The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1895-12-20
Medal
And Diploma
At Worlds Fair.

, lie had never helped the poor-indeed
, he had never listened to their appeals.
He had important business in an
other city which would keep him away
all through Christmas week, he ex-
planned to Mrs. Murray, and he must
, leave that evening. In the afternoon
he muffled himself in greatcoat and
furs and drove away and as soon as
the carriage was half way down the
hill servants relaxed from their usual
stiff propriety and began to enjoy
themselves in their own way.
I A telegram was handed to Mr. Rob
erts at the station as he was about to
buy his ticket What little things
sometimes change the whole course of
a life. The information thus received
made the trip unnecessary, and after
lettering about the city for a while he
returned home on foot and entered his
house quietly by side door.
Sounds of bosterous merriment
came from the servants quarters, and
the owner of the house frowned
ominousy. SO this was the way they
took advantage of his absence.
He made his way to his study, I'M
seen by any one, and shut himself in
"a lonely selfish desoate old man.
Even the fire which still burned n the
CRATE, annoyed him, and he withdrew
behind screen and threw himself into
an easy chair. He heard Mrs. Murray
come in after awhile, but she only
moved about softly and decorously,
setting things in order, and he did not
speak. She was just passing into the
| sitting room when she gave little cry
of alarm, followed by the exclamation
Mercy me, child How you fright
ened me-
Mrs. Murray said thin little
voice-a voice that Mr.. Roberts had
heard before--"I've come up here to
stay all night
The listener behind the screen
heard Mrs. Murray fall into chair
and again she cried, Mercy me.'
II just had to come - the eager
voice went on.
Mothers very, very sick and she
needs things, Mrs. Murray and may
be Santa Claus might bring EN- if he
knew and how is he to know when
he never comes there But | knew if
went to some fine house he'd come
and find me, and SO | came here. -
Poor child Poor child"
Mrs Murray had gathered the little
waif to her bosom and was rocking her |
softly to ard fro. The old gentleman
behind the screen could see that by |
the shadow on the floor. He could see.
too, that the housekeeper was futively
wiping her eyes
Presently she rallied and said
cheerily:
"I'll' tell you what we'll do, Mar
jorie. l''l go right down and see your
mother, and you shall 90 with me,
and who knows, maybe Santa Claus
will come there, after all"
"Oh, no. he won'tr' replied the
child, with sorowful conviction You
don't know that place. SAINT Claus
has never heard of it He goes to rich
peoples houses, and so I've come here,
and | must see him to night-oh, |
must, Mrs Murray! | don't care for
any other Christmas after this, but
| must see him tonight, on mothers
account, you know.
There was disymayed silence ON
Mrs. Murray's part, but presently she
said 5
We'll, come along into Mr. Roberts
study thank goodness he's away from
sit here before the fire till :
| come back. I'll take John and go $
down and see your MOTHER I
In another minute the sound of her !
footsteps had died away,
and the old gentleman, peeping from
behind the screen, saw little figure
sitting before the fire, gazing intently
into the glowing Goals
Dusk was settling down over the :
,ity. He had not been conscious of it j.
until the electric burner above his !
able flashed into sudden radiance.
The fash startled the child, and he
heard her moving softly about. What y
vas she doing? Preparing to steal
probably. These children
rom the tenement districts were all
hieves.
But no. When he ventured to look
gain, she was at the study table-his
able-writing. She had his sacred
zen, which no other mortal had ever
AIRED to touch, and she was writing
lowly and laboriously. Could pre-.
go farther than this? What
Tould these people be trying to do
ext?
1t took her a long time to write the =,
etter, but at last is was finished, and
ue ldlu lHe pen uOWn WIFI d weary
Ugh. Then she unrolled a little "'
undle that had been lying beside her n
nd shook it out-could the watcher be- =
eve his eyes?-a stocking, poor 1t
,rlorn, ragged little stocking Now ~
hat could she want with that?
She stood on tiptoe and peered A
round the corners of the mantel for =,
lace to hang it. Finally something -
.ruck her fancy as suitable, and she W
egan pushing a heavy chair toward
lie mantel. When it was near enough, d.
he climbed upon it and hung the a,
ocking upon the "brave caduceus'' al
the bronze Mercury that he bad d,
ought last year in Rome and for l..
hich he had paid such price! ~
Presently she had jumped down and ID,
as surveying the stocking with the a.
'eatest pride. Then the note was al
irefully folded, and she climbed: upon
lie chair again and pinned the folded ~
aper to the toe so consciously that Al
lie winged Mercury seemed to stand
lere for no other purpose than to hold n
p ragged stocking for all the word Da
see.
And then-why, then she was lying Al
,wn upon the rug with her thin 70
leek ON her thin little hand, and the
steiner heard tired sigh. Hi
After long while the old gentleman Al
" ANTED:- Seyeral trustworthy gentlemen
NJ or ladfes 70 travel in Vermont. for esfah