Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1904-12-23
|" AND THE STAR STOOD OVER
THE YOUNG CHILD"

Tony had his dreams and longings like
all other boys of ten, and he had his MEM
cries also; but he did not say much about
them for two reasons. First, there was
no one who would understand his long
inPs because there was no one in his
present life who had his memories. He
lived" on the street, and slept when
nights were very cold, and he had the
money, at the Newsboys' home. But he
had not always existed so; and, try as
he might. he could not forget And sec
ondly, Tony was too brave to complain
under any circumstances, and too shy to
give voice to his flights of imagination
He was just a newsboy who, by COM
mon consent of all the other boys on the
street, was allowed a monopoly of selling
papers on the steps of the Union Club
house.
1t had never been a rich stand for the
other vendors of daily news, but Tony
made it pay His face helped He had a
perfectly beautiful face, for all the dirt
and freckles; and. like tiny Tim" of
long ago. he was lame. and even the rough
boys were touched by that pathetic fact.
But above all else, perhaps, he. was so
astonishingly honest. He made it a point
always to have change. The members Of
the club. hurrying to and fro were at
tracted to the little chap who never kept
them waiting, and handed back the exact
amount quite as matter Of course.
They often bought all his papers II they
came out of the club late and found him
still there; and sometimes 1.-The Member
Tony in his mind always put those
words in capitals-smoothed his hair with
gentle hand, and bade him go home"
Tony never limited, even to 1.-THE Mem
ber," that he had no home, no one to
whom he belonged; and, If it had not been
for one of the boys longings, THE Mem
ber' might never have known, and then?
Well you shall see.
1t was the day before Christmas and
some of the boys had been talking of a
big Christmas tree they were going to
see Some one had given them tickets,
and they were going that very night.
The tree was to be adorned by mil
lions of candles" and on top there was to
be suspended "a shining star as big as a
cart wheel" Besides all these splendors
there was to be a gift for each boy, and
bag of candy and an orange.
Tony listened. and wished with all his
heart that the boys had remembered him
when the tickets were being passed
around. But no one told him where to
go for one; and he gave up the desire-as
he did SO many other things-with a
brave little sigh. Still, he could not for
get. The memory deepened as the day
wore on. The star especially appealed
to him, and the millions of candles" made
and ordinary. If Tony had always been a
city street boy, he would have known how
TO procure a ticket of admission to the big
tree but then. in that case he might not
have had his dreams and fancies, and they
were to repay him in a wonderful manner.
Well" he sighed, as the afternoon was
darkenng, and he took his place with an
extra heavy bundle of papers upon the
steps of the rich club house, eff / can
not go and see the tree and the star, l
can make believe. No one shall know that
I'm left" So. while he shouted "Even'g
Sun, Globe, and Comet, sir?' he was think
ing of his tree, which was growing more
splendid with each passing hour.
There was to be big dinner at the club
that evening in honor of great man;
and the members hurried along In car
rage or on foot, and arrived at about the
same time. They bought papers from
Tony in the most lavish manner, and
wealth was rolling in upon the boy At
last The Member came rushing up. He
was late. but he stopped to speak to Tony
as he bought the Globe. Going to have
good time, my boy?"
Tony counted out the change, and drew
upon his imagination, which by that time
was the most real thing in the world to
him, He leaned upon his little rough
crutch and answered. Fine! I'm goin
into the country, sir, to my-my grand
mothers We're going to have such
dinner you Just bet! And then we're go
In to have a tree as high a steeple
with a billion candles on 1t, and on top
star big as-as big as a Ferris wheel!
Mothers goin with me, and my father
and my sister and brother!" The idea or
This goodly company brought the tears
TO TOnys lonesome little face.
THE Member stared in surprise, but
II was too late to question the boy SO ne
merely said, Don't go at too rapid rate
Tony; and won't you keep the change To-
night old fellow?"
Thank you, sir, no." The vision was
past. and please, sir, that amt true
about the tree 1 was joking. I'm too Dig
Tor such fooling."
The Member" was gone with the mem
DRY of Tony's wonderful, lonely eyes 10
haunt his evening After the door had
closed upon his friend, Tony, presuming
upon the fact that the dinner was In prog
ress crept up into the vestioule, anu'
make believe"
The tree at once sprung into life. Tony
rubbed his eyes. There 1t was right be-
side him! In a vase by the doorway, JUST
Where it always had been, grew a little
evergreen tree, bravely forgetting It's ior-
est home and adapting itself to circum-
stances just as Tony was doing But
somehow tonight it looked larger.
.. 1t would make a jolly Christmas tree
only" Then Tony counted his money
he took out enough to replenish ms
sock pay for a couple OF nights lodg-
'hgs, and all outside obligations, he would