Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1872-01-10
THREE OF A TRADE.
by THE LATE rIrz-IAMns o'DRIEN.


The last draught of poison had been |
drained over the counter at the groceries |
The last victim had staggered home to |
his trembling wife.
In the bleak shelter afforded by the pro-
iecting wooden awning of one OF the cor
ner groceries in Greenwich Street, two
little figures embracing each other were
visible in the dim glimmer of the night.
Presently n mystic music seemed to fall
from the arched skies upon the city. 1t
was the chimes of old Trinity ringing the
Old Year out and the New Year in. The
thrilling notes of the changes following
each other in measured flow, vibrated
through the air like music made by the
feet of marching angels. The wild melo-
dious clangor floated over the great city
"Tip, listen to the BELLS" said one of the
two children, that were huddled beneath
the grocery awning, 'listen. 1t is time
for Kriss Kringle to Gomez
Tips cold little lips opened, and nothing
issued therefrom but low, plaintive I'm
hungry, Binnie.n
$50 am l." said Binnie, with a sort of
far-Off cheerness, as if his heart was at
considerable distance, and could commu-
nicate only very family. but let us wait.
Perhaps Kriss Kringle will bring us some
thing nice What would you like most
Tip"
Coffee and cakes wouldn't be bad, - said
Tip, hesitatingly.
"Or plate of roast beef, rare, with po-
tatoes and peach pie,' suggested Binnie,
Just such as mother used to give us on
Sunday. Poor mother"
"What are we going to do tomorrow
Binnie, to get some money!
"Shovel snow Off the stoops,n answered
Binnie, resolutely. EVEN go into Union
| Square early, and ask all around at the
houses whether they want the sidewalk
cleared. Some oil 'em are sure to give US
quarter; we might make fifty cents, and
then wouldn't we have time!n
when we were living in the country
with mother what fun we used to have on
| New Years. said poor little Tip, creeping
up closer to Binnie, with a shiver.
"Oh golly! yes. What good mother
she was to us, and what things we used to
find in the old stockings that she gave us
to hang up! Kriss Kringle don't come to
us any more now that she's dead. | Won
der if he really used to come down the
chimney, Tip, or if it was only make-be-
lieve"
81 don't know" said Tip. 81 watched
ever so many nights, but somehow | al
ways fell asleep just before he came, and
then the things got into the stocking. l
used to dream, though that saw him. A
little man with n red coat all covered with
gold lace and a. long feather in his cap
, and little sword by his side. And he
used to smile ut me and say, Tip, will you
be good boy if put something into the
stocking for you?' and then | used to
promise; and when / had promised |
used to hear music sounding all through
the house, n great deal finer than the mu-
sic we heard when we went to the circus,
Binnie and then Kris Kringle would take
off his hat to me, and make jump, and
; go clean up the chimney out of sight, Like
a red cricket All how cold it is Binnie,
! and how hungry | am. Tell us n story.
The wind rose in the north, and cam,
down upon the city with a savage howl.
I The heavy snow-hakes fled before hin
, into every angle and nook, like terrified
white birds trying to hide themselves from
| some vast-winged, screaming falcon. The.
e thrust themselves into the crevicGs Of tn
: windows, and between the Stats of the win
} dow-blinds; they got under the sills Of tn
doors. They left the centre of the streets
. and flew madly into the cutters; they
huddled themselves into the dark corne
n where Tip and Binnie were covering, RAJ
up the legs of their ragged trOWsers anC
slid down between their frail shirt-collar
q and their cold little nccks. 1t was fierc'
g biting scratching wind Of prey, and poo
: Binnie and Tip felt his tulOns digging int
] their flesh.
Just ms the pair of Migrants had drawn
y closer together, and Binuie was trying q
stop his teeth--which began to chatter
from biting i'm two tho thread Of the stOr.
I tLQt the patient lltlle IellOW was ABOUT L
tell his brother, they heard a faint cry
! something between mOanand a whistle
| sounding close to them. Looking out int
s the dim twilight they bcheld a dwarfsl
figure standing on the sidewalk, mOanin:
% and waving its arms. 1t seemed to be
little man about two feet high, clad in
/ red coat, covered with gold lace and wear
ing little cap, in which was stuck a lon
n feather, that was bent nearly horizontal b.
the wind. a tiny sword, about the lengtl
. of a lead pencil, dangled at his side.
i so Binnie!p whispered Tip, otis Kris
KTingle come again. l know him. II
c used to look exactly like that in my dream
: | amt afraid fhim. Are you ?'
c "Not a Bit" answered Binnie. Oh
looks a nice little chap. | hope he ha
If brought us something"
n "Binnie j think he's cold; let us asl
Il him to come and lie down with us am
warm himself said Tip. "You know, il
: all the fairy books, if you treat fair
g well, he's sure to give you three wishes,
d Whatever Binnie may have thought {
the suggestion he braced his chatterin
teeth as well as he could and said,-
e "Krss Kringle, will you come and Ii
e down with us, and we will warm youW
# The ered-coated man made no repl
/ to this hospitable Invitation, but danced
If and shivered, and mOaned, and dOtied hi
If tiny cap many times in succession.
If Come, Kriss kTingle, "a continued Biz
l. ME reckoning TO the dwarf, come in on
Vt OF the snow"
= maybe he he don't speak Englisl
- taH tho Tin