Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-12-20

,,i-t.. 'i'o solu hIVerWard that Won
straw, though tina. was fgprot T,,' u,
course "s"i"uINe, OF
tn. Inis was the beginning of Mariorie's
.i ' w vne great house on the hill. He,
tL 10, ulu not come again, but every dnv
a.. tis eunponhet went toiling up, and
S Unon eno gnnt OF the golden hair would be
seeh IN the great rooms where no child bod
ever strayed before. Not that che ,yas ,'i'"
terous or laughing, or cbildlike In on,,
way. She would sit in Mrs Murra,,'s ro ,,,y
ior hours, with her hands folded on hon
lap, watching the lady at her work and
sometimes talking softly or she wonId
follow her from room to room goginn
win rapt delight at every beautiful object
MI Roberts knew that she was in the
mousse but he said nothing. He was con.
solous sometimes that tho child stonped
near MIN and stood with her hands behind
ner, regarding him with grave scrutinv
pu6 nc uld not drive her away, as he might
nave been expected to do q few weeks he.
fore.
he was In his study ono morning when
ne heard Mrs. Murray come into the nd.
joining room. The door was aiar. and
| softly as she spoke, her words came to him
distinctly.
That was present from my son last
Christmas" she said. Dear how Fla
never fails to send me something every
Christmas and every birthday"
Then came small voice, full of wistful
meaning:
., Mrs. Murray" it said, "do you like
| ChristmasP"
why, Marjoriel" was the shocked re-.
ply. why, of course, 1 dol Everybody
| likes Christmasl"
Il don't" said the small voice-such a
desolate little voice 1t seemed ct had
rather leave Christmas out of the year"
Marjorie" No words could express
the horror and amazement in Mrs. Muir.
rays tone.
II would" The small voice had grown
thinner and higher in its painful intensity.
whats the use Of q Christmas that never
gets to some people at ALP There was lit
tie lame Peter Franks, who lived in the
room opposite to ours, and, oh, he wanted
n Christmas so much, Mrs. Murray! He
used to hang his stocking up every year,
every single year, and he always thought
there d be something in 1t next morning,
but there never was anything-not sin
! gle thing-and now poor Peters dead
and he never had Christmas in all his
lifer'
"My dearl My dearr'
The old gentleman in the study heard
the exclamation and he knew that the
voice that uttered it was full of tears. He
rose hastily and slipped out of the study
and then ordered his carriage and went
driving.
The day following was Christmas eve.
Carriers from town were busy all day
bringing in the presents that he had
bought for the servants, and there was
! great happiness In the servants hall, with
much confusion and many awkward at
tempts to thank the master, who waved
off every such attempt with an air of lofty
patronage Outside of this family of serv-
ants he had never given any one a present
in all his life. He had never contributed
to charities, public or private. He had
never helped the poor-indeed he had never
listened to their appeals
He had important business in another
city which would keep him away all
through Christmas week, he explained to
Mrs. Murray and he must leave that even
ing. In the afternoon he muffled himself
in greatcoat and furs and drove away, and
as soon rs the carriage was half way down
the hill the servants relaxed from their
usual stiff propriety and began to enjoy
themselves in their own way.
A telegram was handed to Mr.. Roberts
at the station as he was about to buy his
ticket What little things sometimes
change the whole course of lifel The in
formation thus received made the trip I'M
necessary, and after lettering about tho
city for awhile he returned home on foot
and entered his house quietly by side
door.
Sounds of boisterous merriment came
from the servants quarters, and the own
er of the house frowned ominously. So
this was the way they took advantage of
his absenceY
He made his way to his study, unseen
by any one, and shut himself ina lonely,
selfish, desolate old man. Even the fire,
which still burned in the CRATE, annoyed
him, and he Withdrew behind a screen
and threw himself into an easy chair. He
heard Mrs. Murray come in after awhile,
but she only moved about softly and de-
corously, 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 frightened
mep'
"Mrs. Murray" said a thin little voice
"a voice that Mr.. Roberts had heard be-
FORGIVE come up here to stay all
nightP'
The listener behind the screen heard
Mrs. Murray fall into chair and again
she cried, "Mercy mel"
az Just had to comeI" the eager voice
went on. "Mother's very, very siok-and
she needs things, Mrs. Murray-and may.
be Santa Claus might bring 'em if he knew
and how is he to know when he never
comes therep But I knew If went tc
some fine house he'd come and find me
and so came here"
"Poor child! Poor childP
Mrs. Murray had gathered the LITTLE
waif to her bosom and was rocking hen
softly to and fro. The old gentleman be
hind the screen could see that by the shad
ow on the floor He could see, too, that
the housekeeper was furtively wiping hel
eyes.
Presently sh9 rallied and said cheerily:
"I'u tell you what Wen do Marjorie
I'll go right down and see your mother
and you shall go with me, and, who
knows, maybe Santa Claus will CONT
there, after all. "
ooh, no, he won't" replied the child
with sorrowful conviction. You don
know that place Santa Claus has never
heard of It'll He goes to rich people,
houses, and so I've come here, and mus
see him tonight-oh, must, Mrs. Murray
l don't care for any other Christmas attel
this. but l must see him tonight, on moth
er's account, you know.
There was a dismayed silence ON Mrs
Murray's part but presently she said;
"Weu, come along into Mr.. Roberts
study-thank goodness he's away non
-, - sit homo hefOre the fra till