The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1892-01-07

ime. he vent out f9r . sAh
% the way be said 10 hiusslf. II shs
is going 10 skip Christmas and am COINS
TO ship Chris, mas. ~hy shonld we po'
zip II icgeihcif That nid truly be o.
end giadsone. snd il sonli sefve Barn
bury Alright I'll 80 10 sld Isy Il before
/ her
Tie wilos Monk vas atsnpger. ard
wien ,be asked him to tskes cup Of ts
he put down bis hst. unvound bis ~oolen
CON iorter. and took Of bis overcast When
he sat down bis eup,y cup be told her
that hr. bad made mp his nind 70 skip
Christmas and be told her shy. snd then
he proposed that they should skip u
together
Nov. the Widow Monk iopot 10 ask
him TO have second cup u ~, aud she
turned rs red rs the binding tho bad put
on tue horse blanket. Ths bsker pusbed
ssid.d the tsscnrs. leausd a&sr shs table.
and pressed bis sni, very hard.
" ben the lime came for him to open bis
shop che would think about the matter,
aud that he might call again.
The next day the suu shons golden, the
snow shone silvery. and Bsrnbury was like
. paradise % the good baker. For the
Widow Monk had told him be might come
again. and that was almost tbs same thing
as telling him that be and she would skip
Christmas togetherl Aod not q finger, so
fer, bad he put to spy Christmas order.
About noon OF that day be wss 90 happy
was that good baker. that be went to the
village inn 10 have . taste OF something
hot. 10 the iun be found tall man with
rings 10 his ears. A kunbrowned man he
was and stranger who bad just arrived
and waited HE dinner. He was also q
handsome man, and sailor as any ore
could see.
As the baker entered. the tall man said
to innikeeper
Is there a Mrs. Mopk pow living in this
village?
Truly there is. spid the iDn'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 het, but
turned him and went out into the cold,
bleak world. As be closed the door be-
biud bin he heard the stranger say.
Ga the brig Mistletoe.
Itwss not needed that the baker should
bear these words; already be knew every.
thing. His soul had told him everything
10 the moment he saw the sun'browned
man with rings 10 his earsl
On went the baker. his head bowed on
bis breast, the sun shining like tawdry
brass, the snow glistepiug like slimy,
evil thing. He knew not where be was
going: he knew not what be intended to
do. but on be went
Presently door opened aud be was
called.
| saw you coming, said the Widow
Monk, aud did net sh to keep you wait
ing in the cold and she held open the
door for HIN.
When be had entered and had seated
himself before the FIRE, the 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 1t aud be felt warmed.
And now, said the Widow Monk, seat
ing herself on the other side OF the lire
place. Ishsli speak ss plainly to you ss
you spoke to mr. You spoke very we'll
yesterday, aud have been thinking about
it ever since and have made up my mind.
You are alone in the world and en- alone
aud II you don. y ~isb TO be either. and 30
-perbsps-i will not be necessary to skip
Christmas this year.
Alas for the poor bakerl Here was pari'
disc seen through barred gstel But the
bakers heart was moved; even In tho
midst OF his misery be could not but be
o,ateful for the widows words. There
flashed into his eyes q sudden brightness
He held ont bis hands He would thank
ber first and tell her afterwards.
The widow took his hands. lowered her
bright eyes snl blushed. Then withdrew
herself and stood mp
Nov, eaia She. wiiL pretty smile, lei
me do the taking. Ddn't look so down
cast. v hen iell you that you have made
me very, very happy. you should look hsp
py too. When you came TO me yesterday
and said wha, you did l thought you were
in a hurry. but now | think that perhaps
you are are right, snd that when people
Of our age have anything important TO DO
il ia well 10 do It at once, for 10 this world
there are all sorts Of things sprinRinR up
to proven, people from being hpppy'
The whole body Of the baker VI" hlled
ai,h great srosp. but be denied II utter
snce. he mus, ber what she would say.
Aud 20 was goipg to suggest, sh'
con,inued, tbst Instead Of skipping Christ
mas together we keep it t,gsther. That
sll the change propose to your plap'
Up sprspg the baker. 50 suddenly tha
he overturned Lis cbsir. Nov be mus
speak. The widow stepped quickly toward
the door. sol tarnins With ssuile beld
up her hand.
Nov, good friend. sbs said. stop there
Al any moment srn,s one might come 10
/ Hasten back TO your shop. Al . o'clock
will meet at the parsons That sil
surely be coon enough ,ven Tor such
bssty msu - yiu
The baker c.me forss'd snd gsspe'
Your bu 'bspd
Not ye, ssid The widow With laugh