The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-12-16

Then he pulled out another piece of
paper exac ly Ike the first. BY the
time he had pulled out the third piece,
he heard loud laugh, and, looking up,
he saw his brother Gilbert looking at
him from the bed room door
"Nice Santa CT us, amt he, TO fill
your stocking with papel?" said Gilbert.
Davy did not reply at once, for by
this time he had pulled out a doz IN
pieces of paper, and he was really dis
appointed. am afraid there were
tears both in his voice and in his ey es
when he finally stammered out:
"I-I-guess there really is some
thing in the toe"
He pulled out a package as he spoke,
which was tied up with many strings
and wrapped in paper after paper.
When he had taken off the last wrap
ping, he came to little box, and, open
ing it. he found-just sprig of bright,
shining red holly berries with their
green leaves.
1t was such a disappointment that
even Gilbert did not laugh. "Poor
Dave he said, "Santa Claus might
have saved himself the trouble"
But his mother, who had come into
the kitchen now, kissed the it'll fellow,
and old him he should have some eggs
to sell at the great house, and she would
pin the sprig of holly in his coat, so
that they would know he was keeping
Christmas.
"IL is very pretty holly anyway,
momkins," he said, looking at it through
his tears.
The more be looked at it the pref
tier it seemed, until when be was on
bis way to the great house with basket
Of eggs he thought he had never seen
anything half so beautiful as the shin
ing red berries at his button-hol3.
When he reached the governors
house and showed the eggs to The cook
in the kitchen she bought them at once.
She looked at the holly at his button
hole and said it was very pretty, the
prettiest she had ever seen. Then she
whispered something to the butler,
who nodded his head briskly and went
away. He came back quickly while
Davy was still warming his hands by
the kitchen fire, and told him that the
governors lady wanted to see him.
Wants to see mel" exclaimed Davy,
very much astonished.
The butler assured him that there
was no mistake, and DAvy, full of Won
der, followed him up stairs into the
dining room.
He never had been in such beauti-
full place before, but it was not the fine
room but the governors lady that at.
tracted his attention, she was 80 pretty
and smiled down upon him so pleas
anily
She asked him where he got the
beautiful holy, and when he told her
Santa Claus had brought it, she seemed
very much pleased.
"Would you sell it, them" she
asked. Davy said yes, because want
to buy red cow for my mother and
that will begin it,"
$50 it will" said the lady, giving
him dollar "and here's golden or
ange for you, too" she added, picking
out a large one from dish of fruit.
When Davy thanked her, he started
for home, very much pleased with the
money and the orange. 81 wonder
what Gill would say nOw?" he said tC
himself, triumphantly.
He had only gone little way when he
met baker bringing some Chrstmas
pudding on tray to sell at the gov
ernor's house. He was singing as he
came along, and walking so carelesslJ
that Davy saw him slip on piece o.
ice and ran forward TO catch the tray
before it fell.
But as he did so he dropped his basket
and the golden orange rolled over thu
snow.
"Ah, ha! said the baker, "what ;
fine orange! I'll give you Christina
pudding for that"
DAvy had never eaten real Christ
mas pudding with plums in it, and
had most inviting odor of spices.