The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-12-24
The King
OF Christmas
BY r. A. mitchell

hleheIstuu uuutTcitu Win MS WIZ
and went out from his home into the
world with turmoil In his head and In
his heart He saw troubled present
and a dismal future. He had married
rather late In life-forty- having talk
en- a woman ten years younger than
himself. The honeymoon was pleas
ant, but as soon as 1t was over the
groom, who had become set In his
ways, found the task of getting used
TO a woman, who was fast becoming
II she had not already become-also
set In her ways, difficult There was
friction. Friction makes fire, and fire
burns. Bickerstnff rued the day when
he had married. At last he could
stand II no longer and went off by
himself
But he had tasted of the sweets of
matrimony as well as the bitter.
When he had ceased to quarrel his
mind settled back on the sweets. He
remembered his counting days; went
over the little nothlngs he had said to
| his love. dwet on those feminine idi
osyncrasies that had so charmed him.
| And now what q contrast was his |
present life to that brief happy season
| with one he had loved and who had !
loved him, The charm had gone out /
| of his bachelor freedom. He was /
minded to get divorce and try mar
riage again with another woman. No;
If he couldn't live with the woman he
already loved he certainly could not
live with another.
He spent a long while trying to get
used to the separation. He hoped
some suggestion that might lead to a
reconciliation would come from his
wife. Then he began to dread lest
she would proceed to obtain divorce
In order to supply bis place.
Christmas was coming and added to
his gloom. Men Mt business began to
talk about getting this 'one and that
done In order TINT they might be free
to enjoy Christmas. This stung him. /.
What In the world should he do, where
go to avoid the day which would be
full Of misery to him as 1t was of
pleasure to Others? He could not get
rid Of it; he must face 1t. !
Then something Of the spirit of !,
Christmas must have stolen into his 4
heart for he wrote letter to his wife i
suggesting that they try TO live to- \
gether again or at least spend the y
Christmas holidays together. Doubt d
less he had been very impatient with
her: he had not considered that her
viws. habits. requirements were as i'm I
portant as his own. II 1t appeared by ;,
the end of the holidays that they were i
as discordant as before they could part /
again. Ia
At their separation hrs vi Z had gone y
clnded that he heard nothing OF her
through others, and she never wrote
him. He waited anxiousiy for her re-
ply. and when 1T came was much D
pleased that she accorded with his
she longed for their union
as much as he did. TRY to think of 4,
some gift you can bring me" she r.
wrote. which will so please me that NJ
It will make me more patient with al
you hereafter something not of pc "
,unIary value Read the poem Of a.
Paradise and the PERI and you will a.
understand. / have something for you
hat hope will produce like result" =
Bickerstaff read the poem In which I
sinner takes n gift to heaven that I
will be acceptable and insure nm en-
rance there He tried many gifts and
inally succeeded by offering tear Of
epentance.
Mrs. Bickerstaff wrote her husband
hat Christmas morning would be the
most convenient time to receive him.
{ they had a lot of children to hang
p stockings Christmas eve would be
As II was. let 1t be Christ
las morning. The moment 1t was all
ranged Bickerstaff began to fret over
be period that remained before the
isit. He had not seen or heard any
hing of his wife for months, yet the
wv days interval before he was TO q
leet her seemed an age. While read
IL the poem his wife had recommend
thinking Of her-a tear had dropped 4
0 the paper He tore out the page,
to take it to her for his gift.
Christmas morning opened bright
III DtdultlUis Ilau lHktD n
lie journey the evening before so he
nd only to drive from n hotel TO the
Irm. He was received by his wife's
lrents, who seemed TO be very happy.
e wondered If their joy was caused
= the prospect of their daughters re-
1ion. They led him upstairs TO her
om and threw open the door. There
lie lay In beds pale. but happy, while
babe was pulling for his breakfast.
my Christmas gift she cried.
made one bound for the
d and encIrcled his wife and his
lid In single embrace.
Now you have both got a governor"
i'd Mrs. Bickerstaff's father, perhaps
u will not take the law into your -
Vn hands and fight it out on that a.,
lie. He will rule you with rod of .
IN. And yet he shall serve as n
nd between you stronger than steel
'ur lives are changed in this little ty- Z
Mt. and. although he comes TO his ia .
pr on Christmas morning. a day of 4
L