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

never COulU cAdCtlS uuOctStodu
him; he has such d short, blunt way
of saying things, that sometimes it
seems as though ne was really cross
bnt actions speak SO much louder
than words that l know he must have
one Of the kindest hearts in the
world. / feel sometimes almost
afraid to speak to him because of
that bluff way of his; but l cannot
always help it; at this time of the
year particularly, there are so many
questions | would like Ia ask about
one thing and another, which no one
can answer so well as st. Nick, that |
try to get up courage and say few
words just to try his mood: and it
often happens that find out a good
deal of what l wanted to know, and
that he will even be led TO talking
about himself for little, and in u
general way,
OF course any such personal re-
marks are always of more interest to
me than anything else he could tell
me; and when he warns in his genial,
hearty fashion to the recital of a
pleasant story or the recollection of
some Jolly adventure, l wonder that
| was ever afraid to approach him,
and in listening to his voluntary in
formation forget half of the childish
questions intended to ask.
met him the other day at the cor
ner of Washington street a1d Temple
place, looking at some shawls exhib-
tied in a window. l thought it
might be fortunate occurrence for
me, as, possibly, l could induce him
to look about in my company and
give me few suggestions as to some
trifiing purchases l had in mind. 1t
would at least be no harm to ask him.
"Umph!" said he in reply to my per-
suasions. go shopping with a wo-
man? do1't ask it,"
people have very strange notions
in regard to my business" he con-
tinued. Nowadays my duties are
hardly what they used to be. | can
not give any such attention to detsils
as l did when you were u child. l
can only have general oversight Of
matters, aud give q hint now and
then where l think it is needed. 1
cannot do, in all things, just as l
would like to; l am, at the best. only
an agent, and that IS what people
seem least of all to understand.
"You mustn't mind il / don't go
with you; l shall be near at hand,
and, / dare say shall come across
you q dozen times during the day.
When you see me you will notice
that l am busy in my own way.
Very likely it appears to be NEEDLE.
some way; but / make q point of
obeying Instructions, always, with
out regard to appearance. SO excuse
me now"
Saying this; St. Nick hurried away
after a tall, large man wearing q seal
skin coat.
AMI not in the habit of playing
the spy, but in this instance my curl
osity prompted me to follow him. He
turned into a store, walking behind
the tall man, and as l had an GRAND
In the same store. l considered ii
quite lawful for me 10 go in also.
AS l entered. St. Nick had just
tapped the sealskin coat on the shout
der, and the wearer turned round
and greeted with
"Oh! ali! How dye do?"
"Isn't it rather early:" said ST.
Nick.
"Why, no." sad the other;
sleighiug ia coming right along.
YOU see. think it looks like snow
this morning"
"But the Christmas goods arc hard
" all in the market yet"
"Oh, yes. yes. Well, I'm not buy
ing Christmas presents this morning.
I'm looking for some good driving
gloves"
Here is my card" said st. Nick.
handing it TO him. al gave you one
last year-same firm, same motto"
The man looked at the card. raised
his eyebrows slightly, lowered them
again, turned the card over quickly
with his middle finger, gazed at the
blank side for a moment in very
blank manner. while his mind digest
ed the words on its face, then turning
| it back again. he gave it another
short look. and finally glancing side
ways at st Nick, he smiled a very
good natured smile as both hands
went down into the pockets of his
great coat, one of them carrying the
card. Fights. did you says" in.
auired the clerk.
"Oh, never mind" said the man.