Milford chronicle., 1883-12-21
"Why, Joe, there amt none-there's


Joe with, ''don't bother" continue,
with:
'fWe've met together at this air treat
now, Sis (this in an aside), you mus
say, Hear, hear" which order Sis, he
blue eyes full of astonishment at thi
new accomplishment in her friend
meekly obeyed; Joe continued with
(which is an out and outer, if do say
it myself, and-and-" Here Jot
stirred the lemonade, but not finding an
idea there, burst out with, "Oh, I'll cut
it short; here's a jolly Christmas and
big hunk of pudden." Dropping into
his seat upon the floor he added, patron
izingly; ''Now, Sis, you must make a
speech. too"
"Oh I couldn't, Joe," exclaimed the
little girl.
eyes, you can, too-it's easy enough.
lilly did at Jim's party, and she amt
half as pretty as you be, replied Joe,
encouragingly.
"Did she?" answered Sis. "Then,
perhaps-I'll try if you promise not to
laugh"
"All right, go ahead. Here take a
sip of lemonade; it will sort of put the
pluck inter yer," ard Joe pushed the
tomato can toward her.
Rising and shaking out her little worn
dress, Sis placed her arms akimbo. She
seeing a woman doing it
once, who was talking to big crowd.
"Ladies and gentlemen, said Sis, ST
am SO very much glad that I was invited
to this beauter-ful treat, with such a
lovely plum cake, hopes Joe will have
one next Christmas Eve"
"Hear hear !" called out Joe; there
oy causing Sis, in her confusion, to add
"Many happy returns of the day,
imen."
"Hurray p shouted Joe, 'ft's better
Tor Tilly's ten times, at which Sis re-
eated herself, blushing with pleasure
nd feeling, perhaps, the least speck
'uffed up at her success. Poor little
7aif, it was something new for her to re-
eive praise.
The speeches having been given to
heir entire satisfaction, Joe felt his duty |
s host somewhat relaxed and, leaning
ack against the side of the packing
ase, he remarked, carelessly:
"What do you think of my pictures,
is ?"
They're jess lovely, Joe; where did
on get 'em ?" replied Sis, trying to sip
le lemonade from her oyster shell, just
) she had seen ladies of her acquaint-
nee take their saucers full of tea.
ooh, I picked 'em up round about.
7as you ever at a circus, Sis p
"No;" and seeing that she had rather
lien in Joe's estimation at this confess
on she hastily added, "but 1 was to
Loody's and Sankey's onet." This not
exactly the effect she ex-
scted, she continued with:
"Do You believe in Sanity Claws,
,e ?"
"What? The feller what comes down
Kinney and sich rubbish? Do you
ink as I've got anything soft about
e?" Then, catching the look of dis
'pointment on the girls face, he hastily {
ded: "Maybe there's something int I
r girls.
"Oh, wish there was, exclaimed Sis, s
cking up her little bare toes beneath
+ skirt, for, although it was rather a I
Id night for that time of year, still, '
W the fire was dying out and the feast I
1T disappearing, the cold air began to a
Ike itself felt.
'I don't s'pose Sanity Claws has much 4
ne to bother about sich shabby little /
Il as me, but I'd like a really, really d
Il, - and the ohild's eyes shone with b
Oh happy light at the bare thought v
1t some one outside the packing-case 9
ne very near betraying himself. d
'And, " continued the girl, ''I'd want y
n to bring you sich lot of things h
ove-ly big cake" Then, thinking t.
It perhaps she was rejecting upon the a
allness of the one they had just g
EN-, she quickly added: "But it W
lldn't be beautifuller nor your'n." h
why, Sis, say, what's the matter ? N
I've got sich red cheeks and" u
Have ~" and Sis's little brown hand g
ut up to her face at Joe's words, as d.
continued with-''perhaps it's the v
lonade." p,