Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1866-01-04

DRueIu d Oh luC
sidewalk, moaning and waving its arms.
1t seemed to be little man about two feet
high, clad in a red coat, covered with gold
lace, and wearing little cap, in which was
stuck long feather, that was bent nearly
horizontal by the wind. A tiny sword,
about the length Of a lead pencil, dangled
at his side.
80, Binnie," whispered Tip, it's Kriss
Kringle come again. | know him. He
used to look exactly like that in my dream.
/ amt afraid of him. Are your"
aNot bit,' answered Binnie. "He
looks nice little chap. I hope he has
brought US something.
The little man on the sidewalk seemed
very uneasy. He waved his long arm con-
tinually, took off his little cap, every now
and then with quick jerk, as if he were
making series of abbreviated bows to the
two little Migrants and then hoped about,
moaning the same shrill and extraordinary
moan.
" Binnie, l think he's cold; let us ask
him to come and lie down with US and warm
himself" said Tip. "You know, in all the
fairy books, if you treat fairy we'll, he's
sure to give you three wishes"
Whatever Binnie may have thought Of the
recklessness Of the suggestion Of warming
anything by putting it close to two such
little icicles as himself and his brother, the
latter part Of the speech seemed to strike
him as containing fellicitous idea.
So, bracing his chattering teeth as well
as he could, he said:
'.Kriss Kringle, will you come and lie
down with US, and we viii warm you %
The little Relocated man made no reply
to this hospitable invitation, but danced,
and shivered and moaned, and dotted his
tiny cap many times in succession.
Come, Krlss Kringle," continued Bin
ME, reckoning to the dwarf, "come in out
Of the snow"
ssMaybe he don't speak English, Binnie, ;"
suggested the magma, i've Tip.
This was rev view Of the case, and
Binnie began to consider within himself
whether, by some inspiration of the mo-
ment, he might not suddenly master the
particular foreign tongue with which their
new friend was acquainted, when suddenly,
the little man made swift leap and landed
right in Tips lap.
"Why, Binnie, cried Tip, its not Kriss
Kringle after all; it's only monkey"
Sure enough it was a monkey; a poor
shivering little Brazilian, with pleading
eyes and soft, silky hands, and count
enance that seemed to tell Of life of sor-
row. A bit of broken chain dangling from
q belt round his waist told his story The
eternal organ in the street; the black
bearded, heartlessss Italian; the little switch
that scored his back at home; the cruel
pinches to induce politeness, when wonder
ing schoolboys proGered their boarded cop
pers; the melancholy pantomine OF sprightly
gratitude which was taught with blows, and
performed in fear and trembling. Poor
little runaway! Poor little yagrant! He
seemed to know that he had found brothers
in misfortune when he thrust his timid,
silky paw in Binnie's hand, and laid his
hairy little face against Tips cold bosom.
The children We'd with each other in at
tentions to the poor little wanderer. | do
believe that if Tip had an apple or chest
nut at that moment, hungry as he was, he
would have given it to his red little Kriss
Kringle.
The boys placed him between them, and
tried to snuggle him up in their tattered
clothes. He chung to them as if he really
loved them. His little hand found its way
into Tips shirt-bosom-if that collection Of
discolored tatters which he wore beneath
his jacket could be called shirt--and laid
just over his heart. The poor Migrants
kissed and fondled their pet; and God help
them! were almost happy for the time.
Meanwhile the snow drifted and drifted
right under the shed where the Migrants lay.
1t began to pile itself up about them on all
sides, and it chung to every projection of
their persons. The air grew colder and
colder. The wind swooped at them under
the shed-still, like the wide-winged Shrek
ing falcon-as if it would take them up in
its talons and bear them away to its bleak
nest to feed it's unfedged tempests. Closer
and closer the three houseless creatures
drew together, until great drowsiness fell
upon them, and the sough of the storm
sounded farther and farther off, and sleep
and snow covered them.
Then dream came to Binnie and Tip.
Red little Kriss Kringle jumped up suddenly
from his rest in their bosom, clad in the
brightest fnery. A wondrous white egret's
plume waved in his cap and he wore
breastplate of diamonds. His red coat was
redder than the blossoms of the wild Lob-
ella, and his sword was hilted with gold
Then he said to the boys: sefs
Boys, We have been very kind to me,
and sheltered me when it was cold, so now
We shall idle in the sunshine forever and
ever :"
Then he led them down to the wharf near
by, where, moored among the black hulls of
the ships, they found beautiful golden
boat, so bright with many-colored flags that
seemed as if her tall masts had swept the
rainbows from the sky. Fairy music sound
ed as the sails were set, and they sailed and
sailed until they landed on the sweet South
ern shore.
There they found strange trees with
leaves of satin and fruits of gold Wonder
full birds shot like stars from bough to Dough.
The rivers sang like musical instruments.
From the limbs of the trees traiied brilliant
tapestries OF orchideous flowers, which, with
their roots in the air, sucked the sunlight
into their secret veins, until their blossoms
were covered with the splendor of Day.
Here, red little Kriss Kringle led them to
the foot of huge tree covered with white
flowers, and made them lie down while he
fed them with fruits of a magical flavor
The sun shone eheerfully on their heads.
The birds sung their pleasant songs. The
huge tree rained its white blossoms on them,
as they dropped off to sleep weary with de-
light, until they reposed beneath coyerlet
of scented snow.
When the first day of the New Year
dawned and the grocer's boy came from his
bed behind the flour barrels to take down
the shutters, he saw mound of snow close
by the side of the coal-bin. He brought the
shovel to take it away, and the first stroke
disclosed the three little Migrants lying
stark and stiff enfolded in oocb ~ ko,s5
arms.
EVERY reader of our comic literature viii