Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-12-16

WdIb W Uo W1Chcu, UuG GILL uolp LII
when see SO many pretty things"
The old man permitted himself to be
led from the window by the child, and
hand in hand they walked slowly away.
For moment [ stood looking after
them, then, acting upon the impulse, l
started in pursuit After proceeding a
short distance along the main thorough
fare, they turned off into narrow
street, and following ] saw them enter
a small and rather dilapidated house,
which stood some little distance back
from the street, with a courtyard before
it. I noted it., appearance carefully. It
was built of wood, two stories high,
and looked to be considerably older
than century. A picket fence minus
many of the pickets-with rickety
gate, which swung backward and for
ward in the strong wind, discoursing
the most excruciating music lmagin-
able, divided the plot of ground upon
which it stood from the street. Salts
fed that I could find the house again
without difficulty, l retraced my steps,
and was soon standing before the coun-
ter of the little store, into whose win
dows the old man and child had gazed
SO wistfully but few minutes previous.
When [ stepped out into the street
again it was with a large brown paper
bundle in my arm, the contents of
which consisted of the coveted doll,
several sugar soldiers and peasant girls,
miniature cradle, the wagon with red
wheels, white woolly dog, with pro-
truding glass eyes and red paper
collar, cat that mewed when squeezed,
and numerous smaller toys, together
with several cornucopias of sweets.
Though the package was cumber-
some one, and ON several occasions came
near being knocked out of my arms by
some careless or excited passer-by, and
the tongue of the wagon would persist
in getting into complications with my
legs, [ must say never felt lighter of
heart, or better able to contend with the
ordinary annoyances of mankind, than
on this peculiar occasion.
Back to the old-fashion house Istrug.
gled, but / was not destined to reach it
without two complete tipups," from
which [ suffered no inconvenience, how
ever, beyond a slight bruise upon a
rather prominent portion of my ana
tony, In consequence Of my coming too
suddenly and violently in contact with
the pavement, in sitting posture. I
pushed open the vociferous gate, cross
ed the courtyard, and knocked at the
door of the house. An aged female,
wearing a frilled cap, answered the
summons. .-
"Good evening"" I remarked. 'sMy
call may strike you as somewhat singu-
lar, but this being Christmas eve, I
have undertaken, for the first time, to
enact the agreeable role of st. Nicholas,
and in that character [ have tapped at
your door,
She looked rather perplexed, and con-
siderably alarmed.
''Step aside, Nancy, and let me do
the talking And pushing her gently
aside, the old man I had followed
stepped forward. What is it, sir ?'
he asked cycling me rather sharply.
''The fact is, [ replied, 81 saw a
child, tonight, gazing into the window
Of a store, and heard her express a de-
sire to possess some of it's contents, and
here they are" and ] extended the bun
die toward the little pale face I saw
peering timidly out from behind the old
woman's skirts in the background.
One glance at that countenance, as
the expression of perplexity and doubt
gave way to that of extreme JOY, as the
child seized the bundle and tore an
aperature IN the wrapper, paid me ten
fold for the bruises [ had received in
conveying it to her. The old man
looked first at the child and then at me,
as if debating in his mind whether it
was advisable to permit the little one to
retain the package, SO mysteriously and
Unexpectedly presented; but the female,
regardless of his hesitation, again came
forward, and with a low ''God bless
you" babe me enter.
Accepting the invitation, [ found my
self within a good-sHed room. upon
the large old-fashioned hearth of which
sparkled and blazed a cheerful wood
fire. The furniture, which was antique
in style and much worn, consisted of
several cumbersome maple chairs, a
huge mahogany bureau with diminu-
tive glass knobs and claw-like feet, and
a tall clock almost resembling coffin,
which stood in remote corner solemn
~ telling off the passing seconds, with
ltS uodSuIou t1Ch, LICK. upon Gn0
walls hung several highly-colored
prints of scriptural-scenes. There was
no carpet upon the well-scoured floor,
and everything wore an air of the most
scrupulous cleanliness and respectable
poverty. The occupants of the apart
ment were four in nnmber-the old
man and woman, the child, and a short,
withered up piece of female humanity,
who retired to the utmost extremity of
the room Immediately upon my en-
trance, and, burying her face in her
hands, gave vent to the most astonish-
ing and unaccountaDle outbrrst of
feeling, in the form of unintelligible
utterances and hysterical sobs, I ever
heard. The old man motioned me to a
chair, and when the excited female had
somewhat subsidized, said: ''Sir,. you
have brought happiness to one little
heart tonight, and God bless you for
it. But how happened it that one of
our household should be the object OF
your genrosity 2"
Because Providence SO willed it," !
answered. 81 can assign no other rea-
son." related how CHANGED to over
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