The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-12-23
MR.. M'JIMSEY'S CHRISTMAS.


Hello, Sam, shakem "Howdy, Jimp
Wherc'vc We been at for month?
Haint seen We since-not since day be-
fore Christmas. Member met We then
jest as | was gcttin' into the Nory hack
10 go out and spend the day with ma an
the girls. Come to think, didn't |
hear? Is it so at you've been
gettin' married again? Dom stan there
an grin an look so ALFRED sheepish.
Can't We tell fellerabou it? The amt
no call to be bashful, | sh'd think
second trip. Widder got We, did she?
o, yc needn't fire up. I'm the best friend
we've got. Come, speak outn'
Yes, ye air, Sam; burned if We amt,
though | may thought different at
times when we've tried to keep me in the
traces. Jump into the buggy an rn
tell We the petite lars while we drive out
to the stockyards. Got to 90 an see
about drove o hogs I've brought up
from LiZton.
''Speakin' O. Christmas | never was
brought up to think much O. the day.
Didn' t get nopresents nor nothing when
was boy. Ways is changed, though.
now, in them things, an specially in
towns we can't help knowing when the
holidays is near. Every woman an
youngun is in such a tlutteration, the
windows are so gay an tixy, at you're
'bliged to know what's gon' on. 1t
makes n Teller feel lonesome like when
he amt got no home nor nobody to re-
member of him. Somehow, the day |
met you at the postoffice corner, I'd been
a thinkin-a thinkin', we know, O.
Maria, an how she used to fix up some
limerick, pair O slippers, or the like.
for me on Christmas. | felt mighty blue
jest then, | don mind a sayin'.''
Eyes, an now at it S over with. an
you're married again, don't mind telln'
ye, jim McJimsey, at l felt powerful
mean for not takin' We out to mas. The
reason was Gist hold yerself in the buggy.
Jim) at, much as think of We, didn't
want to interduce We to my sisters. Folks
said you was a lookin' around, an, if I'd
tuck ye, there's no tellin' what might O.
happened, an | didn't low to have a
sister O mine marry airy divorced man.
Those as wants to kin. but none o. mine.
'Scuse the interruption an drive ahead.
Lonesome, was ye, an thought o.
Maria?''
'Yes, something made me think O. old
times, an | couldn't fix my mind on
nothin' else, Got the morning paper an
figgered on the markets; tried to Gale late
what I'd clear on forty head O cattle [
had down the road, but it was no 90.
Begun to dread the next day, Every
thing d be closed up an I'd have nothin'
special to do. 1t d been Jest about wear
since we-Maria an me-had parted.
Christmas before this hadn't been no.
ways what you'd call gay to me. Fact
is, it came an went 'thout my KNOWN
1t. Was busy seem lawyers long then,
dlvldln' property, an so on, so my rec
lection went back to the years lest after
me an her was jned. Well, as | was
sayin', | felt right lonesome. Hung
around down town till the last minute
lively enough there, you bet-an' then [
went up to supper Made up my mind
'at I'd 60 to the theater that night; but,
come to look at the bills, there was
nothin' but East Lynne, an | couldn't
be drug to that play, not by wild horses.
Saw it once, an one sight O. that pore,
miserable woman comm back to be nigh
her husband when he WASN'T really her
husband no more was enough for me.
Begun to wish could 90 to sleep an
not wake up till-well, till the day after.
Thought some O. gettin' on an old.fash-
toned tear-reg'lar jamboree, like we
used to have when we was sowin' our
wild oats, hey, Sam? I'd kind o. been
out O. the way o such tricks for several
years. an it didn't hardly seem as if
there'd be rs much fun in 'em as the
used to be, | was wonderful where I'd