The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1874-01-08

ly to himself. Il reckon they neve,
so glad to see dis chile afore. Por,
, things ! he went on after a little
'comed out to find Santa Claus anG
get some presents. Golly..' he ex
claimed, as new thought strucl
him. Il wonder if l couldn't hun
up somethin' r other to make {
Christmas moInin' bright. They'll
be powerful forlorn when they wake
up
He was silent sometime, scratched
his head, whistled little /; and after
a while he got up softly and hung
up their stockings to dry.
4 know what I'ze gwine to do, he
said, I'll give 'em some nuts and pop.
corn, anyway
He drew box from under the
bed, opened it, and took out some
beech nuts-delicious little three cor.
nered things, that he had gathered
in the woods. From the same box
he took two or three ears of small
popcorn. AS he attempted to push
it back it hit something, and he put
his hand in and pulled out stick.
'Gollyn said he again, 'if there
amt the very stick fur hoss fur that
boy, that he wants 80 bad. / didn't
spect, when l done showed it under
thare fur walking stick, what I'd
want il fur
1t was piece of a branch of q
tree, and on one end it was bent over
so as to make a natural sort of hand
lie. 1t would do very well for a
horses head, too. So Philip got out
his old jack-knlfe, cut sort mouth
for the horse, dug holes in thu bark
for eyes, made bride out of string,
Whitfield the end off smooth, and
there was as fine horse as any boy
of five could ask for.
There said Philip, 'that'll do
fur de boy; now, what kin | find fur
the girl?' A long time he puzzled
over this, until he remembered some
birds eggs that had hung in bis
shanty for months. He took down
the old coat that hung on the wall,
and there they hung, very dusty, but
not broken. Carefully he took them
down and washed them clean, break
ing one or two, but on the whole
succeeding very we'll. Then he put
them on clean string, and they
looked very pretty indeed.
Little curly head'll like that ar, !
know said he, with grin of pleas
ure on his black face, IAN Pll learn
her the name of every kind
Next the droll old Santa Claus
proceeded to prepare his popcorn.
He took out from some dark corner
sort of saucepan and put it on the
stove while he shelled his corn.
When it was hot, he dropped in the
corn, covered it up, and began to
shake it about, first slowly and then
faster and faster, as the corn popped
off in little explosions inside every
few seconds looking at the sleepers,
to see that they didn't wake up.
They were far too tired to wake,
and when he had turned the white
shower.out on the table they had
not stirred once.
Then he went on to hang stock
ing Of each child on the wall near
the bed and then, tip-toeing around
as though he was stepping on eggs,
he went back and forth filling them.
First down in the toe came beech
nuts, filling up the foot then pop
corn stuffed the leg into funny
bunchy shape. Then over Lily's he
hung the string of birds eggs, aud
over Burtie's the comical horse.
All this work, varied by replen-
ishing the fire, kept old Philip busy
until nearly morning, and then be
began to prepare breakfast. His po-
tatOes were baked and his hoe cakes
mixed in the highest style of the art
when Lily opened his eyes.
At first sight of Philip look Of
fright came in her face, and then she
remembered.
'Oh = said she, Il thought it was
all a dream, aid l was in my bed at
home.'
'But you isn't honey. You's my
guest this blessed Christmas morn
ing. Wish yo' Merry Christmas
How do yo feel p
Il feel we'll enough said Lily, sit.
ting up. Is this Christmas, real
ly p
'Yes,' said old Philip, see your
stockings up thar p
Lily looked around quickly.
ooh what a lovely string of eggs
Oh where did you get them Are
they for me p burst out of her eager
lips.
Course it's for you,' said Philip
showing all his teeth. Santa Claus
must knowed whar yo' was, and
coined down the chimney and left il
hyer fur yo.'
'Oh Berthe, wake up = cried Lily,
shaking the sleepy boy. 'It's Mer
ry Christmas, and Santa Claus has
been here.
Bertie was wide awake in a min
ute.
There's my horse,' he shouted, as
soon as he saw it. Let me have {
ride And snatched it down, go
astride, and rode around the room
perfectly happy.
Lets see what else is in the stock
ings,' said Lily, taking them do wn.
ooh popcorn Isn't it nice p ant
they begun to eat it at once.
'And what are these?' she asked
as. she emptied the corn into her lap
and the nuts came down in littl,
brown shower.
Les see,' said Philip, looking a
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