags.
In soap-box, made beautiful by a
covering of white cloth with evergreen
trimmings, was planted the Christmas
tree, radiant with candles and shining
with it's golden fruits, while over all
was an enhancing glitter of isinglass
frost Festoons of popcorn and bags
of candy increased the general impress
sion of splendor. These, with the toys
and cotton dolls, threw an air of reality
over a scene that looked too beautiful
to be true.
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