Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-12-24

stocking too, and which | always filled
and made you happy; you, whose old
mother wore her life out providing for
you; you, who promised that dear old
mother on her death-bed to be kind to,
and provide for, your little brothers and
sister; you, who now viii not even speak
to those same brothers or sister; you,
who have no good word thought or feel
ing for your kind at this blessed season;
you, who even the dumb brutes have
learned to fear; gou miserable miser,
look at those stockings, read them, and
be wise! you -"
Here St. Nick, as if fearing to trust
himself longer with Old Allen, gave a
whistle, and up the chimney vanished
goblin rein1 GERS and St. Nick after them.
Old Alien rubbed his eyes. Surely he
heard bells jingle, rubbed his eyes again,
and this time really awakened in his
miserable bed, in his own miserable
room.
1t was Christmas -o"rning, and truly
the joyous bells were ringing. Old Allen
got out of his miserable bed and put on
his miserable clothes, all the time think
ing of his wonderful dream 1t made
him feel odd, in fact, so he concluded to
60 down to his iron safes and look over
his gold that was his sovereign remedy
for all trouble, but for wonder his gold
did not look one-half so bright and
charming as usual, nor did it keep from
his mind that horrid dream, and, besides,
the vaults were dark, dank, gloomy and
chilly, and in truth Old Allen felt more
there shivering, and he thought how good
a great-Coat would feel on his miserable
back. I've mind to buy one" thought
Old Allen; it won't cost much, and win
last long time, and save Goals into the
bargain" So, carefully locking his
vaults, he started down the streets soil
tary and alone, as cold and miserable as
could well be imagined
1t was q long time before Old Allen
could find a coat to suit him. This one
cost too much; that was too thin, and
somehow-why it was he could not tell
but the pockets in all seemed somehow
remarkably small. Such thing had
never happened before; in fact, he dis
tinctIy remembered the last time he had
purchased a coat that the reverse was
the case.
At last he bought one, however, and
he acknowledged to himself that he did
feel better in it's comfortable folds, or at
least he would have felt better could he
have only gotten rid Of that wonderful
dream, but it seemed impossible.
At last he said to himself, "Suppose
do walk down by Ben's, just to see how
the house looks, anyhow" and following
up the thought off he started in that
direction. But as he walked along with
his hands in his great-coat pockets, it
seemed to him that those same pockets
felt wonderfully large and very empty
And then he thought again Of his dream,
and of all the toys and candies. he had
seen, destined for the little ones, and
and, WELL the upshot of the matter was,
Old Allen slipped into a toy and candy
store, when he was sure no one was look
ing, and bought little candy, for
the first time in forty years, and
as he slowed that away in his great-coat
pocket it seemed to send a strange
warmth through his miserable body, a
feeling he had not experienced for ever
so long. Then the other pocket in his
great-cOat felt so large and empty he
bought more candy to put in that one;
and feeling so good over this-for he
really began to find out that there might
be some pleasure in spending as we'll as
earning money-he bought a tin rattle
for baby, and that led to other toys for
the rest of the children; and then he be-
thought him of Humpy's drum and
actually bought a very fac SjmiJe of the
one he had seen in mis- dream, but with
the distinct understanding that it must
be wrapped in such manner that no one
would mistrust it drum.
And now his pockets were all full, and
his hands too, for Ben's gloves and Mary's
dress, and all the rest of it were not for
gotten.
And so he wendell his way to his broth
er's door, hardly knowing whether it was
himself or not, and, withal, feeling very
queer, to say the least of it.
The door was opened to his timid
knock and, sure enough, there was VIII,
and Mary, and her husband and
HTmpy" and the baby and all the rest
of them; and great was the surprise to
see brother Tom, but none the less cor
dial was his welcome to their humble
home.
The children at first were shy, and
dropped off into the corners, but, being
treasured by the sight of the contents Of
the packages Uncle Tom had brought,
gradually gathered around him, and loud
were their expressions of delight as bun
die after bundle was unfOlded, and
reached its climax when Humpy" was
called up and presented with his drum.
Uncle Tom actually took the baby in his
arms, and when the little fellow laughed
and cooed and thwacked Uncle Toms