The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1895-12-20

behind the screen ventured to NOV
slightly. After little longer h
moved again and so gradually cam
out of hia hiding place.
Was tn At old Mr.. Roberts tiptoein,
across the room to keep from startlin!
the poor little waif sleeping on hi
hearth rag? Was that the sordid oil,
man who II even his friends had COM
to call mere money machine, tina
man whose hands trembled AS he un
pinned til little note and spread it on
before him?
| DEAR SANTA CLAuSE-When you come Il
night pleas look at me. IN be down on the rug
give me ennything, but pleas I'LL the stockin,
with things for mother she's sick. tied up tn,
toes so they wonllent drop out. The docto
says wine and things and hOusrent
MARJORIE HOLMES.
For long time the old man sat ir
the chair before the fire. Something
within him was breaking the cold anG
selfish crust that years had helped Il
form. He sat there looking from the
sleeping child to the forlorn little
stocking and from the stocking to the
child. 1t was the first time stock ny
had ever been hung up in his house
the first time!
Suddenly the old gentleman rose. He
lifted the child gently and laid her on
couch which had always been sacred
to his own use and covered her with
rugs. Then he went softly out and
astonished the unsuspecting servants
by appearing among them and ordering
tho carriage.
Could this be old Theodore Roberts,
the money machine, the selfish,
brusque, irritable old man, tins man
who went from store to store, ordering
and buying and spending money as he
had never spent it before? Could this
be the Mr.. Roberts that Mrs. Murray
knew, tins man who went into that
sick room, followed by great hamper
filed with wine and things and
houserent? Was this the man that all
the charitable organizations Stunned,
this man who drove about half the
night, leaving behind him trail of
Christmas rejoicing, mingled with
such blessings as he had never heard
before?
And who was it that drove up the
hill at last under the silent stars with
a carriage full of bundles and with
strange, soft feeling Juggling at his
heartstrings? He smiled AS he went
and yet he had to keep wiping his
eyes. He was glad it was dark, so
that no one could see.
And what strange figure was this in
the study afterward, this figure that
moved SO steathily and that was 80
busy stufiing the stocking until it WAS
ready to burst, and pinning things all
over the outside of it until the bronze
Mercury seemed almost to stagger un
der his burden? What had come over
the old gentleman whom so many
people envied and whom nobody loved.
just before day Mrs. Murray, com
ing softly in, found him sitting by the
fire, watching the sleeping child.
"It'll be a sad time for her. she
said, Her mothers gone, and what |
ever's to become of the little thing | |
don't know.
II don't see why the child shouldn t |
stay here. Mrs. Murray said the old |
gentleman. with his face turned the |
other way. 1T would be some extra
trouble for you, but dare say you
would not mind it.
- Sir" Mrs. Murray managed to
Then the old gentleman turned |
around, and she saw what was shining
On his cheeks.
do you see that stocking. Mrs.
Murray" he cried, in voice that she
lad never heard before. That's the
first stocking that was ever hung up
in my house. 1t looks homelike,
Doesn't it? | have decided that we
will have stockings hung up every year.
nd here's child that needs a home,
md, thank heaven, I've home 10
five her.
The child sighed and stirred and
hen suddenly sat up.
did he Gomez" she cried eagerly,
With dazed look at the bursting
tocking, and the old gentleman be
ide her gathered her up in his arms
md said;
AYES, my little one, he came !".-
Philadelphia Times.