Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-12-31

Dut gaze at Lle nOJley procession peQllQ nm. /
There were poor women who lowered near a .
poor MANNED figure in faded blue uniform,
with perhaps an empty sleeve or leg, or some |
other dreadful mutilation to cover as best |
they might. And pale, thin, hungry-eyed |
women, with pricked and blackened forefin- |
gers with hollow cheeks and white lips, and |
some had a poor bit of black stuff about them |
and great dark misunderstanding |
the eyes, showing that no helpless, living
wreck was making their lives precious to
them BY its dependence and weakness. and
revealing how strong a 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 forms beside them And some
whose tawdry finery and hooking 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 case of imperfect work, wasn't rather
a tight fit, with flour at nine dollars barrel,
and coal eleven dollars ton.
Shall l ask em ?" inquired Blazius, Jerk
ing his ong thumb backward
yes, oh yes" Blueit answered. EPoor
things" He began to understand what this
long chilly tramp meant.
They were all following them-poor sewing
women, shivermg little children, porters out
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 festalIy an
pearlng crowd, thought the poor merchant
As they filed along Blueit had an odd srsp
cion that the dinner was to have come off On
Christmas day, and feeling that he had lost
all account Of time since he had started out
with BlaZius. But here they were, in front
OF the great warehouse-the whole buiIdiiy
lighted; gas,jets famed from every cornice
the great doors stood open, and the crowed
streamed in. The great room, with its coun-
ters doing duty as rOyally-spread tables. was
all a tremble with gay banners bright starry
flags, and evergreen garlands quiyering in
the glorious music of the band at the end of
the hall And upon the dais now arose to
bid them welcome that rudy saint, beloved
Of all children and ue-hearted Manhattoes,
st. Nicholas. Blazius led Blueit up near the
saint, then, bowling, withdrew to his own
duties, which, judging by the wolfish looks of
the guests as they disposed themselves about
the room, promised to be no 8inecure.
Friends" said the venerable Santa Claus,
" IN the name Of Him who has hidden US well
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,
like Egypt under the locusts, the tables we're
cleared, and again and again from unseen
sources replenished, till even that starving
crowd were satisfied
"Blueit! Blueit A speech a speech !"
4 speech poor Blueit!
You must"
81 can't"
just try"
81 won't"
"Just word you know, and TIl help you
if you stick, whispered Blazius
Blueit struggled to his feet
"Friends and fellow citizens," he began.
"and gentlemen of the jury-no, hang it !
ladies and gentlemen-on this painful-no,
confound it Friends, I've a word to say,
and | must talk on in my own fashion. Eve
been boss here good many years. Men and
women, Eve worked you hard sometimes
I've ground you. | own it, [ was poor. I
wanted to be rich. I'd known harder poverty
than any Of YOU and it made HE brute. Pm
ashamed Of it. I've seen its workings to-
night. know that sixpeIce apiece for max
ing shirts don't make honest poverty. It
makes some of you desperate, and some of
you-starve. 1t sha'n't be so any MORE
The boss is going to be your friend
Wages" iCheers wages shall be living
wages, not starvation wages. And. I've a
word more to say: I've always been a Union
man, and | gave ten thousand to raise men,
and ten more for the commissions, and hone
it all did good. I'm no speech-maker, and
dull at talking; but Pm going to give some
more money for 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, sha'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 fist, if there's enough of his breast left to
cover his heart, it'll do to lay something on.
1t is 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;
hut, please God, we shall go on better here
after"
Aod Blueit sat down amidst a terrible
cla.nGr of applause, which certainly was de-
serN> ed, for don't believe worthy, stout
clothing line ever made a more extraordinary
speech since l 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 serenely re-
posed bavlng incontinently retired upon its
castors III 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 , A. NJ. December "A.
Blueit 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 ?"
"Yes-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. A bit of
the steak, if you please"
Sorry; you should not let it happen
touch the bell, jessie"
"Johnw
:" 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 M'Vicars, and see if he has any
nice turkeys; pick out hen turkey, nice,
fat yearling, and take it to her; and tell
NNicar-d'ye hear TO send three to the
house"