Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1884-01-17
Che Csntre 9emntrat.
BELLEFoNTE, PA.
Peck's Bad Boy.
NEW IDEAS ABOUT OLD SANTA CLAUS

wen, what uiu you ges from SANTA
Claus" asked the groceryman of the
had hoy as he came in the grocery
with big blue necktie. on which was
pinned a piece of beer glass cut in
imitation oi diamond. Santa Claus
must have remembered you splendid
ly," aud the grocery man banded the
bad boy a snur orange.
20, don't talk to me about Santa
Clau~, " said the boy, as he bit into the
orange, and then went to the vinegar
barrel and drew some vinegar in n
glass and tnok n swallow TO sweeteu
the taste of the orange. "Do you
know | wonder there is Il boy in this
whole world that docs not grow up to
he irst-class liar, when they have
their parents lie to them the first seven
wears ot their lives about Santa Claus ?
Whet can child think, when told it
j, wicked to lie. and then find out that
i's paren's have been lying to it, about
the Santa Claus business. Do you
know | have watched for Santa Claus
to come down chimneys, and when |
asked how biz fat fellow could come
down such small hole, and through
a stnve pipe, pa would tell me tba:
Santa Claus was made of India rubber,
was blowed up, and all he had to
do was to let the wind out, and then
he would be small enough to get into
grmlet hole. When | found that
Santa Claus was fraud, and accused
pa OF deceiving me, he got hot and
said | was too smar, fol my boots
20, that is all right, but what did
you get - said the groceryman.
Fl got nice enough things, but ]
haven't got them now. traded oft a
lot Of my things for presents for some
bys down our way, that didn't ct
anything. | made a change in the
Chri,tmas.tree business, at our church.
Iou see, they have been in the habit
OF getting all the children together
the night before Christmas, aud hay.
ing a Christmas tree, aud u is cruel on
the poor chillran. The rich parents
put expensive presents on the trees for
their children, and the poor children
get a ten cent whistle, or a popcorn
ball, or an orange. The poor children
began to think Santa Claus showed
Partially, and that he vas in the en-.
ploy Of the rich folks, and they were
beginning 10 get sour on Santa Claus,
but this time me aud my chum sold
all the presents we got at home, aud
went and bought n whole lot Of uice
things for the poor boys, and when tie
man began to distribute the presents,
aud the poor boys had their mouths
made up for popcorn balls, and they
got club skates and fur caps, and nice
warm mittens, they yelled 50 the min.
ister was afraid the church would be
pulled as a disorderly house. I never
had 50 much fun in all my life, as /
did TO see those poor boys rake in tho
presents. All have got left is this
necktie and alum diamond, but the
fun had, makes this forty.ccnt dir
mpud, look a. bright to me as though
it was the knhinoor. Do YOU know
what kohiuoor IS? It is the biggest
diamond in the world
That's n good boy said the gro
ceryman, as he shaded his eyes to look
at the bad boys diamond, and then
Wet bis finger on his tongue to see if it
tasted OF alum. "But there ia one
thing want to talk to you about. !
saw YOU jump on hose cart and ride
with the 6remen at the FIRE last night,
AID your pa said you were hanging
around the engine house q good deal.
Now. you want to let up on that.
Those fremen are pretty tough, and
you viii be spoiled il you 90 with
them. wouldn't have anything to
do with them, or you will bring your
fathers gray hairs in sorrow to the
grave. Firemcb are hard citizens"
"When was this that fremen we're
hard citizeusi" asked the boy indig.
pantly. They are just us good citi.
zens a. you are. If your grocery gets
an FIRE down collar frnp, Tho korosona