Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-12-23
THE CHILD HAD WINGS.


"a Christmas Pastel In Prose"
On Christmas Eve a man and woman
came down their house steps and went
hurrying over the frosty pavement. Be-
hind them the lights of the stately avenue
converged like glittering professions; be-
fore them the lights of the Public Garden
twinkled like flowers The church stood on
the corner, ITS dark network of vines
spread like a shadow over its stone walls
High in the tower hung the silent bell that
knew the Christmas chimes.
The woman's delicate chin was dipped
deeply in rich fur, the furred edge of her
gown swept the frosty pavement, red
pumes trembed in her little bonnet Her
face shone out clear and rosy under lamp
light The man, as they passed, looked
down at her, and there was love in his eyes.
What shall | buy for Sister Grace"
said the woman.
Il know not love, but here is my purse. "
And for Sister Maud"
Here is my purse, love, but | know
not
And my million frendsl"
81 know not, but here is gold enough.
have toiled for it all the month to give thee
thy Christmasing.n
And the baby, and little Bessi"
Il know not, love, but here is the
purse High in the church tower hung
the silent bell that knew the Christmas
chimes.
Suddenly the woman stopped. She
turned about. "What is following u.s."
said she.
"W hat mean you, love!'
Il heard little feet like child's, patter-
ing fast to overtake US.
There is no child in sight, and you
dream, love-"
The man and woman went on. They
entered the Public Garden. All around
them, over the frosty walks and the o d
flower beds lay the shadows of the trees
clear and dark like silhouettes in the cleo
trio lights. Near them a stone sentinel
stood guard on his stone pillar; over on the
left bronze horseman rode increasingly on
his bronze horse; a sheet of ice glittered
with the cold white glitter of the moon
"Sister Grace has jewels" said the wo-
man, "she has laces and bronzes, there is
naught now left in the world to give her"
81 cannot help that" said the man.
Here is the purse, love-"
And Sister Maud has all that, and also
a lover. One cannot even give her love. "
Il cannot manage that, said the man.
Before them lay the shadows of the tree
branches, clear and black, like silhouettes
/ in the electric light
"There is naught now left for the baby
and little Bess, " sighed the woman. THE
nursery is full of toys. l know of naught
that will please them for an hour"
Suddenly she faced about like rose in a
wind. Il heard little feet like a child's
pattering fast to overtake u.s." said she.
"And did them said the man.
And | heard a little voice crying
wait ~ said the woman.
81 heard not that" said the man.
They went on through the garden to the
street They crossed the street between
the electric cars shooting past with flashes
of fire from their wheels. They entered
the old mall Il would l could think of
somewhat for the baby and little Bess, y
sighed the woman.
"A little woolly lamb pleased me, when
l was a child and a stick of red and white
peppermint candy" said the man.
And rag baby pleased me, but Bess
has dolls from Paris. Oh, | hear again
those little feet like child's pattering fast
to overtake us"
"And |, " said the man
"And l heard that little voice crying
wait"
"And l too said the man, "but there i:
no child here"
Behind them on the street shot the cleo.
trio cars with sharp Kisses like scythes,
with fire flashing from their wheels. The
man and woman went on. An old woman
with a shawl over her head skunk by them
muttering; the man took out his purse and
held something toward her-"Here, take
this for Christmas, " said he. There was q
gruff, shamed note in his voice; he cleared
his throat. The old woman stood motion
less; suddenly a hand was thrust forth
from under her shawl like claw from {
cage. The old woman stood motionless al
they went on, then the electric light shonC
on her withered old face looking after them
''Now the patter of little feet is close a
our heels, " said the woman, and they bott
turned, but no child was there.
81 heard that little voice crying wait,
louder" said the woman.
And ], ;" said the man.
They came to the border of the mall. Be
fore them shot the electric cars, up anC
down the street, with sharp Kisses hk
scythes, with fire flashing from their wheels
They crossed the street and came int,
the midst of the great throDg pressing VI
and down under the glare of the whit
lights The eyes of the people were eager
and their breaths went before them il
clouds. The footsteps of the people ram
out on the frosty pavement, but the maj
and woman turned ever as they went on
for they heard above all others the fast pat
tering footsteps of the child.
A wrinkled hand stretched out in thei
faces from street corner. The man opene
! his purse. 1T is a cold night, though h
be an impostor," he said as they went or
) Then they turned again, for the child
footsteps sounded nearer.
, Fir trees, laden with wax candles an
. sugar angels, stood in the Fhop windows
the shop doors held the FACES of crowdin