The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-01-22

she'll not mind it,. but she'll be the only
one-the only one in all Barnbury Hal
ham hIyarm1 li .aisuwa taE -aI Il
The baker wanted some fresh air, and,
as this was supper time for the whole
village, he locked up the shop and went
out for walk. The night was clear and
frosty. He liked this; the arr WAS so
different from that in the bakery. rlJV
He walked to the end of the village,
and at the last house he stopped. How
ITS very odd, y said he to himself;
mo cakes, pastry OF sweetmeats; not
even poultry or meat to be baked. I'll
look in and see about this and he
knocked at the dooTgruf % if'da I-f4
The Widow Monk was at supper. She
was a plump little body, bright and
cheerful to look upon, and not more than
thirty. i.. ua.ifUrr1f ut. o. lfigu Iauop
"Good evening, baker, said she twill
you sit down and have cup of tea?m I.
The baker put down his hat, unwound
his long wooden comforter, took off his
overcoat and had cup of glig aai.
! ''Now, then, y said he to himself, as he
put down his cup, ''if she would ask me
to dinner / wouldn't skip Christmas, and
the whole village might rise UP and
bless hern ..i. ..li -41a Euutrs ~. a
''We are like tOhave a fno Christmas y
said he. .r 9..s H.tIg b.a.u. nu -r.,I
Fine enough for the rest of you,'i she
said with smile, ''but Ishall not have
any Christmas this year, ug9l %. sru~
! 'iHow's that?' said the baker; mo
Christmas, Widow Monk2n.. biE mu
| 8, Not this yea" said she, and she pro.
ceeded to pour him another cup of tea
you see that horse blanket?'' said she,
pointing to one thrown over chair. .-u.
BLESS me- Widow Monk,n cried the
baker; you're not intending to set up q
horse?n' 81. .ur...'r lri't. o.. -uiIt
Hardly that,,' she answered, with {
smile, but that's the very last horse.
blanket that | can get to bind. They
dom put them ON horses. but they have
them bound with red, and use them fol
door curtains. That's all the fashion
now, and all the Barnbury folks who can
afford them have sent them to me to bt
bound with red. That one is nearly fin
ished, and there are no more to be bound
But haven't the Barnbuiy folks any
more work for your cried the baker;
"have'nt they shirts or gowns or some
other sort of mendingp' 10 'af ....,..
''Those things they make themselves.'
she answered; "but this binding is very
hoayy work and they give it TO me. The
blankets are coarse, you see, but they
hang very well in the doorway.n 30 -
1"Confound the people of Barnbury. =
cried the baker. EVERY one of them
would hang well in the doorway If | had
the doing of it. And so YOU can't afford
a Christmas?" .-'IEHI -'u''uf ..H
"No," said she, setting to work on the
horse blanket, mot this year. When |
came to Barnbury, baker, thought per.
haps might do well, but have not sue.
ceeded. ~ iu G'1lt".1 H'.t~ .4g
''Did not your husband leave you ANY.
thing?'' fHE H.a"Hiin fIL'EN L.
my husband was sailor, and he
went down with his brig the MistletOe.
three years ago, and all that he left me is
gone, baker" .H H H'H+~ Hnf u'.
1t was time for the baker to open his
shop, and he went away, and as be
walked away snow drops and tear drops
were all mixed together on his face.
~ couldn't do this sort of thing before
herr he said, land am glad it was
time to go. ua ur1'uH
That night the baker did all his rcgu-
lar work, but not finger did he put to
any Christmas order The next day lust
at supper time he went out for a walk.
On the way he said to himself, s'If she
is going to skip Christmas and / am 20
ing to skip Christmas, why not skin il
together? That would truly be most fit
and gladstone, and it would serve Barn
bury Alright. I'll go and lay it before
hero "fl -'.'I
The Widow Monk was at Supper, and
when she asked him to take q cup of tea
he put down his hat, unwound his wool
EN- comforter and took off his overcoat.
When he set down his empty cup he told
hiir he too intended to skip Christmas,
and lie told her why, and then he bro {.
posed that they skip it together ''
Now, the Widow Monk forgot to ask
him to have second cup of tea, and she
turned as red as the binding she had put
on the horse blanket. The baker pushed
aside the teacup, 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. H ji.H lG .rdT
The next day the sun SliOne golden, the
snow shone silvery, and Barnbury slibne
like 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.
About noon of that day, he was so
happy, was the good baker, that lie went
to the village inn to have taste of hot
toddy,, IN, the inn he, found a man. with
rings in his ears. A sun-browned man
lie was and stranger, who had lust ar
rived and wanted his dinner He was
also handsome man, and sailor as
any one could see. ..f uf.1 IHr'|-
As the baker entered, the tall man said
to the inn-keeper: ysHiYlr hugI
SIS there a Mrs. Monk now living in
this village?' .4.....a .lr. lf1t y
Truly there is, said the inu-keeper,
and will show you her house. But
you'll have your dinner tirst?" i.rn. f..
-, Aye, aye, said the Stranger, ''for
III not so to her hungry" 800. ,,.s m
The baker asked for nothing lot. but
turned him and went out into the cold,
bleak world. As lac closed the door be-
hind him he heard the stranger say:m1ti
ION the brig Mistleto.n I.l 'r'f fa
1t was not needed that the baker should
hear these words; already he knew
everything. His soul had told him every
thing in the moment he saw the sun
Drowned man with the rings in his cars
On went the baker, his head bowed on
his breast, the sun shining like tawdry
brass, the snow glistening like a Shiny,
evil thing He knew not what he in.
tended TO do, but on he went i-.lr
Presently door opened and he was
called. lH '9ifIYHI ~ H3aI a' .9iII BIO
.1"''I saw you coming, - said the Widow
Monk, land l did not wish TO Keep you
waiting in the cold, 'and she held open
the door for him. tI-uR rI--sG anon.
When he had entered and seated him
self before the fire, she said to him;1f.a
"Truly, you look chilled, you need
something hot, and she prepared it for
him, ,nd.. y.E..,,. -HifilI. '.a nuf I.I
The baker took the hot beverage.
This much of good he might at least
allow himself. He drank it and lac felt
warmed. ........., d, ,..,..... ..-i. iiHfoi 4
And now," said the Widow Monk,
seating herself on the other side of the
Fireplace, 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 mp my
mind. You are alone in the world aud
i am alone, and II you don't wish to be
either, and so--perhaps-it will not be-
necessary to skip Christmas this year,
Alasl for the poor baker. Here was
paradise seen through a barred gate.
But the bakers heart was moved; even
in the midst Of bis misery he could not
but be grateful for the Widows words.
There flashed into his eyes sudden
brightness, Ho held out his hands.
Ee would thank her first and tell her
afterwards. .I.l.,i,f yrirsIr ...
The widow took his hands, lowered
her bright eyes and blushed. Thcn
she suddenly withdrew herself and
stood up.
NOW" she said with pretty smile