The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-12-25
" Little JOe

" Oh, wbew; but ain cold Here
l am all shaking, most as though / had
an ague fit, guess. VS. I could 90
sliding with those boys. Wonder why
it is some folks have everything and
others nothing; don't seem cutie even
like to me. Guess | wi FRY aud run
anyway" And away dashed the little
fellow, who had been holdin4 g CONVEX
sation with himself
1t was bright day just after Christ
mas, and the streets of the ovely town
of Newburg were glistenin: if mil
lions of diamonds were Sc cred over
the newly-fallen snow. I nc air was
clear and cold, but no one seemed to
mind that except the poor, who could
not afford the heavy clothing which
seemed needful for such morning.
Business men clad in heavy garments
walked briskly down the street, greet
ing one another with "This is a
fine morning. "This air makes one
feel like new person." Slegh-loads
of happy people went rapidly past, and
the bright young people, wrapped in
their warm furs, threw merry greetings
to their neighbors as they passed, the
steaming horses seeming anxious to ex-
eel in the rapidity with which they
drew their merry loads. Indeed, it
seemed as though Christmas cheer
filed the air.
But the little boy could hardly be ex-
pected to enjoy to the utmost the bright
atmosphere. He was only ten years
old, but his pinched little face made
him look older, and his clothing was
ragged and patched. One would
scarcely know the original color, for The
patches were numerous and of many
colors. But wound around his peek
was a bright red scarf, and Ger ainir
his neck must have been warm, for
scarf was wound around and around.
He came running back to the place
where he started, and as he stopped he
said, Why, | feel warmer now, but
wasn't | almost frozen; don't know
what l should do if did not have this
scarf. That woman who threw it al
me and said, Here, you ragmuffin
take that and be off, did not know how
mnch good she was doing; but WASH
she cross, though, when l asked her il
/ could split wood for her. 1t does JUS
seem as though there was no place fol
me in this big world. l have tried al
lllC llOl hlhE W SSb oOhlSbhih5 w Wv CIV
don't see what shall do, for it is 81
cold | can't sleep in the barn or out o.
doors anywhere much longer. Don
see what made God take papa anC
mamma both at once and leave me al
alone. l wonder if where they ar
everything is nice; if they know hov
cold their little boy is. They used t.
tell me, l can just remember, that CO.
always took care of his children.
guess he has forgot | was here; perhap
ne thinks l am with papa and mamma
but l wish he would remember, an
come for me but my sakes! | believe
am crying; this will never do. Their
goes a man with his arms full c
bundles; wonder if he wouldn't Xix
some help" and giving a shrill whistle
away he went.
The gentleman looked down at tn
mite of small boy who was sayin
Don't you want me to carry you
bundles for you, sir2" and with merl
twinkle in his eye, said: Why, yo
could not carry half have. No
what could you do with this onef
and he placed a large square packaG
in his arms "You will see, sir
replied the boy, where shall l carl
it to?"
"My sleigh is in front of Hatch
Browns; you may pat it under Il
front seat"
Sc He will find his match before
gets there" said the gentleman to hil
self. Il will keep near him to hel
for he is such mite of boy anyway
But the little fellow carried the pac
age in safety and placed il in the sleil
as lady and little child came out
the store.
Did you think l was never comm