The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1875-01-01

away sadly. Let us go home. I don't /
want to be wicked, but I can't help it
when T 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 L stood looking after |
them, then, acting upon the impulse, I
started in pursuit. After proceeding
short distance along the main thorough !
street. and following saw them enter
small and rather dilapidated house,
which stood some little distance back
from the street, with a courtyard before
it. [ noted its appearance carefully It
was built of wood, two stories high,
and looked to be considerably older
than century. A picket fence-nninus
many of the pickets-with rickety
| gate, which swung backward and for
ward in the strong wind, discoursing
| the most excruciating music imacin-
able, divided the plot of ground upon
which it stood from the street. Salts
fed that could find the house again
without difficulty, / 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
50 wistfully but few minutes previous.
When / stepped out into the street
again it was with large brown paper
bundle in my arm, the contents of
which consisted of the coveted doll,
several sugar soldiers and peasant girls,
q miniature cradle, the wagon with red
wheels, white woolly dog, with pro
truding glass eyes and red paper
collar, a cat that mewed when squeezed,
and numerous smaller toys, together
with several cornucopias of sweets.
Though the package was a cumber-
some one, and ON several occasions came
rear being knocked out of my arms by
some careless or excited passer-by, ana
the tongue of the wagon wotld persist
in getting into complications with my
legs, must say | never felt lighter OF
heart. or better able to contend with the
ordinary annoyanees of mankind, than
| on this peculiar occasion
Rack to the old-fashion house lStrug-
pied but l was not destined TO reach 1t
without two complete " tipups, from
which 1 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 a sitting posture. /
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" remarked. my
: call may strike you as somewhat slngu
lar, but this being Christmas eve, ]
have undertaken, for the first time, tC
enact the agreeable role of st. Nicholas
4 and in that character have tapped a
e your door.
b She looked rather perplexed, and con
!, siderably alarmed.
d ''Step aside, Nancy, and let me d,
A the talking" And pushing her gentl,
. aside, the old man | had followe,
o stepped forward. What is it, sir !?
L he asked eyeing me rather sharply:
e s'The fact is" [ replied, 81 saw
' child, tonight, gazing into the windo7
of store, and heard her express de
sire to possess some of its contents, an
,, here they are" and I extended the bun
I die toward the little pale face [ sa'
le peering timidly out from behind the OF
y woman's skirts in the background
3 One glance at that countenance, a
l. the expression of perplexity and dout
g gave way to that of extreme Joy, as tn
le child seized the bundle and tore a
n aperature in the wrapper, paid me ter
,e fold for the bruises I had received
n conveying it to her. The old ma
d looked first at the child and then at M
n as if debating in his mind whether
t. was advisable to permit the little one
l. retain the package, mysteriously an
y unexpectedly presented; but the female
al regardless of his hesitation, again cam
4 forward, and with a low So God bles
< you, " bade me enter.
le Accepting the invitation, found m,
1t self within a good-sized room. upo
the large old-fashioned hearth of whic
g sparkled and blazed cheerful woe
ID fire. The furniture, which was antiqr
p in style and much worn, consisted
Z several cumbersome maple chairs,
:, huge mahogany bureau with diminl
{ tive glass knobs and claw-like feet, an
N a tall clock almost resembling a coffl
e which stood in remote corner solemn
ly telling off the passing seconds, wit
ID it's measured "tick, tick. " Upon tt
y walls hung several highly-colore
lg prints of scriptural-scenes. There W,
g. no carpet upon the well-scoured foo
le and everything wore an air of the mo
US q scrupulous cleanliness and respectful
K poverty. The occupants of the apar
10 ment were four in nnmber-the o.
10 man and woman, the child, and shor
withered up piece of female humanit
e. who retired to the utmost extremity
fy the room Immediately upon my e.
u trance, and, burying her face in h
u hands, gave vent to the most astonis
lug d11O OutDtlTSI
Id feeling. in the form of unintelligib
On utterances and hysterieal sobs, I ev
ng heard. The old man motioned me to
ad chair, and when the excited female hi
'st somewhat subsidized, said: ''Sir, W
y have brought happiness to one lit
RS heart tonight, and God bless you f
tn it. But how happened it that one
es our household should be the object
Id your genrosity ?"
'r- because Providence so willed it, -
ry answered. 81 can assign no other re
sP SON." related how Glanced to owe
ed hear the conversation which prompt.
es me to assume the role of st. Nichols
M The child fairly glowed with JOY.
re every doll brings to it's possessor Il
ao happiness my gift did to this little on
It's doll-makers should never be forgott,
in children's prayers. At last, weari,
OF with play, the child cIambered up in
ao the lap of the diminutive female, al
pr sank to rest with the doll pressed to b
ce heart, in a thoroughly maternal manne
re- Happening to glance at the wall, ne
la1 where was seated, Noticed suspend
ne T711o for,iIx