Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-12-22

THERE IN THE HALL STOOD A CHILD.
The sky was overcast and the wind cold,
but out in the streets the lamps were light
ed, the shop windows were respondent
with holly, and n crowd of belated shop.
pers hustled each other on the pavements,
so that Tony, in his delight at this novel
and beautiful scene, did not feel tho cold
and knew not tho meaning of fatigue. At
first he even forgot that he meant to get
into tram and 90 to Stoncley, the sub
urb in which his fathers home as child
was situated The name Of the house was
Carston, rs Tony knew, and in his igno-
rance Of all difficulties no intended to go
by tram car to Stoncley and then ask tho
first passcrby his way to Carston. That
the place might be utterly changed from
the time when his father was boy never
entered Tony's head.
However, the innocent and ignorant
sometimes seem guided toward right ways,
right things right people, in ways wo do
not know Tony looked up straight into
the face of tho omnibus conductor at a
street corner where several omnibuscs
were waiting and said. Are you going to
Stoncley, pleaso?"
ly and said;
AYE, that bel Do you want to 60 to
Stoncley, little masterP"
eyes, " said Tony, promptly scrambling
up the steps, land l want to go to a house
ut Stonelcy--a house called Carston. Do
you know where it isY"
"Why, yes, said tho friendly conductor
in rather doubtful voice. II know Car
ston well enough, and we go almost past
tho gates, but what might you be want
ing at Carston, should like to knows"
ITS where my daddy used to live, /"
said Tony, settling himself into his seat.
"Oh seel" said the man. feeling more
satisfied. He supposed the boy must be
the son of some coachman or gardener who
lived at Carston, and Tony had so much
self possession ard confidence that no moro
| questions seemed necessary.
More passengers got in, the conductor
shouted, the driver cracked his whip, and
the omnibus moved on. 1t seemed "a long
time to Tony before it stopped to put him
down in dark road, where the conductor
pointed encouragingly to white gate at
the end of little lane and told him that
that was the way to Carston. There II
be bus back to town every quarter of an
hour" he said, but maybe you won I
want one9 You're going to spend Christ.
mas with your father, rcckon?"
"Oh, yes" said Tony, not ut oil sus.
pccting the drift of the question. And
then tho omnibus rolled away, leaving him
Ill alone in the dark with an unaccustom
cd sensation Of fear and-an unusual thing
for him-a strong disposition to cry.
But he mastered the weakness and,
grasping the violin faster he turned to-
ward the white gate at the end of the lano,
1t was unfastcned, and when he had pass
ed through it he found himself on gray
elcd walk winding whitley between tree:
and plantations toward large, dark look
ing mansion, which Tony OWNED to be
Carston, his fathers old home.
He followed the path until he came tc
the garden, and then he lost himself lit
tie, but by and by he emerged from the
shadows and found that he was fronting q
wide flight of steps which led up to the
terrace in front of the dining room and
drawing room windows Tony nodded
quito joyfully when he saw tho terrace
and the steps His father had told him
about them many time. He mounted
thcm slowly and carefully; then, standing
on tho terrace, he looked about him lit
tie while and decided chat it was time fol
him to begin to play. He felt rather cold
now that he was not moving and a snow
fake or two melted upon his nose and
made him uncomfortable. Nevertheless II
was with great resolution that he drew hii
how across the strings of the fiddle ant
began his favorite tune:
"whie shepherds watched their fiocks by
night,
All seated on the ground"
"What's that caterwaullng in the
grounds, NorrisY" said the master of tn,
house to the butler in his crustest tones
He was at dinner, and the notes Of a vic
lin fell strangely upon his ear. Ibid
not tell you that l would have no parties
of carol singers this year? They only
trample down the plants and destroy the
young trees in the plantation. Go ou
and put a stop to that noise directly"
Norris went out with rather gray,
face. 1t was troubled one when no re
turned.
Its not tho carol singers at all, sir
Its-its only little boy"
"Sond him away at once then."
"If you please, sir, he says he wishes t.
speak to you. II think he's gentle
mans son, sir"
"What If he isY He can have no bust
ness here. Send him off, Some Begging
trick, dare say"
But as the general-for that was tn,
rank of tho master Of Carston-spoke tn,
music waxed louder and louder, and
sweet child's voice rang out like bird s
To the vast surprise of master and servan
alike, the door of the dining room wa
pushed open, and there in the hall stood
child, with shining hair and big brown