CHAPTER III.
HOW? ANSWERED.
When the family were gathered in the parlor, after dinner, Mrs. Paysonsaid, "We will now see how we can help poor Mrs. Fisher; for there arenone who more need kind words and deeds than helpless ones whom a badhusband and father leaves to suffer, and sometimes to perish, withhunger and cold."
"But how can we give Mrs. Fisher any thing, if her husband sells it?"asked Joshua.
"There is an honest woman living next to Mrs. Fisher's," said Mrs.Payson, "who has washed for me sometimes. I will hire a place in herlittle yard for coal, and send some there. I will give Mrs. Fishertickets for getting a half bushel at a time, when she needs it, so shecan have a fire."
"And I will give her tickets for getting bread at the bakery, and meatand potatoes in market," said Mr. Payson. "She must get a little at atime, and not keep any in the house for her husband to carry off."
"That will be good," said Rebecca; "the little hungry children willsmile."
"I will give half of my money to buy some shoes for Dick Fisher," saidJoshua.
"And I will give half of mine to buy a flannel petticoat for Mrs.Fisher," said Rebecca.
"Here is my money, mamma," said Newton, who had run to bring his littlebox.
"May we send the children some of our toys?" asked Rebecca.
"You may send what you please," said Mrs. Payson. "We will put them ina basket with enough food for a good dinner, and you may carry all toher, Christmas morning, with the tickets."
"O, mamma," said Joshua, "it will be pleasant to see how surprised andhappy they will look."
"Now, what shall we do for Mrs. Grant?" asked Mrs. Payson.
"Several neighbors have promised to join me in giving her coal, flour,and meat, as long as she needs such help," said Mr. Payson.
"I will prepare some clothes for herself and her children," said Mrs.Payson.
"And we will give them some toys and books," said Joshua.
"Will you please, papa," said Newton, "send word to Santa Claus to carryhis pack to the top of Mrs. Grant's chimney? And I will tell little lameHarry to hang up his stocking."
"Yes," said Mr. Payson smiling, "I will send word to Santa Claus to havehis eight tiny reindeer jingle their bells right merrily over Mrs.Grant's chimney."
That night Mr. Payson's three children went to bed feeling very happy;for they were trying to do something to make others good and happy.
CHAPTER IV.
WHAT THE STARS SAW.
The stars were yet winking through the pine trees on Christmas morning,when the little Paysons went shouting their "merry Christmas" throughthe house.
Santa Claus had filled their stockings with just what they most wanted.Strange that he should know so well!
There could be no more morning naps now, and while the stars wereshutting their eyes Bridget prepared the early breakfast, so thechildren might go with their happy hearts and their gifts to gladdenthose who needed kind words and good deeds.
After the family had joined in their morning worship, Mr. Payson said,"Now, my children, we will go and see some sad faces smile, while mammaprepares the Christmas-tree; for she says we must not have a peep at ittill our friends come this evening."
By the time the sun was looking over the tree tops, Mr. Payson and thechildren were riding toward Mrs. Grant's with a basket of good thingsand a great many kind words.
They found the little Grants in quite an uproar. They had hung up theirstockings for the first time in their lives, and now they were spreadingout Santa Claus's wonderful gifts with great glee.
The basket was carried in, and Mr. Payson told Mrs. Grant what morewould be done for her every-day comfort.
Tears came in her eyes when she thanked him and the children.
"It almost made me feel like crying," said Rebecca, when they had leftthe house, "to see poor lame Harry's face look so happy."
At Mrs. Fisher's they found a gloomy and unhappy scene.
Mr. Fisher sat with his hair falling over his half-shut eyes, while thehungry and cold children were huddled around the half-warmed stove onwhich their mother was trying to cook something for breakfast.
"My children have come to bring some smiles to yourself and your littleones this Christmas morning," said Mr. Payson to Mrs. Fisher, as theystepped into the miserable home.
"Mamma says, will you please have a good dinner?" said Rebecca, as sheand Joshua carried the basket to Mrs. Fisher, whose eyes filled withtears at this unexpected kindness.
Mr. Payson gave her the tickets for coal and food, and told her that hiswife would call sometimes and see how she enjoyed them.
Mr. Fisher hung his head in shame as the bright faces of the littlePaysons left. But a ray of light had shone into that gloomy home, andMrs. Fisher's sad face smiled when she saw her children spreading outtheir Christmas gifts. Each one had been kindly remembered and wasbright with happiness.
Joshua, and Rebecca, and Newton rode toward home, carrying hearts filledanew with love, and gentleness, and kindness.
Mr. Payson next knocked at Mr. Kelly's door. Mrs. Kelly was sitting,wrapped up, in a rocking chair, sick, but having a pleasant smile.Little Martha was doing the morning work, and looked with surprise atthe early visitors and their good gifts.
The children soon had the food spread out for Mrs. Kelly to see what anice dinner she would have; and Martha fairly danced around the room,holding up a good Sunday frock for herself and a pretty story book.
"This _is_ a happy Christmas," said Rebecca as they rode home.
"We learn, my children," said Mr. Payson, "that those who try to dotheir duty may be rich in happy hearts and smiling homes though theyare very poor.
"But bad hearts and bad ways make the sunshine seem gloomy in the finestparlors."
When the sun went down that night, friends, both old and young, gatheredin Mr. Payson's parlors, to pluck gifts from the well-loadedChristmas-tree.
Fruits from all parts of the world were hanging in its branches, andtoys and books peeped out from the green leaves.
When little eyelids were closed in sleep that night, the stars winkedand smiled over little hearts that were brimful of love; because, bygiving, they had grown rich.
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