The Wahpeton times. [volume], December 24, 1891, Image 5

About The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919

Image provided by: State Historical Society of North Dakota

                
If
Highest
A
for oats, barley and rye.
quire of E. Rtcti
If Ton Want
A good horse blanket or a large
siz* fur rota, see II. Q. Alhmtlit, lie
lias got the largest assortment evei
kept in W.almeton-.
PUno Timer.
A. Tiffany, the |MUIIO tuner, will
«t Wahpeton the 20th inst. A
postal cm (I dropped into* the nost
office here, will catch him
GEMS VERSE.
Folded Uandtt.
Pale. withered bands, that more than four
score years
Had wrought for others soothed the hurt of
tears.
Rocked children's cradles, ceased tho fever'
smart,
"'"''iMirt 'ovo 'n oxuir an aching
'Now, stirlesa folded, like
pressed.
Above the suow and silence of her breast:
In mute appeal they told of labors done.
And well earned rest that came at set of sun.
From the worn brow the lines of care had
swept,
As if an angel's kiss, the while she slept,
Haxl smoothed the cobweb wrinkles quite
away.
And given back the peace of childhood's day.
And on the lips the faint smile almost said:
None known life's secret but the haiiny
dead."
So gazing where she lay we knew that pain
Aud parting could not cleave her soul again.
And we were sure that those who saw her
last'
In that dim vista which we call the past.
Who never knew her old and laid aside.
Remembering best the maiden and tho bride,
Had sprung to greet her with the olden
speech.
The dear sweet names no later lore can teach
And welcome home they cried, and grasped
her hands
So dwelleth the mother In the best of lands,
—Indianapolis News.
"Like His Mother Used to Make."
"I was born in Indiauy," says astranger, lank
and slim.
As us fellers in tho restaurant were kind o'
guyin him,
And Uncle .lake was slidin him another
kin pie
And an extra cup of coffee, with a twinklo in
his eye.
"I was born In Indiany—moro'n forty years
ago,
In his chin.
its
1
If
kl
speech, or look, or mien the one trans
form
feWho used to wear for him a nameless charm,
emperlng his joy with shadows new and
strange?
With shadows darkling for a little space,
And then, oh, sweet beyond imagining,
The cadence, half sob, half song, will ring
With the old music, hallowing the place.
Myglad heart has no room In it for doubt...
The morning glories clambering at the defor,
With leaves and blooms and tendrils leaning
o'er,
W Flecking the sunshine, cannot keep it out.
I love to fancy the felicities
That shall bo mine upon that day of days.
The old endearing names, and tricks of
phrase,
And smiles that haunted all my reveries.
rain or sunshine be, or gloom or gleam,
The day of my return, sweet opulence
Of gladn«ss flooding mood ana circumstance
Shall smiW across the mists with roseate beam.
ie again! When I go home!
strayed upon these Journeyings,
neven all my longing olings
taalways my fancies come
Whan I go
Bute—
To the
Back to t$w old abiding place (q rest,
'Uowe'4rl'Muidef^DdersUsnakles
A^. Ai#|4^^ n*M thelr paradise,-' V.
—Rosaline E. Jones.
ftWW had asked consent
to be hi* wife,
beptiB to think ha meant
allhialife.
restaurant one night,
Twbeu Openingsoda there,
VpzMlfc Mscawkwardoasa the cork
But shsdkt not shrink as the miaslls near
WW rippfio* iMsh, ^sorted, "Oh, dear,
Vol. 13.
pun-
I hain't been back in twenty—and I'm
workin back'ards slow
4 But I've et In every restaurant 'twixt here and
Santa Fo,
And I want to state this coffee tastes like get
tin home to me.-
Pour out another, daddy," says the feller,
warmin up,
A-apeakin 'crost a saucerful, as uncle took his
cup
"When I seed your sign out yonder," he went
on to Uncle Jake,
"Come in and get some coffee like your mother
used to make,'
I thought of my old mother, of the Posey
county farm.
And me a little kid ag'in a-hangin iu her arm
As she set the pot a-bilin, broke the eggs and
poured 'em in"—
And the feller kind o' halted, with a tremble
And Uncle Jake he fetched the feller's coffee
back aud stood
As solemn for a miuute as an undertaker
would
Then he sort o' turned and tiptoed to'rds the
kitchen door, and next
Here comes his old wife ont with him a-rubhin
of her specs
And she rushes for the stranger, and she hoi
lers out, "It's him!
Thank God, we've met him cominl Don't you
know your mother, Jim?"
And the feller as he grabbed her, says, "You
bet I hain't forgot"
But wipin of liis eyes, says he, "Your coffee's
mighty hot."
—James Whitcomb Riley,
rate.
Two shall be born the wholo wide world apart,
And speak in different tongues, and have no
thought,
Each of the other's being, and no heed
And these e'er unknown seas to unknown
Shall dlhiss, escaping wreck, defying death
And aHLqflconsolouBly shape every act
And MHHfcachwandering step, to this
one cndi
J* That otraaay, out of darkness, they shall meet
And read life's meaning in each other's eyes.
And two shall walk some narrow way of life
So neady side bKside, that should one turn
Eyef so little spake to the left or right
They needs musjfttand acknowledged face to
face.
And yet, with wistful eyes they never meet.
With groping lutadi that never clasp, and lips
Calliag in vain to ears that never hear,
'They seek each other all their weary days
And die unsatisfied— and this is fate!
—Susan Marr Spalding.
a O
'WhfiTtJ|ijtn hoBW, when I go home to him!
I Uko to picture to myself his way
Of greeting me, and what his lips shall say,
Andmine reply, and will his eyes be dim
With mist of Joy tears? Will my coming be
a boonto him as he has dreamed?
glad bewilderment that seemed
v»JSet BP:5tiv/"Bnd Its verity
•'..••r-V.
en I come home? Or will some fancied
change
RING, CHRISTMAS BELLS I
Within tho broad eternal sky
Tho East Sfcir wails to glorify
Each timid, sunlit, rosy ray
That, ushers in the coining dayl
While Ni^li! in tenderness yet dwells
Anear tlie dawn, riiij soi't, ye bells—
And slow—ye wclcoiiiinK Christmas bellsl
Glow yet afar, thou heavenly «em
And holy star of Bethlehem
Celestial hosts have brought the morn.
And unln us is Jesus born!
Immanucl, his name excels
All else of peace! ring loud, ye bells—
And long—ye joyful Christmas hells!
With fuller light o'er (lowering lands
And polar seas and desert sauds
The sun persuades its ye titles kIow,
That so each soul the day may knowl
From zone to /one tho story swells
In flight of song! clang on, ye bells—
And peal triumphant. Christmas hells!
At humblo doors and stately cates
With pationt grace tho Christmas waits
Let each homo blossom, Joy returns.'
Wreathoholly where tho hearth lliv. burns
In lowly yuise tho day foretells
Its feast, and cheer! Swingswift, ye bells—
Yo glad, exultant Christmas bells!
For joyless hearts that aeheand mourn,
For lives with burthens overborne.
For wanderers gone sad astray.
And all who full beside the way
At stroke of sorrow's deathful knells.
May some peace be! Ring on, kind liells
Ye gently singing Christmas bells!
Let all rejoice in carolings
That sanctify cach one who sings
Ring out tho tidings far and wide
Ye templed bells—tho Christmastido
Hath como again, tho Christ child dwells
In every heart! Chiinc on, yo bells—
in prayers aud praise, ytf Christmas bellsl
IlAHRIKT JlAXWEI,t/-CONVEKSE.
S. CLAUS' LETTER
BT ANNIE ISABEL WILLIS.
(Copyright, 1801.
All rights reserved.]
it. SIMON
A S
sat in his
perfectly
appoint
ed library.througli
whose windows
came a flood of
sunlight, increas
ed by reflection
from dazzling
snow outside. Not
withstanding his
surroundings,
however, there
was sad look in
his: blue eyes. Presently he roused him
self and began opening pile of letters
that lay near. They were variously ad
dressed: "Simon Claus, Esq.," "Mr, Simon
Claus," "Hon. Simon Claus," and so forth.
Finally he took up one which bore In it
boyish hand the words "Mr. S. Clans,
Esq.," and the name of the city.
The letter rqn thus:
Dber Mii. S. Ci.aus—Kitty is awfle bad.
this is,to tell you so you wood bring her a good
Chrlsmusa. If you culd bring something that
wood make her well Id like it if not bring
something she kin nlay witli to forgit laying
still. There's a man kin cure her. He cures
spinel people. A boy told me. he lives on
ward St, Im going- to earn enuff to pay him.
Yures truler,
Mr,
took
he
Job Woukblk 0 Gunnison alley.
Simon ClauH* preoccupation
his mail.
Just then "the little
in." She
was
only slightly interrupted by the quaint
letter, decidedly uuusual in his business
mail. "I'llsee what the little woman
says
about it," was his passing thought.
Then
straightway forgot it.
as he had the rest
of
womap"
was
a
being petitv utid
asae1#
came softly
complete
big, fair
contrast to her
lmired, blue
eyed Saxon husband,,
graoeful,
with ahead that.
Sat Uko a lily 6n her sender ne^c, and ten-.
tobwjrg ey^that ivere, Uke her 4uu'
land's, full of sorrow. 8he placed henelf
on the arm of his chair, whlle hi» «fM
«MBKh(jhint w(thjiii unapokeu qaeaition.
.. Ibe. doetoni hitTci tone," sh^ said.
•*TW#wlU beba^k^ia^fterno
fy Jbjjig
^Ihtajtory lony ag°w\f
Arxqelf tanq Wf vAm
/t-ij
(hildwijing todyjr\choruf
Jtill tl\?jon^sare[MtSS
(fiant
lrg\oJy.
Jtill tk? children love to Hwtht
now ay ang«ij cWtaT
xky
CnowtinaIeaceoj\^rtKjgooi
wiu
O 40* tonwn?
i»»»m
•There
the wife very sweetly nmi solemnly.
is but one place to look for help."
There was a short silence, and then the
lady's wandering eyes caught sight of the
soiled paper lying in front of her husband.
She took it up and read it mechanically.
"That's a singular letter," he said, as he
saw her reading. "I don't understand it."
Her woman's wit did.
"He was writing to the children's patron
saint of Christinas, don't you see," she
said—"Santa Claus? I wonder, now I think
of it, that you have never before had let
ters intended for him. Probably because
the dears who write them throw them into
tlie chimney place or do not put good
stamps on them. I will see to this, but
come let us go up stairs to Margaret.
And," she added, leaning over to kiss him
before she rose, "let us have mighty hope
and faith for the result of the consulta
tion!"
The room which they entered was an ex
quisite setting for the jewel it held, the
most precious one in the wealthy mer
chant's possession—his only child. She
-lay like a flower among the rose colored
hangings and furnishings, but no reflec
tion of their hue could bring color into the
pule face lighted by large brown eyes and
short gold curls.
Three of lier ten years had been spent in
pain, which instead of making her selfish
had done the very opposite, and she was
eager and loving with the little services
Bhe could render, especially to the poor
whom her mother helped.
"Mamma," she called, as the parents
entered, "are all the things ordered for
Christmas?"
"Yes, darling."
"How long is it till Christmas, mamma*"
the little voice continued.
"A week, Margaret."
"I'm so glad it's near," she said, with a
happy sigh.
"Here is a new person to help," the
mother said, thinking to divert her. She
read Joe Worrell's letter.
Margaret was at once deeply interested,
and began to plan what they should seud
to 0 Gunnison alley.
"I'm so glad I can play Santa Claus,
mamma," she said happily. "Don't you
remember I used to think we were some
relation to him? I wish some more letters
would come."
After she had decided what to send Joe
and Kitty, her thoughts reverted to the
letter.
"Papa, can't I have the doctor that the
boy told about?" she asked suddenly.
"Why do you want him?" the father
asked. "The fellow didn't say that he was
a doctor. I wouldn't think of it now,
dear."
"Yes, yes," she peiWated. "I want him^
Will you ask him to come?" And he, to
soothe the child, promised.
•HE LAV UU A. rUlWCB.^ *ffg
hat afternoau the pliyateiMW iftqrned
,y tfeey oonld do tnmnf* f»r*he cMM.
*oaWf im»t,aoaf»r or!*t«rr
EO VHnv Tu
I****!
k«ww»
wahpeton, Richland Co. North Dakota, Thursday, December 24,1891.
lowed the physician outside to tell him
how it was. "I had to promise, in order to
quiet. Marnaret. If she forgets, I shall not
remind her," he said.
"She will probably not forget," replied
Dr. Montague "and, my friend, if I were
you, I'd do whatever she asks. Only keep
me informed."
"When did you send the letter, Joe?"
"Two days ago, Kitty."
"Did you put a real true stamp on it?"
"Yes, and dropped it in the post box.
It'll go all right, Kitty. Don't worry or
you'll make your head ache."
"IT is MR DI:I AM."
"Well, I won't," said the child patiently.
"I have to go out now," continued the
boy. "It's time for my route."
They kissed each other, and then the
twelve-year-old departed to sell evening
papers, while the afflicted eight-year-old
tried to go to sleep to pass away the time
uutil the older sister and head of the fam
ily should come.
Number 9 Gunnison alley was always
cheerless in cold weather, and the top floor
back was especially cheerless, for Mary
Worrell was out sewing every day, and
had to do her own housework at night.
There was little lire iu the stove this after
noon the stove needed blacking and some
ashes bad fallen out over the hearth. The
principal article of the scanty furniture
was the bedstead on which Kitty had lain
for wo
years.
Kitty couldn't remember a time when
tbey had not been poor at the best, but
since they had been orphans they had
fallen gradually down, down in the mat
ter of comforts, and even necessities.
Soon after Joe went, Kitty heard a knock
"Who's there?" she called.
The visitor, no other than Mr. Simon
Claus, replied: "A friend. Do Joo- and
Kitty Worrell live here?"
"Yes, but the key is in Mrs. Mullins'
room at the end of the hall. I'm locked
in."
When Mr. Claus had let himself in she
looked up at htm without fear, the excite
ment of a guest making her cheeks flush.
"So you're keeping house alone today,"
he said.
"Yes. I do everyday, most, and they
lock hie iu because I can't get up and walk.
They're afraid somebody might come in
that, shouldn't."
"Why can't you walk?" he asked.
"Well, you see, my back aches all the
time aud my feet don't go right. Once 1
fell, and most ever since I have hnd a lame
back. But Joe knows some one that can
cure me,"
"Ah, yes I came especially to see Joe.
When is he?"
"Out selling papers. He'll come by and
by. He's'awful goo^l to me and Mary.
Mary's my big sister. She's out to work.
Joe's going to save all the money lie can to
get that doctor. And I guess I'll tell you
a, secret," she went on. "Joe wrote to Santa
Klaus and asked hin) to bring me some
thing for Christmas. That lan't any harm,
bit? Don't you'believe he's glad to bear
of little gir)s thtit mint present?"
V« I know he to," Mined Kitty's
gUMt, grafctl touched.
"heoHwjr Wqitflipeturnad the stran
"*rr»«d was,
12 to 1©.
was bending over a child who lay pros
trate in a sumptuous room. She was look
ing up at him as he touched her body gent
ly, a world of (aith in her great brown
eyes. It was little wonder his mild yet
strong countenance inspired her confi
dence. The face was all she saw, but
her watchful parents had begun to hope
that here was a helper indeed, for they
noted the scientific way in which the firm
hands did their work and the keen ques
tions which showed his complete knowl
edge of the disease to be treated. And yet,
when Mr. Claus found him, the man had
said: "I am not a physician, but only a
physician's aid. I help those whoRe bodies
are helpless merely by giving them out
ward support."
The group in that lovely room formed a
picture, and the growing hope in the par
ents' faces became joy as they heard him
say presently, "I believe she cau be cured
but it will take a long time, and I will
only act in connection with your regular
physician."
The child's look was triumphant.
"Didn't I tell you so, mamma? And he
must cure Kitty too."
Then she told the gentleman of Kitty,
and how the poor child's illuess had been
the meaus of their hearing about him, and
he agreed to go at once to Gunnison alley
to examine Kitty, as Mr. Claus requested
him to do.
"It is Christmas eve," cried Margaret.
"Tell her you came from Santa Claus, for
you realiy do, you know, because I am
playing Santa Claus this year. But"—
her voice grew very tender—"it isn't truly
Sauta Claus at all it's the Christ-child,
he puts it into our hearts, you see, and I
want you to tell Kitty about him, will
you? Because I can't go. I don't think
she's so well acquainted with him as she
is with Santa Claus. They have the
Christ-
child in Germany on Christmas, and I like
it better than Santa Claus."
Well, "Dr. Good," as Margaret chose to
call him, though he wasn't doctor and
his name was plain Mr. Goodsell, went to
8 Gunnison alley and made a favorable re
port of Kitty's case also. And so touched
was he by Margaret's request that he did
not forget to tell his new patient about her
and the story of the Christ-child.
After he had gone another knock sur
prised the Worrells. This time a colored
man came "with Mr. Santa Claus' compli
ments, and he wasn't feelin able to get
round to Gunuison alley, but would they
accept these, with bis best wishes and his
particular love to Miss Kitty?"
"These" proved to lie more things than
can be described. Kdibles, of course,
some wonderful toys for Kitty, a soft
afghan aud down pillows for her bed and
another purse, not at all like that the
strange geutleman hnd given her, but
quite as well filled.
Tlie spirit of Christmas was hovering in
tho air that night, for in the midst of joy
ous gift making in richer homes, the ring
ing of Christmas bells in towers and
steeples and the remembrances for child
hood throughout the world, some good
angel found time to bring a dream to
weary, happy Kitty. She saw—not Santa
Claus—but a beautiful child, who held out
hands full to overflowing with gifts and
blessings, saying, "The Christ-child sends
them."
A year passed. It was Christmas eve
again, and there was an air of expectancy
noticeable in Mary and Joe Worrell as
they moved about their humble home.
Kitty was too engrossed in a picture book
to see it. She sat in a reclining chair—Mr.
Claus and his wife had spared no pains to
make her comfortable—and was so interest
ed that she never heard the rattle of wheels.
Joe left the room and went down to help
if needed. There was sound of people
climbing the stairs a vision of loveliness
with golden hair framed in the soft white
of floating feathers and downy furs then
a rosy faced maid placed a child before the
door and stepped to one side. Joe leaned
from the other and gave a sounding knock.
It was part of the plan that when it opened
Kitty should see no one but Margaret, her
friend und lienefactor, who had grown able
to go out and was come to see her for the
first time.
Mary threw the door wide open, and,
smiling, Margaret stepped forward, her
hands full of packages. The figure in the
chair looked up, and never noticing the
slight limp and bent back, results of the
disease which time would cure, gave a
glad cry.
"It is my dream, my Christmas dream,"
she said. "It is the Christ-child."
"No, dear, it is Margaret," said Mary
gently, with tears in her eyes.
"1 saw it just as plain," Kitty went on,
"and I never forgot how it looked. Are
ou sure this is Margaret?"
A merry laugh from the child herself
settled the question, and the two little
friends went straight to work to get better
acquainted over the contents of sundry
Christmas packages.
The Truth About It.
When Undo Sam was but a boy.
One Christinas eve ho hung
His stocking by tho old fireplace.
And then this song he sung:
"Oh, Santa Claus! Oh, Santa Claus,
Give mo some potent charm,
That pretty girls, when I'm a man.
May grow upon ray farm."
And that is why old Santa Claus
Today is so admired
Bccause ho gave our Uncle Sam
The thing he most desired.
Tom Lansimo.
•, Give Him Time.
a#'- t? &•&&!
Oashawajf—Well,' Uqcle Jasper, bowam
jrou^getfingo* with ]N»r phrbtiM#^.
Uncle Jasper—Fast
No. 38.
THE OLD DQ11 MILLINER
[Copyright, 1891. All rights reserved.)
She sat in a great room near a large bay
window busily engaged in the occupation
of dressing a handsome wax doll whose
smile was lost in the roses of her cheeks.
When the old lady had trimmed the dress
and made it set just as she thought it
should, she held the doll off at arm's length
and looked it over critically. When she
was quite well satisfied with it, she touched
AT WORK.
a bell, and a small girl entered with a box.
Into this box she put the doll carefully on
its back in such way as not to muss or
rumple her beuutiful pink dress. Then
she put on the cover and fastened it in
place with a stout bit of twine and wrote
on it:
"Eva Williams, Santa Barbara, Califor
nia," at the same time saying to the girl,
"Put that in the southern California
stall."
The girl disappeared with the doll under
her arm, and no Booner was she out of
sight than another girl popped in at the
opposite end of the room and handed the
old lady another doll.
"This," she said, as she looked it over,
"is a doll for a poor child. It is made of
common china—that is, the head and bust
are, and the rest of her is linen and saw
dust. But it will probably make the poor
girl quite as happy as the handsome was
doll will the daughter of the rich mau."
Then she dressed the doll in calico and a
gingham hood, and when she was finished
and put iu a box, which was addressed
Emily Lum, Watsessing, N. J., in popped
another girl, who as quickly disappeared
with the instructions to put it in the New
Jersey bin.
The old lady was always in excellent
spirits, and appeared to take as much
genuine delight in making presents for the
poor and rich alike as many persons find in
bestowing gifts entirely upon the wealthy,
and when she had dispatched the little girl
with the doll to be put in the New Jersey
bin she called for her books, and when they
were brought she adjusted her glasses and
said:
"We have got to hurry as much as pos
sible or we shaH neglect some of our little
friends. Russia has not been touched yet
and the state of New York is in the same
condition, with the exception of Callicoon
and Painted Post. I am very sorry we are
so far behind, and the summer almost
gone too. Come, come, don't stand around
looking at each other, but hurry, htirrv.
hurryl"
As the two little girls were moving away,
she continued:
"Dolls, dolls, dolls, hurry, hurry, hurryl
Bring up ninety-nine cheap dolls and one
expensive one, as there is but one wealthy
girl to ninety-nine poor ones."
And off popped the little girls in great
haste, and no sooner were they gone than
back they camo skipping with a clothes
basket brimful of dolls between them. The
old lady smiled pleasantly when the bas
ketful of dolls was deposited .at lier feet,
and lost no time in commencing the opera
tion of adjusting the dresses, of which she
had a great variety in every bureau drawer.
DO TOU KNOW SANTA CLAUS?"
There was something miraculously swift
in the manner in which the old lady
dressed the dolls. She seemed as though
under a spell of enchantment, for she sang
Bongs and kept time with her needle, that
flashed in the light as she plied it to and
fro. When she had finished about the
fiftieth doll in the basket, she exclaimed:
"It is now August and I am so far in
arrears with this work that I cannot
take the ti0b to go to dinner. There
fore, bring me a cup of strong green
tea." One of the plumpest of the little
girls brought the tea as requested, and
when the old lady had enjoyed a tip or
two of it she was enabled to work faster
than ever. Finally she dressed the last
one in the basket, and when they were all
boxed and addressed, some one rang the
doorbell.
"Say I am not able to see any one today."
The little girl backed ont of the room, and
then the old lady smiled a pleasant smile,
while working away with renewed energy.
Even when Bhe came to a Japanese doll,
which she did occasionally, she dressed it
with as much skill as a Jap could have
done. She never paused in her work upon
the day when she reflected that it was late
in August, with Russia untouched and
New York in the same condition, with the
exception of the towns of Callicoon and
Painted Post, until an expressman called
with a large load of dry goods to be con
verted into dolls' dresses.
Then she paused long
enough to examine
the goods contained in the package, and
she smiled as only a woman can smile
while examining silks and satins, or even
gingham.
"Of couiae I am the leader of the fash
loos in dolls' clothing," she soliloquized
with great pride, "and I must keep the
dolb in such charming gowns that they
will command the admiration of all lovers
of dresa from Paris, Franea, to Paris, Ky.
I never grow tired of dressing dolls, and I
often feel thanktal that I hare nothing
elsetodo and that notUag can lntcrfete
with ItattrogreHk"
JTostthen itfaagan to
^BasltT'shottt
all the staUs, aad
"nn and
inoM
Richland coan^*,
Information*!
tending «ew"»» h.
ay* pocusev
"35J00,
'rr
Lu
about
14th, 189i,
dropped beta.
and C. J. Farley
will be rewarded by
to me.
behind now, and August is
with,Russia untouched and NfcWi
the same condition, with thei
Callicoon and Painted Post:
with the pot of green tea, for I ttv
up if I have to work all night!"
Often she will arise at 4 in the
and go at her work and keep it up'4
times until after midnight. One
little waif came to ask. forsometbii
eat, nnd when she saw the old
ing the dolls she uttered an
exclanulti^l
of joy. "I have ofteu seen them in ikd
windows, but I never had one in myfcana
before," said the little waif. And?if|jfflL
the old lady gave her a doll all her hnnger^
left her, she was so happy. And .then Jibe::
spoke of the great number lying aronnd.V'V
"I do nothing but dress dolls all d^jr^
said the old lady pleasantly. UI
"You must have a very large family,"!!
remarked the girl innocently.
"In one sense I have," said the old lady,??
"and I am working day and night for lto,
little members. You know sometimes'Onr°|i
Christmas Santa Claus never calls at' some
houses."
"He never called at mine yet," mur^
mured the waif.
"Well," explained the old lady, working
harder than ever, and surprising the child
with tho swiftness of Ver fingers, "when
Santa Claus doesn't call at every house it
It is an actual fact that the purchase of
such a doll by order from Cincinnati—at a
cost of two dollars—was made matter of
church discussion in one town as late as
would have asked the court
guardian for the man who did
Wood carving was an envied
XiwJ
is because he hasn't enough to go around.'V 'i
"Is that the reason?" asked the waif.
"That is the reason," replied the old
lady, "and I am doing my best to see
that Santa Claus has dolls enough togb-'-j^
around."
"Do you know Santa Clans?" asked the
child in wonder.
"Know him?" responded the old lady
pleasantly. "Why, I am Mrs. Santa Claus,
and when the little girls are romping the
green fields in summer I am dressing the
dolls that Santa Claus distributes among
them ou Christmas eve."
R. K. MUNKITTRICK.
Suggestion.
Tk—
Head of Firm—You had better give the
office boy a couple of dollars, Mr. Pen- "i
Wiper, for Christmas.
Mr. Penwiper (tho bookkeeper)—I think
we had better make it a New Year's gift,
sir. 1 have just sent him out with a tele
gram, and I don't think he will get back
by Christmas.
The Old Rural Christmas.
How many of the young people know
that some forty years ago nine-tenths of
the children in America had to enjoy
Christmas with only such sums as they
had saved up for months, often a penny at
utime? Yet so it was. Not one father in
ten thought of giving a boy "Christmas
money the big family dinner and such
fun as cost nothing was enough.
Indeed, save for candy and fire crackers,
there was little to spend money for. "Rob
inson Crusoe" and "Parley's Tales" were
almost the only story books, though the
people had some old stand bys on their
shelves and the "Old English Header" was
like other poor, always with them. There
were "Moral Lessons," a few, and tracts
enough but no gorgeously lettered vol
umes of childish song, 110 fairy stories
shin
ing iu covers of blue, green and gold.
The story that artists for the earliest'
juvenile books had to label their pictures
"This is a horse," "This is a cow," etc., is
no doubt an exaggeration, but the toys
really needed it. Many a little girl made
a doll by dressing up a crook necked
squash. "Rag babies" were the rule. A
doll such as any child of parents above the
grade of paupers may now have for Christ
mas, would then have excited the amaze
ment of the neighborhood, and a doll that 5
would open and shut its eyes—well, lan
guage is lacking to set forth the furore
such a wonderful creation would have ex-.
cited.
1
v-
yr
sft
A-
1848. "The neighbors" finally decided iti
was all right, as the man's little girl
was
an invalid and needed amusement. She,,j*
certainly got it, if company was any^if.1
amusement, for every child for milea
around was crazy to see that doiL As
for ^1,
paying ten dollars for a doll,
the people,
4
"/f
to
«»iw
v'X"*
it, as oneu
unfit to mauage hi»own affairs. Ten doI-^Ci
lars would buy an acre of good timbered^»-W
land in half of the country.
accom­
plishment in those days. The "hired
hand" who had some skill with a jack-'
knife had a crowd of children
after him on\
all possible occasions the
father who couhL
carve a human looking figure
oat of wal
nut bark was a hfero to his
family.
J. H. Bbamj
Left That for Her.