Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-12-25

before change my mind"
Her companion had been looking
st the card, and exclaimed:
THAT reminds me! / must finish
those slippers. l had forgotten oil
about it. Where is the worsted coun.
ters"
Way back on the right"
The ladies walked away toward the
woIsted counter, and st. Nick, laying
. card on the counter they had left,
turned his attention elsewhere. The
clerk, looking at the card, pocketed
it carelessly, remarking to q pale
young fellow beside him
Suppose you come to dinner with
me today, Frank; you haven't for a
week"
l was rather curious about those
small. white cards that St. Nick was
giving about so freely, and following
him toward the door, was just in
time TO see him make dive through
a crowd and collar small boy, who
was on the point of going into the
street.
The child looked alarmed as he was
pulled back into the store, but only
for minute.
How much are your pencilss" St.
Nick inquired.
The boy was selling pencils.
seven cents apiece-do.lar a
bunch; sell you nalf bunch for fiji
ty cents"
II want a bunch. I keep my
books with lead pencil. Can you
change this."
I'll get i: changed for you in a
second. Here, hold my stock for
me-"
No, can't wait. Take the bill
and bring me the change before
Christmas. Here's my card; study it
up. l guess your fly. There's the
address on that corner. Tumble?"
st. Nick crowded card and bill in.
to the little fellows hand, snatched a
bunch of pencils and tore out of the
door, whistling and gesticulating vio-
lently at the driver of stylish-look
ing coupe which was passing near the
sidewalk.
Yes" said the boy, examining
the bill, ~ tumble that you're luny
and oughter be pulled in" Then he
looked at the card. "Oh!I tumble
again. Second thoughts is best.
Good enough! l know the old duffer.
I'll give Jimmy such a stockin' he'll
think he's got bone in his leg"
l was burning with a desire to
know what was written on that. card
of st. Nick's, and l rushed out into
the street to see what had become of
the stylish coupe. 1t had come to u
standstill a short distance up the
street. and st. Nick talking 10 the oc-
cupant. l saw him hand in card
and after q minute more the driver
twisted about in his seat and looked
down over the edge of his collar at
the door. Then St. Nick backed on
tojthe sidewalk, lifting his hat, and
the coupe being turned around, came
slowly by. allowing me to get o
glimpse Of fair, sweet ladylike face,
surmounted by perfectly lovely
bonnet, that presently made its ap-
pearance at the window and brought
the driver down from his perch. He
opened the door in front Of the store
! had left. carefully holding an apple
behind him as he did so.
Stepping to the sidewalk. my lady
handed him the card of st. Nick's,
and passed in the store
The driver took small preparato-
~ bite from the rosy side of the ap-
pie, and then puzzled over the card.
I watched him. and noticed he did
not finish the apple, but gave it to
the horse nearest to him. As St.
Nick was walking toward me l made
up my mind that would get one of
those cards that seemed to be mat
ter of SO much interest to every one
who looked at them. So / approach
ed him and demanded one.
Il don't hand them to everybody"
said he. People who haven't much
money and manufacture their Christ
mas presents with their own hands
are the ones who get the most good
out of the day. They understand
all about it and don't need my cards
l give them where they are needed
most. / gave that little rascal V.
He's sharp tradesman, and by
Christmas time he'll spell it with a
double Y. know where every cent
of it will go.
Did you see that big man with q
sealskin coat? He's worth half mil
lion. have hi. word for a CARLOAD
of presents and u big check beside
His heart Is rs big as his purse. but
he's forgeiful. have to refresh his
memory every year. And that lady
in the coupe. she's got mint of mo-
ney; always trying to. do good, but
doesn't know how. She'd never get
the right thing il l didn't write it all
down for her. i
st. Nick turned around after saying
this. and looked anxiOusly across the
street. l knew | should lose sight
of him in minute, SO l insisted he
should give me a card. remember
that he said that he was only an
agent. and l was very anxious to
know whose agent he was. ! may
not be able 10 give costly presents,
but if there is any good in his card. |
want it as much as any one. He saw
l was in earnest and gave it to me
remarking. "Show tito your friends"
and then ran across the street after
an orange woman. l am glad took
SO much pains to get the card, for |
think we are all interested to know
all we can about the motive which
prompts this queer old gentleman to
such an amount OF disinteres,ed labor
and activity. | have turned 1t over
and over, bu: this is every word l
can find on the card of st. Nick: "'It
is more blessed to give than TO re-
ceive. ST. NICK, agen.."
LINCOLN AND BUTLER.