The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1866-01-03

L 4E
sounding close to them.
| Looking out into the dim twilight they
beheld dwarfish figure standing on tht
sidewalk, moaning and waving 10 arms
4 II seemed TO be little man about two feet
high, clad in red coat, covered with gold
lace, and wearing . little Gap, in which was
stuck long feather, that was bent nearly
horizontal by tho wind. tiny sword
about the length of u lead pencil, danglcd
ct his side.
80, Binnic," whispered Tip, :" it's Kriss
Kringle come again. ! know him. He
used to look exactly like that in my dream.
l amt afraid Of him. Are you :"
"Not Bit" answered Binnie. "He
looks nice little chap. 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.
Binnic, 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" 1
| Whatever Binnic 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 etrike
him as containing fellicitous idea.
So, bracing his chattering teeth as well
as he could, no said:
"Kriss Kringle, will you come and lie
down with US, and we will warm you "a
The little relocated man made no reply
to this hospitable invitation, but danced,
and shivcred and moaned, and dotted his
tiny cap many times in succession.
s.apme, Kriss Kringle," continued Bin
ME, reckoning to the dwarf "come in out
of the snow"
"Maybc he don't speak English, Binnie, .
suggested the imaginative 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 a monkey"
Sure enough it was monkey; poor
shivering little Brazilian, with pleading
eyes aud soft, silky hands, and count
enance that seemed to tell Of life of sor-
row. bit of broken chain dangling from
belt round his waist told his story. The
eternal organ in the stree; the black
bearded heartlessss italian; the little switch
that scored his back at home; the cruel
pinches to induce politeness, when wonder
ing schoolboys protfered 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 vagrant! 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 a 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. lie chung to them rs 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 a 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.
It 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 its untiedged tempests. Closer
and closer the three houseless creatures
drew together, until n great drowsiness fell
upon them. and the sough of the storm
sounded farther and farther of, 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 egrct's
plume waved in his cap and he wore a
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:
! Boys, We have been very kind to me,
and sheltered me when it was cold, so now
ye shall idle in the sunshine forever and
ever!'
Then he led them down to the wharf near
by, where, moored among the black bulls 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 trailed brilliant
tapestries Of orchidcous 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 magical flavor.
The sun shone cheerfully on their heads.
The birds sung their pleasant songs. The
huge tree raincd its white blossoms on them,
IS they dropped off to sleep weary with de-
light, until they reposed beneath coyerlct
Of scented snow.
When the first day of the New Year
dawned and the groccr's boy came from his
bed behind the -four 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, embodied in each others
arms.