American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-03-30
Youths Department.
A SILVER MUG AND A MULBERRY
SUIT.
BY AMANDA I. JONES.


that, but in this case Santa Claus had
another name, think for afH very sure
that when was in the store at Hunters
Corners, on Christmas Eve, l saw the lit
tie old gentleman buying them, and heard
Mr.. Hunter call him Grandfather En-
erson." Still further, l had seen ten
dollar greenback taken out of his pocket
slyly, and handed over the counter, and
there was not IL cent given back in
change.
Dear me-" l thought, "Santa Claus
is either very rich or very generous"
Now only paid two dollars for those
had bought 10 give poor widow Green's
boy whom l caught crying in the corner
of the fence because he had Ito skates.
Il got called Santa Claas myself for my
pains Just as if 1 was a little old man,
with an icicle on my nose, pack on my
back, and streaks of SCOT down my
cheeks .
Ten dollars So johnny Emerson had
a new pair of skates; and if he wasn't in
a hurry to try them New Years morning,
the swiftest and prettiest skater at Hun
ter's Coriers while Johnny Green, whose
mother had been too poor to buy him
skates, and who never dared ask the boys
to lend him theirs, had never skated a
stroke in ali his life.
"Now, Johnny" said the mother, as
the boy buckled on his skates by the fire,
instead of waiting till he reached the lake.
"you must surely be back by one O'Clock,
pudding eaten up"
"Cold turkey is good enough" an
swered Johnny, "af1d l had rather have
mince pie than plum pudding any day !;
but I'll try and be back by one. l don't
need to skate more than four hours at a
time" And off he went to join the other
boys at the skating place.
Now, all the village children, nearly,
were on the lake by nine O'Clock, chatter
hearts, bright eyes and cheeks the color
of juniper berries; and oh, how grandly
they skated! sweeping off like the wind,
gliding slowly back, whizzing away again,
in squares, in circles, and in paralelo-
gains, and triangles-it fairly takes my
breath to think about them.
Sammy watched them awhile, with
wondering eyes, and then sat down and
put on his skates. How his heart beat as
he walked out a step or two on the ice.
1 think he was trembling good deal, for
after minute or two, down he fell, and
nearly broke his arm striking against Joe
Hunters new scarlet sled, "Wildfire."
1t was bad enough to fall and be hurt,
but it was certainly worse to have doz-
en- of his mates catch him at it, and raise
a great shout, as if getting hurt was the
funniest thing in the world. Sammy
wanted to cry, but Like sensible boy, got
up instead and tried again. This time he
made out to slide little, but threw out
his arms so awkwardly, and made such
droll faces, that the laugh was louder and
longer than before.
''What's all this?" said Johnny Emer-
son, as he whirled in among them.
ooh, it's only Sammy Green trying to
skate" said Alice Parker, land he does
look so queer in his old patched trowsers
and bob-tail coat, that used to belong to
Santa Claus, l guess. Only see how
awkward he is
Just then three men road up to the
edge of the lake, and shouted to the chill
dren that they had something to say
which was important they should hear.
So they all tiocked together like so many
red-winged fiamingoes, eager to hear
what was coming.
Mr.. Hunter stood up in the sleigh and
held out a beautiful silver cup. 81 will
give this cup" he said, "tO that boy or
girl who shall make the quickest time,
skating from this bent to SINNERS point
and back again. Who'll try for it,"
81, L" answered hundred shrill
voices, and such clapping of hands, and
hurrahing, asking questions, that the gen
tleman could hardly finish what he had
to say
"All right" he said, as soon as he could
make himself heard. "Now you may go,
ten at a time, starting off at given sig
nal, and when the first ten have tried it,
another may follow l will mark time for
you, and these two gentlemen will stand
by and see that you all start fairly. First
ten will start in five minutes. Fall into
liner
Then what hubbub there was among
the girls and boys! But Johnny Emer-
son stood still, thinking, and this is what
he thought:
ut would be a good time to teach SAM
my to skate, while the rest are so interest
ed watching the races that they won't
trouble us. 1 believe I'll do it! It's a
pity if he can't have little fun on New
Years day, as well as the rest of us fell
lows l need not go with the first ten,
but if I'm not too tired l will race with
the last It's hard work teaching boy to
skate, though. Nobody knows when he'll
tumble down, and have to be holsted up
again; and for the matter of that, half
the time he drags you down after him,
and bruises you rather more than is pleas
ant But I'll stand it, for l want Sammy
to have a little fun"
Johnny! Johnny Emerson!' called
half dozen voices. ''We're getting ready
to start, come orr
s.Not now, cried Johnny, ego ahead.
Now, Sammy Green" he said in low
voice, ."I'm going to teach you tQ skate
while the rest are racing. Get up and
balance yourself again. There, Now
take hold of my arm, when L strike out
with this foot, do you strike out with that
one, and We'll push along bravely."
Sammy clutched his friend, and set his
feet in order zone, two, three, and OFF,
cried Johnny. "Of" indeed it was, for
Sammy was so anxious 20 go fast that he
ierked Johnny to one side, and losing
his balance, slipped off his feet, and
brought his friend down beside him with
n great thump. 1t was the back of
Johnny's head that felt it, and he saw
stars" for minute. But he got up pleas
antly enough. ooh, never mindI" he
said, as Sammy began to apologize; ''fel-
lows always fall down when they are
learning. Wen do better next time.
Just keep steady and swing out Slowly
Slow as the Turks say, and you'll be
skating splendidly pretty soon-"
Sammy braced himself and tried again
That time he succeeded in slipping
several wards; and when Johnny stopped
him by main strength from another tum-
bic, he looked around with a flash of de
light in his eyes, that would have done
your heart good to see. So at it they
went again, and tried and failed and tried
and succeeded fifty times in the course of
the next two hours. At that time Sammy
could skate and skate alone,
But where had Johnny's wits been that
little
Times nm - called Mr. Hunter