The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1890-07-30
Selected Storp.
The Lost Token.


son: ga bitter night The wind hows
like pack of hungry wolves"
Yes" with yawn, twirling huge
diamond upon his chubby finger; {" too
bitter, it seems, for even the most des-
titue to venture out for loan. Not
even a bed-quilt has been offered. The
poor wretches," with laugh, "need
every rag they can muster such night,
| suppose"
The old man made no reply as he
employed himself in ticketiDg sundry
goods which lay upon the counter.
We should be doing rushing bust
ness on the eve of Christmas" contin-
ued Jacob, 4" for even the poor on that
day long for good cheer, you know.
Do you recollect," after a pause, " do
you recolect that woman, year ago to-
night, who pledged her wedding ring
that her children might have a merry
Christmas, and when she had the
money clutched in her trembling hand,
begged you TO let her kiss the ring once
more?"
Yes" replied the old man, Il re-
member distinctly the groan she gave
when put it out of sight. What of
her?''
Nothing, only I met her yesterday
with little shivering tot of girl lead
ing her along. She is blind, stone
blind. The woman sewed day and
night, it seems, and has lost her eye
sight in consequence. Women are such
fools. | gave the child penny" the
magnanimous Jacob added, " though
it is strictly against my principles.
People who can't help themselves have
no right to live and bother others.
Those are my sentiments, and the senti-
ments of all clear-headed people,"
His father made no reply, but alb
stractedly gazed out of the window.
Whew?" cried Jacob, chow the
wind tore at the latch that time. Your
wolves want to come in, father, and
make the acquaintance of their friends
in sleeps clothing" at which speech
the facetious young gentleman
chuckled, and twirled the diamond
upon his finger so vigorously that it
sparkled and laughed, and seemed to
wink at the old mans pensive face with
malicious glee.
Then, for space, silence reigned in
the loan office of Mr.. Nathan Solomons,
broken at last by the old man, who
muttered, Christmas, another Christ
mas day."
There, there" retorted the son,
angrily, "don't 90 off on that tack
again. There's no possible use bring
ing up things to make yourself uncom-
Portable. You did right, and if she
went to destruction it amt your fault"
GO Yes, did right" sighed the old
man; but, Jacob, she was my own
flesh and blood, and sometimes SILVER
and feel numbed with cold as l think
that-that-"
sob, there!" roughly said Jacob,
"I've had enough. You think more
of that ungrateful creature to-day than
and stuck to the business from the time
/ could count the pennies in dollar"
" 1t takes nothing from you, Jacob,
that l think sometimes of her, does it?"
Well, don't bother me with your
shivering and turning numb with the
cold. 1t amt pleasant, for one thing,
and you're rich and comfortable for
another" "Rich" added his hope
full son, " and don't you forget that I've
helped to make you So"
Hush" abiectly implored the old
man, as the wind tore at the latch
again. "Don't let anybody hear you
say we're rich. We have had hard
struggle to get along, Jacob, hard
struggle, or we wouldn't exact the last
farthing from the poor as we do" he
whined, a crafty, greedy look replacing
the sadness of a moment before, while
the wind gibed and shrieked and walled
about the windows, seeking with ghostly
fingers to grasp the jewels and orna-
ments therein, sad reminders of hap
pier days and one-time happy homes.
Father and son moved toward the
glowing stove, Jacob rubbing his hands
with satisfaction at its kindly warmth.
Hank" said the old man, after a
long silence; some one seems to be
fumbling at the latch"
Oh, can't get in" cried a child
ish voice. 81 is too little. Please,
somebody, let me in, please"
Jacob, with a frown on his face,
strobe to the door.
Children seldom fetch anything of
value to pledge" he grumbled. 81
hate 'em anyway"
A child of some five summers looked
timidly into his frowning face, then
with sad shake of its head, said,
gently:
dess l is gone wrong. Mamma
said a good old man with white hair
would give me some money for her
locket, and then we'd get some supper
and fire, and-oh, l am so hungry
and cold, and is gone wrong"
She wrung her tiny blue hands in
misery, but her eyes seemed dry and
hot. Only sob told of her sufferings.
Shut the door, Jacob" said the old
man from behind the counter.
ooh, that's the good gentleman"
cried the child, as she caught sight of
him; the good old gentleman with
white hair"
mo nonsense, mind" snarled Jacob
to his father. " Give her what the
inket is worth, and no more. You
don't look up to business tonight, for
some reason or other. Here, where's
the locket?"
The benumbed fingers essayed to
find it.