The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1880-12-24


sons character, and TO suffer the
tirst disturbing amt wrplrxins
doubt us to the iuiule Of h"y TO
wln,m life was such Il holiday affair,
aud Who would nrver be able. he
feared, to take any other INV of il.
/ But these fatllerly thoughts aud
fears MIR. Foot carefully kept TO
himself. His family WAS very lov.
ing aud eonhding, aud Mr.. Foot
MAS not without courage; hut |
doubt il be would have been will
ing TO contemplate, even in the re-
tirement OF his own thoughts. the
shock that wUulu have come io AL ii
this beloved sun had beru closrly
criticised. So Joe spent his thnnshl
less, pleasant days llh,listurbrd b,
CRITICISMS, and When Ressir bloarh.
ed tIir question of the muu'ng Tor
her bruiber's Observation-Disclosures
being nearly Il year away AMI hrth-
days close at hand-he chose Ia his
easy wa, to keep he near PIE s,irr.
aud ~ IL eaur ahour that there
Was To be no Christ mas celebration
that year in Mr.. Foot's house.
Bessie's lhau worked admirably
The birthdays, scattered through
the Year. had been made much of.
aud Joe's coriing late il September,
had really beelI II great affair. doe
himself had enjoy ed I wosdrrinllt
-c,en beyond his usual lInpp>
way. II MAS very gratifying Il
have sn many nr~ things in at
vance 1T all his playmates; even
The latent fashioned sled had hrru
procured by extra trouble aud ey
p~nse, aud the balls AM, the book'
and the knives aud the marblrs
wrre oi the best, tor "Joe is Il
have nQ presents at Christmas,
WAS fheoft-l expressed reason ioI
mira Indulgence on this pariicula'
,lxfthday. Ii WAS all very delight
a, and I: made ioe quite the here
of the autumn, creating an,
amount Uf envy in the minds q
b other boys Who must wait uuti
Christmas.
Bu Christmas was drawing IN
aud Joe soon found himself face 4
+ face with an anticipation ahirl
was not pleasuI eablr-au cntirel.
e new position in his experience. l
fact, the uumrf0us preparations |
the world outside began To roduc
slightly depressing 81 ilsation |
7 other members Of MIR. Foot tam
ly; even Bessie, usually firm IN he
decisions, could not help wislin
they had chosen Christmas an
given up the birthdays But
was too hate now, 80 they all cas-,
fully avoided any allusion to III
Il coming festival, each hopihg ID
: silence to create the impression !
the others that the whole plan VII
eninently satisfactory.
IS Mr.. Foot, quietly reading, IN hi
{trasy chair, MAS really the only on
/ auite ~ ,ase, all the minds Of III
n family being more or less rufilr,
alont .hrist inaspyr, by s0nIr thought
Mto what might he going on !
Ia Jop's mind; tor, contrary to hi
custom, he had l,rtaken himself
IA hsl Mt an unusually early bon
to Mrs. Foot aud her older daughter
were busy with their sewing nea
The table where Mr.. Foot was Fl
:. nying the cheerful fire aud h
evening paper, when Bessie SUI
!, drnl, broke into the room witl,tl
!" exclamation: "Jm has hung u
his stockings" Mr.. Foot laid II
n ,,ayer OH his knees aud The hns
needles made slight pauses, but !
. opr spoke. ...its
C .Hr has hung mp b0'h; henp,'
sc hSng up hut one b fore!' add,
~ fR1ssie, dropping belplessly i,l
skSt nearest chair.
~. That was naughty in J@," M
Mrs. Foot, ia u tone in whlcll q
ay sI,air aud apology were odd
IT.. mingled.
hII hlf. Foot nrditaipd, apparent
.rs unhe. ding, wlIil' the girls Went !
hs wiihsthpir sewing.
ye Sulpe time elapsed. during VIII,
sd no ollr vrntured q REMARK an'l N
3 Foot still looked into the fl
iuI Strangely vivid ren'cmhlanc
~ Game 10 him OF Il country ld
re-. loug.iorg,,t,ri Ch'istlnasts, amen
An /, stmking #nd a ,lisall'polnt'
heart. He slowly iUuk do"l
,is ,As.ulassrs fip,n their perch a
n. MI them IL his p,cket; he Told
.up his paper y lily. and careful
itl. laid il on, The table, aud with [
mir of N um,l Who would rather I
tart should no. be observed, ru
70 quietly tram bis chair aud ~ se
NJ. Indifferent voice rai,l:
ed .sBessie, will sou hand me-
rls, coat r 'A '.'s' E.s n -.
M. lai. Why, are yon going oui !" !
de- claimed Mrs. Foot, looking NJ
Ihe citedly. go ..,.,
mi ayes, I think | will take sl'
On, Walk replied Mr. Foot, still in'
'ss' ftrcntly, Though knowing prftc
nss, we'll a walk was.a most mus. il''''