The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-01-09

The next thing Robin did was to col
lect the letters; and OH tChdt big
bundle there was for him to look over
when he got home! He tucked the
bag under the seat of the sleigh and
then turned about and started for home.
He always watched for the children on
their way from school and noticed if
they were well-behaved or if they were
rude.
The sleigh drew up before the post
office-Robin did not depend upon the
new free delivery-about the time
school closed, and Robin had a good
chance TO observe the children as they
came merrily along in crowds. They
were joyous little band, and he failed
to see anything rough or rude in their
manners, and he was delighted, for he
always felt sorry to have to tell dear old
Saint Nick about any saucy boys or rude
girls, because he knew how sorely it
would grieve the kind old heart.
Robin noticed that the sun was about
saying goodnight to the little ones, for
during the Christmas season the sun is
always starting on his journey down to
China about that hour, to make it bright
for the funny little boys and girls there I;
but the genial giver of warmth and
light is usually up brigb and early TO
welcome his old friends in the morning.
Robin shouted to Dancer and Prancer,
Hurry up, old fellows; it is a long
way to Snow Land, and we must not let
the darkness overtake us, for Mrs.
Santa Claus will be at the door looking
for us, and our supper will be waiting"
And Dasher and Prancer shook their
heads, and their little feet skipped
swiftly up the mountain road, to the
jingle of the merry bells, and very soon
they were IN Snow Land once more.
ROBIN spied Mrs. Santa Claus at the
door. She wore large gingham apron
and a snow-white cap that framed her
sweet old face, which beamed so
cheerily as Robin tossed the fat mail
bags on the steps and drove swiftly
around to the stables.
Mrs. Santa Claus had been very busy
that day making good things for Saint
Nick to distribute among his little
friends on Christmas Eve, and-ohl
what sight for the children if they
could have peeped in and seen the
luscious brown chocolate creams, the
golden butter-cups, snowy bars OF
cocoanut, mountains of crystal 'chips,
VI DlOldoSGS pNl
mids of popcorn-balls and many Other
good things too numerous to mention
In another room there were dolls-blacE
dolls and white dolls all kinds Of dolls
from delicate little French ladies il
Worth dresses to the substantial ra!
dolls that all babies love. And ther,
were lots of toys in other rooms that
have not time to tell you about.
But all these things were ready fo
Santa Claus to take to the good littl
children on Christmas Eve.
BY-Low III.
The day before Christmas was a bus,
one at grandma Taylor's. Such quaint
ties of cakes, .jellies, puddings and pie
that Ellen was making! There was
turkey, and chickens, and ducks, an,
; Bessie wondered if it could ever all b
eaten. But grandma had little secre
of her own that Bessie did not d. cam OF
and she knew who would help to feas
on the good things she had prepared.
The night before, the Rev. Mr.. Tucke
; had called and told grandma an,
mamma about the poor family on tn
mountain-side, and Bessie had hear,
him say, ''for it is more blessed to Civ
than to receive, you know Bessie di,
not quite understand that, but mamm
explained to her what Mr.. Tucke
meant, so she pulled out basket from
among her playthings and filled it witt
toys and goodies and carried it t,
mamma to send to the poor children.
All that day she was busy dressin
her dollies and getting IT ,dy for Christ
mas. In the afternoon aunt Fam
came in and asked Bessie to go t
church with her next morning. Aun
Fanny had four wonderful dogs an,
hree cats. and Bessie thought it grea
fun to visit her and frolic with "th
animals" as she called them. Their
/. . vas lazy old Watch, the BUruelaIx, tn
|; risky Sport, the red setter, and Rex
he big shaggy St. Bernard, and JIp, tn
Skye terrier. And there was PItty-sing
he mamma cat, and Peter and Marian
ner children; and in the stables wer
jim, the black horse, and Maxy, jr., tn
bay one, and Bessie had to visit them al
when she went down to aunt Fanny's.
, There was once one other kittie
which Bessie called miss Widdle- Wad
! dle," because her legs were so short an
, ,he was so fat that she waddled like
1 "dlhtus Dub pOO
! little Miss Widdle- Waddle was 8
greedy on Thanksgiving day that sh
made herself sick, and in spite of all tn
, nursing and dosing she died and wa
! laid away under the apple tree at tn
/, foot of the garden.
! This evening-Christmas Eve,
mean-Bessie made everybody in tn
= mouse about wild, she was in such
: Iurry for them all to go to bed. Sh
q Drought all her stockings to grandma t
hang up by the fireplace. Grandm
told her that Santa Claus could neve
tind enough 10 fill them all, 30 81 e onl
nung up one pair.
Then auntie En- came in and playe
Happy Day." and grandps's favort
piece, "Rosalie, the Prairie Flower" o.
The piano, while mamma took Bessi
upstairs TO bed, and she said her prayer
: and cuddled down to sleep; and by an
-, by the music seemed afar off, an
! mingled with it was the peal of the JOY
: hells ringing out peace on earth, goo
, will to men," and Bessie opened he
sleepy eyes to ask, Mamma, Is that
; Santa Claus-comlng notc?"
BYLow ".
Christmas morning dawned sum
and cold. Besse's eyes popped ope
Iong before any one else was awak,
Size jumped out of bed, drew on he