Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1904-12-23

'"Ne quarter. A million candles
would OF course be out of the question
but one was within bounds The star n
ne got damaged one, might be possible !:
ana, Just because 1t was Christmas he
| might afford an orange, a stick of CANDY
ana something solid in the way of a sand
! witch.
The members were safe for some time
indoors. Yes! Tony would mortgage the
future, and for that one night spend and
enjoy like a king!
Off he limped. The candle was easily
gotten; but the star, even damaged one
could not be found. The fruit man gave
him a splendid "specked" orange for five
cents; and then, with the candy and a
| noble sandwich, Tony hurried back to his
| tree.
Never, In all its wild forest dreams had
that evergreen imagined 1t was to play
the part 1t did that night! 1t fairly quiv-
cred as Tony tied the tallow candle among
Its branches, and them further burdened
1t with fruit and candy. Tony lighted the
candle, and sat down to enjoy the scene
and MUNICH his sandwich.
The candle at first fiickered from sheer
| surprise, but 1t wasn't going to miss the
chance of its life to light the world So
1T soon fiared proudly. 1t leaped with de-
| light; and Tony. his mouth full OF the de-
licious sandwich, laughed joyously
Il wish could have had the star" he
] murmered presently. and looked up. Then,
| because magic was abroad that holy night
| he saw that in some way a star-a won
| derful star-had taken its place right over
] the tree!
| 1t was the most glorious thing Tony had
| ever seen, and. as he watched, 1t opened
| and shut, giving him glimpses of all the
sweet things that used to happen when
| he was oh! so little and before; but at
that point tears came in Tony's happy
eyes, and the star reached down long
fnvn1n han 80 texl,k
comfort was so perfect that the boy for
got to nibble the last bit of sandwich,
and clutched 1t in his cold fingers, while
he gazed into the heart of that beauteous
star. The candle blazed. the orange and
candy swayed from the branches of the
bewitched tree. and the star stood over
the young child
Then very quietly 1.-The Member" came
out of the brilliantly lighted hallway, and
paused to light a cigar. 81 wonder IL
Tony has gone home" he thought. The
memory of the lonely eyes and the queer
tale of the Christmas feast that was never
to be had haunted him
'Fll hunt the little rascal up next
week." he muttered, land see what kind
of a home and people he has" Just then
1.-THE Member" stumbled against some-
thing, and at the same instant the candle
and the ornamented tree caught his at
tention. He bent down, and there lay
Tony fast asleep with that splendid star
keeping guard over him. Like a flash the
true meaning of 1t all came to THE Mem
ber." and something seemed to grip at
his throat. The little glorified upturned
face, the pitiful tree and its brave trap
pings, made a picture so beautiful that
for a few minutes THE Member" could
only gaze and grow tenderer and gentler
Then he stole back into the club house,
and soon returned. followed by many
others full of laughter and jokes; but at
"a l.a.. AlAxv
silent and stepped out into the vestibule
upon tiptoe. Thus they came upon Tony
still sleeping under his shining star For
moment no one spoke Then someone
who had little children at home whispered
hoarsely,-
Bring him inside, Arnold"
1.-The Member lifted the sleeping boy.
Tony did not waken; he was weary and |
cold, and his dream was absorbing They |
placed him upon a setee in the hall, after |
piling fur-lined coats and rugs upon 1t. !
Then followed a whispered consultation. |
The members became silently but wildly |
excited The hour and the scene had |
wrought upon their imaginations. They |
began to work like machines under the d. |
rection of 1.-THE Member" Presently, |
from the outer darkness and borne in the |
arms Of the noted guest of the evening, |
came a huge Christmas tree. This the |
president of the club proceeded to hang |
the younger members began to light. |
Then, with smothered laughter, other men |
came in from that mysterious outer world |
laden with drum, sled, skates,-indeed, |
everything that they suddenly remember |
ed was dear to boyish hearts. Candy |
enough to sicken half the city's popula- |
ton was heaped around the foot of the |
tree and golden oranges, unspecked and |
luscious bobbed Joyously from the |
branches. But it was THE Member" who |
at the last hung great golden star |
above the glittering evergreen
When it was all ready, as if he knew his |
part Tony awoke and opened his eyes. |
Just for one moment he gasped at the daz- |
cling spectacle and the ring of black
coated white-shirted gentlemen; but, be- |
ing used to dreams, he smiled up into the |
calm faces surrounding his couch. IL was |
an unusually superb dream, that was all; |
but then he recalled that the star mad |
been most unusual. There 1t was still |
above the magic tree, but now II was en-
tangled among the branches. He would
get up and try to reach the star. on II
he only could!
Tony remembered that, when he awoke' |
II would be cold and dark again; and he |
dreaded to break the charm even 10
reach the star. ,,u,
Member" and he sat upright, reaching out
the hand that still held the last morsel OF |
sandwich ,,a |
The spell was over. Some one iausheu'
Then shout went up.
hat-does-it--mean, sir?" quivered |
Tony. and 1.-THE Member" put a protect
I'M