The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-12-27

prayer meetings." said Della.
"Ycs, but that tree fetched him." re-
turned Josie, who, though one Of the
pupils of the high school, was not NJ
ways particular in her choice of terms
Her mother gave her IA half reprov-
ing look
Not only Deacon Stebbins. Poor over
worked Mrs, Lovctt, who hadn't seen
the inside Of the church for years, was
there with half dozen youthful Low
ctts in queer costumes grouped around
her, looking upon the gay scene with
hungry, shining eyes. Hiram Kimball,
"A misanthropic old man, with whom tho
world had gone SO hard that the milk OF
human kindness in his nature seemed
all dried up, had come Quito growl
over the tomfoolery," one of the young
sters in the crowd avcrred, jamie
Adams, too, sat in pew beside his mo-
Their, his crutchcs at bis elbow, his pale
face and large, sad blue eyes, now lu-
minous with anticipation, bespeaking
patient endurance. All OF these and
more were there in addition to those
who usually monopoIized public gath
erings in Weston. and faint glimmer
OF the light that shonc around the an
gels on that Judean night so long ago,
shone into their weary hearts.
There was Il literary entertainment
first upon the taps The excited, cx-
pectant crowd were with difficulty
called TO order After music select
readings and tablcauX all of which
passed on Crcditably the important
business Of the evening came on.
The master Of ceremonies, Squire
Frost, stepped TO the front Of the plat
form and announced that the mystic
rious Santa Claus would distribute the
gifts with which the two trees were
laden, commencing with the smallest
one.
murmur ran around the church.
The suspense was prolonged, expectancy
was heightened.
There he is! there he is"' was re-
peatcd from one to another, az Santa
Claus, in old-time flowing white beard
and quaiu', picturesque costume stepped
from behind a curtain. The antiquated
attire could not disguise the outlines Of
the wcll-formed, manly figure, and CON
lecture was rife.
He stepped To the front of the plat
form, tlour,hing wand decorated with
red, white and blue ribbon aud deliv-
cred short address, in grutl, good-na-
tured tones, elciting peals OF laughter,
then stepped back and began to despoil
the tree that WAS now shorn Of much of
its interest by the tall mysterious one
beside il.
Dear, dear, | shall be glad when he
gets through with this one, I'm so i'm.
patient to know who are to have sll
those lovely things on the other one"
said Josie
At last the tree was dismantled. and
amid laughing and chatting, Santa
Claus turned to the other one
Now them said Bert Chase,
Il tell you Buck and Bright had a
good pull to bring that out of the woods
yesterday" Fred Briggs whispered to
Bert, shaking his head, with pardonable
pride in the part he and his oxen had
been called to play in the exciting
drama.
Deacon Stebbins 9" Santa Claus
drawed out in nasal tones.
deacon Stebbins has Christmas
present" Il knew be expected one,
that why he came out" Hes the
oldest iuhabitant; S.nta Claus shows
respect to age" were some Of the eX-
carnations heard on all sides.
go deacon" said his wife, as he
hesi.ated; and he arose and hobbled up
the aisle as fast as his rheumatic joints
would admit
Santa Claus put a box in his hand,
muttering something about locals of
fire on his head which the deacon did
not quite understand He hobbed back
and seating himself beside his spouse,
opened the box. II was found to con-
tain q meershaum pipe and handsome
tobacco box filed with the finest quality
OF the fragrant weed.
Some one who knows the deacon
well, remarked Charlie Rowell, glanc.
ING over his shoulder. His devotion
to the weed is touching to behold"
Il should like Whit at that pipe
after it is filed" said Harry Hobbs, q
precocious youth Of fourteen, "but as
haven't been favorite with the deacon
since | tied tin pan to the tail of the
old gray mare, l don't suppose it is any
use to ask him for the loan Of it,
Mrs. Mary Lovett!N Santa Claus
called out
The name came distinctly to her ears
where she sat in back pew, and her
face flushed almost painfully. Who had
remembered her9 In all these years of
struggle with poverty, and worthless
drunken husband, she had never had a
present that she could remember
"Go, Mrs Lovett,' whispered a SYM
pa,hizing neighbor in the pew behind
her, as she hesitated and fdgetcd diff
IDENTIFY. There, he's calling you
again"
Shewalked up the aisle slowly, feeling
painful sense of contrast between her
poor, shabby garments and those of the
comfortably dressed ma,rons around
her
Santa Clans eyed her moment as she
stood before him. $50 back and bring
all the children" he commanded,
Half dazed, she obeyed him, and
headed the procession back again up