Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1872-07-13
THREE OF 4 TRADE;
nv THE LATE fITz-JANgs o'BHiES.

nv THE LATE FITz-JAMgs o'BmES.
The city was untitled In snow, and
looked IA calm and pale and stately as n
luern in her ermine robes. IL was night,
and the tinkling of innumerable sleigh
bells made the frosty air musical. The
sleighs themselves sped silently through
thc streets, painted blacklY against
De white snow as they passed,
BIKE 50 many phnntoms winging their way
ID festival on the Brockcn Mountains.
Il WAS lntc for the corner groceries were
Shut.
The last druught of poison had.h been drain
"a over the counter. The last victim had
atnggcrcd home to his trembling wlic.
The red unwholcsome light that Haired
over he door had been eXtingulshcd, and
tn harkcepcr was snoring IN his bcd he
hind the fnur barrels.
IN the bleak shelter afforded by the pro-
lecting wooden awning of the corner gro
cfrirs IN Greenwich street, close to where
that thoroughiare ncars the river, and
and huddled up against the side of the
largc coal hin that stood laspcd and pad
locked on one side of the entrance, two
nlle figure, were visible in the dim gliln-
mtr of the night. Two little children they
were seen sitting with their cold arms Gun
brncing each other their chill,cheeks press
ed together and their large weary, eyes
looking ont hungeriy into the blank street.
Down by the wharycs they saw the tall.
Slender masts Of ships piercing the sky
lkc the scrricd lanrcs of romc band Of
/ gigantic Cussacks. Among the black hills
aftW late lights still shonc and the air
II raft tutsu.fRnullk t4tth a. NRipn nl "a
drunken siiorf VINO, from some friendly
dourstep where he bad invOluntraily cast
anch Nor, chantrd his experiences Ofa young
Mes Indian lady of color, who reioiced in
In The horticultural name of Nancy
Bauann.
Presently mystic music seemed to fall
from he nrched skies upon the city. II
wac the chimes from old Trinity ringing
the Odd Year out and the New Year in.
Thp thrilling notes Of the changes, follow
Ing each other in measured How, vlhraird
through the air like music made 10y the 'tCt
of marching angels, They juhllanily y
seeined to scale thc'slope of heaven. The
wild, meludeuus clangOr tlOatcd over the
grear silent city. Myriads of Tarial
Moons, clashug their cymhals, seemed u
march over the house tops. The clock was
trembling ON the stroke of twelve, and
Tlhe had one foot already, in the territories
ofthe New Year.
Tip, listen to the bells, said one OF
the two children that were huddlcd bcnatl
the grocery awning, speaking in IL faint
though clear voice, like bell heard in q
fogi " listen. 1t is time for Kriss kringlI
to come.
TMs cold little lips opened, and nothing
Issued thereirom but IA low, plaintiyc
am hungry, Bmnie. "
So am +, said Binnic, with sort o
far OIL chccrmcss, AS if his heart WAS at q
considerable distance and could communi
cate only very family. q" But let us wait
Perhaps KRIS Krihgle will bring Us some
thing nice. What would you like, Tip('
=" Coffee and cakes wouldn't be bad,
said Tip, hesitatingly, as If rather atrni'
OF lie consequences # he allowed his i'm
agination tOrun away with him.
F." ora plate of roast beef, rare, will
pothto,s, aud peach pic, suggested th'
mofc reckless Binnie;'' Just such as moth
er uscd to give Us ON Sunday. Poor moth
erp'
"What are you going To do tomorrow
Binnir. to get some money
+" Shovel snow oil the stoops, answer
ed Bmnir, rcssolutely 'Well 20 TO Unio
equare early and ask all around at th
houses whether they want the sidewal
cleared Some Of 'em are sure to give u
quartcr; we might make fifty cents, am
then wouldn't we have a time
" When we were living in the cOuntr
with mother, what fun we used to have %
New Years, " said poor little Tip, Creel
ing up closer ~ Binnie, with shiver iu
The night was getting very cold, aud fe'
large snow flakes commenced fdllm
straight down from the ileccy sky, whit
az thc manua that fell In the desert, bu
alas not 50 nutritious.
"Oh gOllyi yes. What a good moth,
she Was to us, and what things we used
find In the old stocking that she gave l
TO hang up. Kriss Krlnge don't me
us any more now that she's dead ! wOl
der Ii he used to come down the chimnc
Tip, orif twas only make believe.
~ don't know" said Tip. watc
ed eycr 50 many nights, hut somehow la
ways fell asleep just before he came, al
then the things got into the stockings,
used to dream, though, that saw hil
A little man with a red coat all cover
with gold lace, and a long feather in /
cap, and little sword by his side. 4
he used to smile at me ana say, Tip, "
you BE- good hoy if / put something
the Stocking for you and then | used
promise; and when ! had promised n
to hear music sounding all through I
house, a great deal finer than the music
heard when we went to the circus, Blnn
and then Ktiss kringlc would take of
hat 10 me, and make a jump and 20 Gle
up the chimney out of sight, like II !
cricket All how cod it is, Bnuic, a
how hungry am. Tell lis Il story"
The wind arose in the north and ca
down upon the city with savage howl
The heavy snuwhakes fed before him
every angle and nook, like terrified wi
birds trying To hide themselves from so
vast-winged, screaming falcon.
They thrust themselves iuto the crew.
Of the windows, and between the stats
the window blinds; they got under the 6
of The doors; they left tue centre of
streets and flew -madly into the quit,
They huedcd themselves in the dark
ner where Tip and Binnie were covert
ran lip the legs of their ragged trous
and Sid down between their lrail shirt
lars aud their cold little necks. It WI
fierce biting, stralching wind of prey,
poor Binnle aud Tip felt his talons dige
into their flesh.
Jubt as the pair ofvagrnnts had dra
cl0eer together and Binnic was trying
stop his tCeth--which began to chat
from hili X in TWO the thread of the Fl
patient little fellow was about to / Il
brother, they heard a faint cry y-sOmell
between a moan and whi-tle-soun'
close to them, Looking out in the
twilight they beheld, ,dwartish figure ST.
ing on the sidewA X. moaning and wa
hls arms. II srecmed to be little
about two feet high, clad in red {
covered With gold lace, aud wearing
cap ~ vi irh WAS Stuck u long feather
was bent n rly h ,iizOuial hy the v
liny sword, about the length Of
pencil dangled at his side
70, Binnic! whispc ed Tip, it's
Anngle come a. ain. know him. lie