Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1863-12-30
the bewildered Blueit, who could not choose

poor manned figure in a faded blue uniform /
with perhaps empty sleeve or leg or some |
other dreadful mutilation to cover as best
they might. And pale, thin, hungry-eyed !
women, with pFicked and blackened iorefiu-
gers, with hollow cheeks and white lips and
some had poor bit of black stuff about them,
and great dark circles-tear-stained !
the eyes, showing that no helpless living
wreck was making their lives precious to
them by its dependence and weakness and
revealing how strong habit mere existence
had become, that it still clutched its hold
with the dead weight dragging the other way
There were aged people, leaning on the arm
of their children, who were fading TO shadows
trying TO keep the Great Shadow from the
venerated fo ims beside them. And some
whose tawdry hnery and mocking laughter
showed that the battle was over, the sharp
struggle for bread past, and the free savage
life of the street fairly commenced
And Mr.. Blueit began to wonder if six
cents apiece for making shirts, with deduc-
tions in of imperfect work, wasn't rather
tight fit, with -four at nine dollars a barrel
and coal eleven dollars a ton.
Shall | ask 'em 2" inquired Blazius, Jerk
ing his ong thumb backward.
Yes, oh yes y Blueit answered Poor
things |" He began to understand what this
long chilly tramp meant
They were all following them-poor sewing
at the elbows; smart clerks, boarding them
selves in attics, to keep one decent suit in
which to serve the counter; thin, pale fellows
with hard coughs. Not very festalIv an
peaIing crowd, thought the poor merchant
As they fled along, Blueit had an odd suspi-
cion that the dinner was to have come off on
Christmas day, and d feeling that he had lost
all account of time since he had started out
with BiaZius. But here they were, in front
n the GREAT ware ba ,rboJa l,,,;ll:.,1.
lighted gasjets famed from every cornice:
the great doors stood open, and We crowed
streamed IN. The great room, with its coun-
tiers doing dut.5 as royally-spread tables, was
all tremble with gay banners, bright starry
flags, and evergreen garlands quivering in
the glorious music of the band at the end of
the hall. And upon the dais now arose to
bid them welcome that ruddy saint, beloved
of all children and true-hearted Manhattoes.
st. Nicholas Blazius led Blueit up near the
saint, then, bowling, withdrew to his own
duties, which, judging by the wolfsh looks of
the guests as they disposed themselves about
the room, promised to be no snecure
Friends, SAID the venerable Santa Claus
- IN the name of Him who has hidden US wei
| come to his everlasting feast do | bid you
welcome to this which your friend has pro-
vided for you
Like the fields of July under grasshoppers,
cleared, and again and again from unseen
sources replenished, till even that starving
crowd were satisfied
& Blueit! Blueit A speech a speech !"
A speech poor Blueit
You must"
g can't"
" just try"
@ WON'T
Just word, you know, and I'll help you
if you stick, whispered Blazius
Buet struggled to his feet
Friends and fellow citizens he began,
land gentlemen Of the iury.-no hang il =
ladies and gentlemen-on this painful-no,
coufound it Friends, Eve Il word to say,
and L must talk on in my own fashion. Eve
been boss here good many years Men and
women, I've worked you hard; sometimes
I've ground you. l own it. / was poor. |
wanted to be rich. I'd known harder poverty
than any of you, and it made me brute. Pm
ashamed of It, I've seen its workings TO-
night l know that siXpeLce apiece for max
ing shirts don't make honest poverty 1t
makes some of you desperate, and some of
you-starTe Il sha'n't be so any more
The boss is going to be your flieud-
Wages Cheers wages shall be living
wages, not starvation wages. And I've
word more 20 say: Tye always been q Union
man, and 1 gave ten thousand to raise men.
and ten more for the commissions and hope
IL an dIu good I'm no speech-mal,er and
dull at talking; but I'm going to give some
more money tor the glorious cause I'm going
to help the soldiers widows and orphans till
the country gets ready to do something for
them They shall have the preference. in
hiring hands at fair wages; and if any poor
soul has got wounded hero at home, [ sba'n't
wait for him to die; but want to know it.
and shake his fist if he has got one left, with
ten-dollar bill In it, maybe and, if there's
no hSt~ 1t there's enough of his breast left to
cover his heart, it'll do to lay something on.
1t Is a hard world, men, and there's a many
ways OF going wrong; but the easiest of all
ways Is forgetting the poor, and that we were
once poor ourselves | deserve no credit for
tonight. Our friend in the furs did it all
out please God, we shall 90 on better here
afjrr.'
Aud Blueit sat down amidst terrible
ella uor Of applause. which certainly was de-
serH "a, for | don't believe a worthy. stout
midGle-aged gentleman in the ready-made-
clothing line ever made more extraordinary
speech since | began to record the marvellous
experience of Santa Claus than the one |
have chronIcled above; and the effect of the
applause was as wonderful as the speech it
self, for with the last sound Mr. Blueit sud
denly awoke Seated upon his hearth rug /
crowned with his own large chair, the one
whereon his understanding had serenelv re- |
posed having lncontinently retired upon its |
casters ia good order to the other side of the |
room. Otherwise, the room cold, the fire out. |
the brandy-and-water all drank up, and the |
clock at > \. n. December n.
Blucit gathered himself up and replaced |
his chair, lighted his candle and shivered up !
stairs.
Thank Heaven it is only the day before |
Christmas yet, and plenty of time" yawned |
Blueit, as he deposited his icy bulk between |
the blankets, and proceeded to finish his |
Dream.
Mrs. Blueit," remarked that gentleman at
breakfast next morning, did Mary Kirby |
bring home my new shirts last night :"
"1es-Mr. b. this roll is cold, another !
please and something reminded me that | |
owed her five dollars too, but Lupin & Mari /
beau has just emptied my purse. \ bit of |
the steak, if you please"
Sorry; you should not let it happen |
touch the bell, Jessie"
John :"
Yes, Sir"
Get ready and take this FIVE to Mrs. Mary |
Kirby; tell her Mrs. Blueit has more work for |
her; and john"
Yes, Sir"
Stop at MVicars, and see if he has any /
nice tuF lsVS. nick ont \ hon turl,a,- - ,,i.a