The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-12-13

himself, and that he, Santa Claus, had offer |
ed to take them for ride in his sleigh, be- |
hind the identical eight tiny reindeer they
had all heard so much about, why you would
have thought that Buster had taken leave of
his senses He clapped his hands and, with
out the slightest regard to the proprieties,
jumped out of bed, and what do you think
he said, of all things in the English Ian
guage p
BULLY for Sanity"
"Bully for you, too" said voice in the
cloud of tobacco smoke. Bully for us all,
eh, what do you say, Honey bun ?"
1T tay bHlly for ut all, too, tir."
And new get on your clothes and warm
wrappings, boys, quick, for Pve a long way
to go before morning. So IN just take you
with me to see a few old friends, mutual
friends, mind me, a few hundred miles from
here, and we'll be back in no time"
And wasn't il worth any thing to see the
old fellows eyes glisten, and his teeth peer
out through the smoke like so many small pi-
ano keys, they were SO regular and white p
And then his watch | had almost forgotten
that watch. 1t was fully as large as a soup
plate, and had hands not unlike the nursery
poker. 1t went for twelve months, he said,
and was always wound up exactly at twelve
o'clock on this very night of every year
And if he wasn't going to wind it up then =
y
taking the key fSom his breast pocket, lit
was as large as a street door key) commenced
to wind that wonderful watch up. Well,
sue6 a noise Honeybun and Buster looked
the old nurse of two generations 81 an6 IsfhS
| ly slept on. As the old fellow continued to
! wind, the works creaked and groaned and
mOaned as if they had pain in them some
| where.
| Every thing must have an ending, and af-
| ter Santa Claus had been winding for abb ut
| half an hour, for 1t seemed to the boys, he
| declared 1t all right for the next year, and
now they must be off, if they were going at
all. So, putting his hands out, he lifted
| them one on to each shoulder. and walked
out into the yard, first Of all, though, putting
| a few Jumps of coal in the stove to keep the
! fire up for those who we're left and asleep
And all this, like a kind, thoughtful Santa
| Claus, as he was
Sure enough, there was the sleigh, and
there the eight tiny reindeer harnessed up
and just the prettiest things that could be
seen even in menagerie. And how they
/ tossed their heads, as if wanting TO be going
they were so full of life and spirit. And the
| wind had lulled, and the stars peeped out
| from the clear, dark blue above, and tht
shaking, jingling bells chimed so sweetly
and merrily in the clear night air, that Bus
I 'CE hiiu libucN GUN tuOuEnI ubtniuE 81 nEliis
! had occurred in all their lives as the promise
of this ride with good old Father Santa Claus
| Now they ara seated. one on each side Of
him, and are wrapped warmly in furs tina
| the cold cannot reach them, except Just tht
| tips of their noses. The old gentleman seet
this and takes mp little snow and rubs 1t OF
| their noses, mdttering the while something
about 1.-The way we do in Russia" AnC
then he looks towards the house and shout,
"a merry Christmas to all and g3oi night.
! and be hourishos long whip over the back
of the deer, and OFF they gallop at such pace
as Buster and Honey bun had never dreamed
Of.
How is this, Buster? Is it bully ?" said
the old gentleman, as he gave shout tina
made the deer go faster
First rate" said Buster; and l like it
too" chimed in Honey Il wish it would
| last forever"
! Now | am going 30 make call, said St
| Nicolas, "aud you shall 60 with me. There
are some young friends OF mine here
| friends Of other days-and | am not going t
| forget them, though the world seems 10 have
| done So" So the jolly, good hearted fellow
/ drew up before fine large house, on q hand
! some street, and getting out presently return
! cd with man, big and rough, and OF hard,
! cam visage, just as if 1t had become so by
/ Counting hOuCF III MS ne DusNtr AuC
/ Honey bun drew closer 10 Santa Claus wheT
/ she strange man got into the back seat of the
sleigh and Saint Nicholas, seeing this said &c
! tbem "Don'f be afraid NY dears it is only
| Mister ShOddy. / am tuglnE him to see 8
| friend whom he has not seen Tor many 9
| day."
| Well the deer galloped OF again ike mad
and presently they were pulled up in a very
poor part OF a large town, before ii very poor
| looking house. Santa Clause got out,auj help
! cd the children out, and said Now, ShOddy,
rather gruffly, Buster thought, to the big
man on the hack seat. And the man got out
TOO, and Santa Clause led the way up an old,
| Worn-out. broken down stairway. and into a
room the like of which Buster and Honey bun
! had never seen. There was no fire in the
| stove, and but little furniture in the room,
! and thst little OF the poorest. cheapest char
scter. On a trundle bed lay mother and
! two ohIldren--bays-ius Tor all the world
| like Buster and Honey bun, and they lay hud.
| died together, close, close as they could get
| for greater warmth for they had but little
| covering. God bel Up them on this bitter win
| ter's night. In corner lay handsome
| youth of ftteen-handsome as his poverty
| and wretchedness would suffer HIM TO be.
| The man called Shoddy hssitated at the
| door, but Santa Clause latter lighting a queer
| little lamp, called him in, in tone, too, that
the man called Shoddy seemed to respect and
! fear.
| Come in, Mister Shoddy, come in :" and
Santa Clause led him gravely to the bed
where the poor mother lay sleeping troubl
| ed sleep, with her two young children.
Don't be afraid, Mister Shoddy, nobody
will hurt you, sir. Look at that face. do you
remember it?"
The man called Shoddy bent over and gave
momenSary look. He very evidently re
] Inemhnred the fnca fnr the nhilHrnr, Hi. o.