Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-01-09
(Cou tinQed from first page.)

ibid you tell Santa Claus to come ant
did he say he would ?" asked Willie.
mo, my darling. Santa Claus has 81
many places TO go TO that he cannot come
here tonight. You will have to wait,
replied Mrs. Radcliffe, her own lips trem
ulous as she saw the cruel. bitter disap'
pointment that filled the poor little
hearts.
She patted her boy on the head Come,
come, Willie be "a soldier! You know
you are mammals little man and you must
let the girls do the crying"
Willie tried to be soldier and returned
TO his seat in tho corner OF the fireplace,
but every now aud then his hand stole
furtively across his cheek, which before
long looked suspiciously besmeared.
Mrs. Radcliffe endeavored TO divert
their minds by bringing forth her last NOR
sci of bread, and proceeded to give them
their supper. her own portion going to
Uncle Pompey; but truth to tell, this por-
toni was so very small that il maucred
little whether one had ii or another.
AT length the children had sobbed them
selves to sleep. Mrs. Radcliffe taken out
her sewing, and Uncle Pompey stood lean
ing with both hands on his dogwood cane,
his legs DOWGu, MS suONiuCA> DtHls MS
head shaking with age and tecb.euess.
well, Mis- Lottie,' said he, "it do peer
to me mighty hard for as likely passed.
o. chillun as desc is not to have nary
gooberpea to put in der stockin not even
u squib to bus An you 90 by the store,
an see po' white trash in dar dat old mas
ter wouldn't a let hole his ho,-, jos
a-throwin' away money, an der pockets
bflin' over wild goodies 10 kyra' home.
You must be a mons'us kri-chun ef YOU
don't think hard OF dc lord tor '.owin u -
II suppose He knows what best tor
us. Uncle Pompey, replied Mis-. Il ldcUllr,
but she spoke listlessly, and more from
the habit Of reverence Than with ant pres
ent feeling. III il were not right sup
pose He would not permit it"
well, Mis- Loltie, said Uncle PDmpov
humbly. "You got mo- faith thtn is,
amt mcanin' 40 slight toies 'ligi'n, but
peers TO me like de mo whites git- the
mo- faith has an finds it mighty hard
TO hole to de faith less gifts the vittles.
which | didn't use ter have no trouble
gittin' vittles Umph umph - said the
old man. making the eitcuhtions sound
like series OF short. mOulniui, rutr0sp pee
tive grunts.
Mrs Radcliffe was too dispiriled to talk
and Uncle Pompey. finding nothing more
to do, set out for home the wretched den
which he inhabited with dozen Others
scarcely more prosperous than himSeh.
On his way he stopped and stood looking
in at the window OF confectioner's
There were long rows of jars filled with
candy the ceiling was hung with drums
aud trumpets and varieolOred lanterns
and the walls were tringed with toys of
every description; the show cases We're
full OF attractive bon-bons; and ranged
against the counters all up and down the
floor, were boxes of oranges and lemons
and cocoanuts and beautiful golden pip
pins, one OF whish was worth more than
Uncle Pompey could have earned in
week. The store was full of customers,
and the clerks were busy behind The
counters weighing out the nuts and can
dies which surrounded them in such pro-
fusion; aud Uncle Pompey stood looking
wistfully in, with his mind Oh the three
faded stockings he had left hanging by
the chimney-the three little stockings,
faded and empty.
tConinued tomorrow