Daily Kennebec journal., 1894-12-25

''You need not have brought your din
nor with you, sir, she said, smiling
| You are cutie welcome to "A share Of Ours
on Christmas day. Jimmy, put plato
for the gentleman, and John" turning to
her husband, do not let him hold that
heavy platter. Oh, what turkey He
must have been raised in IL land of giants"
So once again it CHANGED that the big
turkey and the little ono were sidc by
side The cottage was very soon a sccno
OF riotous enjoyment, for Ehcnczcr's
spirits rose at bound, and he felt like
boy again. He sent Jimmy back with
note TO his housekecper, who thought he
had suddenly become mad when she found
not only him but the turkey gone.
Over went the flowers and the nuts and
raisins, the apples and pears and grapes,
the mince pies and the plum pudding from
the great house to the small, and the chill
dren, who had not had good square meal
for weeks, sat down to "a board fairly
groaning under the weight of the good
things on it. The little boys ate till they
could barely see.
The little girls were nearly distracted
between admiration of the pink roses
nodding in the ta1 vase on the festal board
and astonishment at the pudding when
tMr. Green set it to blazing in burning
brandy.
And the father and mother wondered
how their neighbor had ever got his rcpu-
tation of being stiff and proud Never had
so delightful guest descended into their
modest household before.
They all put in and washed up the din
ner dishes afterward. The father washed
and Ebenezer Green wiped, wishing tho
directors of the bank could see him, and
the young feet trippod briskly to and tro
until everything was in its place, clean as
clean could be. 1t was a real frolic.
Then they dressed up around the fire.
The big logs had gone from Mrs Green's
cellar not many minutes before Jimmy
had worn path through the snow TO tho
house next door. 1t was story telling
time and in the CHEEKY glow on the hearth
the father poured out his soul and tod how
he had been thrown out OF worS by tho
closing of a factory; how hard he had
tried to find another place, but TO no
avail, and how all they had to live upon
was the sum his dear wife earned by sew
ing and Jimmy's pittance from the mar
ket. And the wife, in her turn, told how
brave and patient nc had been, with low
ing glance that made him blush with
pleasure.
And Mr.. Green promised that he should
have something to do by New Years day
and gave his word upon it, feeling for the
first time how much happiness q rich man
has the power to create.
Then it was his turn. The children
gathered at his knee to drink in breathless-
ly his tales OF travel by land and sea, OF
strange countries he had seen and people
H.. L.I int
far off places, whose custom and history
sounded like the most enhancing of fairy
tales. The baby drov nearer and nearer
and finally climbed upon his knee, listen
ing with her great blue eyes wide open
When it was her bedtime, she laid her
cheek upon his i'm soft cares5.
"She loves you," she said, and In
burst of laughter was led away-not far
for the house was very tiny. Her childish
voice could be heard prattling on while
the elder sister made her ready for BED,
and then the group outside fell into silence
while the little one knelt beside her GRID
and murmured the dear familiar words OF
her Now l lay me down to sleep.
Oh, that WAS happy Christmas uayl
AS it drew toward its close EDenezer
Green fingered In his sitting room, bare
and empty after that he had left SO 1uil OF
love and cheerful content. The firc lcapod
and flared and threw its rich light INTO
the shadows round his chair. lie felt the
baby arms still round his neck, the Gia-
Piled baby check pressed close 10 his own,
wrinklcd and scanned with the cares ol
the world, and when the chimes rang oEo
at midnight soft and clear tho old maa
bowed his head, and for tho first tln's IN
many year i:c brcathcd IA littie prayfr.--
Buffalo News.