Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-12-19

]
mixed together on his face.
81 couldn't do this sort Of thing before
her, y he said, "and ! am glad it was time
TO go and open my shop
That night the baker did all his regular
work but not finger did he put TO any
Christmas order The next day, at supper
time, he went out for walk
On the way he said 10 himself, "lf she is
going to skip Christmas and ! am going 10
skip Christmas, why should we not skip it
together That would truly be most fit
and gladsome, aud it would serve Barnbury
Alright. III go in and lay it before her"
The Widow Monk was at supper, and
when she asked him to take a cup Of tea
he put down his hat, unwound his wooden
comforter aud took off his overcoat When
he sat down his empty cup he told her that
he, too, had made up his mind TO skip
Christmas, aud he told her why. and then
he proposed that they should skip it to-
gether
Now, the Widow Monk forgot to ask him
TO take a second cup Of tea, and she turned
as red as the binding she had put on the
horse blankets The baker pushed aside
the teacups leaned over the table, and
pressed his suit very hard.
When the time came for him to open his
shop she said that she would think about
the matter, and that he might come again
The next day the sun shone golden, the
snow shone silvery, and Barnhury was like
a paradise TO the good baker. For the
Widow Monk had told him he might come
again, and that was almost the same thing
as telling him that he and she would skip
Christmas together And not finger, 50
far, had he put to any Christmas order.
About noon Of that day, he was so hap
py, was that good baker, that he went to the
village inn to have taste Of something
hot. In the inn he found tall man, with
rings in his ears. A sun. Drowned man he
was and a stranger, who had Just arrived
aud wanted his dinner He was also
handsome man. and a sailor, as any one
could see.
As the baker entered. the tall man said
to the nn-keeper
as there Mrs Monk now living in this
village =
Truly there is, said the inn keeper
"and will show you her house But you'll
have your dinner first -
Aye, aye, said the stranger, "for I'll
not go to her hungry
The baker asked for nothing hot, but
turned him and went out into the cold
bleak world As he closed the door behind
him he heard the stranger say
''On the brig Mistetoe'
1t was not needed that the baker should
hear these words already he knew every
thing His soul had told him everything
in the moment he saw the sun Drowned
man with the rings in his ears
On went the baker, his head bowed on
his breast, the sun shining like tawdry
brass, the snow gistening like Shiny, evil
thing He knew not where he was going
he knew not what he intended to DO, but
on he went
Presently a door opened and he was
called
II saw you coming" said the Widow
Monk, and | did not wish to keep you
waiting in the cold, and she held open the
door for him.
When he had entered and had seated
himself before the fire, she said to him
Truly you look chilled you need some
thing hot, and she prepared it for him.
The baker took the hot beverage This
much Of good he might at least allow him
self He drank it and he felt warmed
And now said the Widow Monk, seat
ing herself on the other side of the fire
place. II shall speak as plainly to you as
you spoke TO me. You spoke very well
yesterday, and have been thinking about
it ever since and have made up my mind
You are alone in the world and | am alone
and if you don't wish to be either, and 50
-perhaps-it will not be necessary to skip
Christmas this year
Alas for the poor baker Here was par
adise seen through barred gate. But the
bakers heart was moved. even in the
midst of his misery he could not but be
grateful for the widows words There
flashed into his eyes a sudden brightness
He held out his hands. He would thank
her first and tell her afterwards.
The widow took his hands, lowered her
bright eyes and blushed Then she sud
denly Withdrew herself and stood up.
Now she said with pretty smile
''let me do the talking Don't look so
downcast When tell You that YOU have
made me very, very happy, you should
look happy too. When you came to me
yesterday and said what you said thought
you were in too much of hurry, but now
| think that perhaps you were right, and
that when people of our age have anything
important to do, it is well 10 do it at once
for in this world there are all sorts of
things continually springing up to prevent
people from being happy
The whole body of the baker was filled
with great groan, hut he denied it utter
ance. He must hear what she would say.
And SO ! was going to suggest, she
continued that instead of skipping Christ
mas together we keep it together That is
all the change propose to your plan.
Up sprang the baker, so suddenly that
he overturned his chair. Now he must
speak. The widow stepped quickly toward
the door, and turning with smile held up
her hand
"Now, good friend" she said, ''stop
there! At any moment some one might
come in. Hasten back to your shop At
l TO-, | 81 =,
That will surely be soon enough, even for
such hasty man as you
The baker came forward and gasped,
"Your husband
Not yet, said the widow, with laugh,
and kissing the tips of her fingers to him
she closed the door behind her
Out into the cold went the baker His
head was dazed, but he walked steadfastly
to his shop. There was no need for him TO
go anywhere to tell anybody anything
| The man with the earrings would settle
matters for himself soon enough.
The baker put up his shutters aud locked
his shop door He would do nothing more
for the good of trade; nothing more for the
| good of anything. Skip Christmas In
deed would he And, moreover, every
holiday and every happy day would now be
skipped straight on for the rest of his life
]
affairs; he attired himself in his best ap-
parel; locked his door behind him; and
went out into the cold world.
He longed now to get far away from the
village Before the sun set there would
not be one soul there who would care for
| him
As he hurried on he saw before him the
parsons house.
Il will take but one thing away with
me, " he said Il will ask the good old man
to give me his blessing. That will | take
with me. -
"Of course he is in," said the parsons
maid, there, in the parlOr.'
As the baker entered the parson' parlor,
some one hastened to meet him. 1t was
the Widow Monk,
you wicked man. she whispered,
you are quarter of an hour late, The
parson is waiting"
! The parson was little man with white
hair, He stepped toward the couple stand
ing together and the widow took the
bakers hand. Then the parson began the
! little speech lac always made on such Occa-
sons. 1t was full of good sense and very
touching, and the widows eyes were dim
with tears The baker would have spoken,
but he had never interrupted clergyman
and he could not do it now.
Then the parson began his appointed
work, and the heart of the baker swelled,
as the widows hand trembled in his own.
"Wit thou have this woman to be thy
welded wife, asked the parson
Now for this quoth the poor baker 10