The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1884-12-31


nance, then would join in your tributes to
her lovliness. There are scores of girls in
this city in every sense IS pretty and charm
ing, whom you would pass daily without
once making yourself ridiculous by wor-
Shipping them through their windows"
You see how correct was my criticism of
Mac. He even finds fault with this fair divin-
ity. Two to one, should he meet real an
gel he would object to the wings or the ap-
parel.
Walking onward we turn into a cross
street and come to a cottage home to which
we seek admission. Our ring is answered by
girl of fourteen, in isanty apron and with
modest welcome. eyes, sir; grandpa is in
and has been expecting you"
"Oh, you've come, have you? 1 WAS
about TO give you up; thought you might
have taken little too much Oaristms-sha,
hs," with hearty slap on the shoulder.
Every glad to see your friend. My children?
Why, bless you, they're my great-grsnd-
children-svery one of them"
His hair so luxurisnt as to brush up envy
IN some of US who, at little past thirty, DO
not require q comb. 1t is white almost as
the snowdrift without the window. He is
still standing after his guests are seated, I'M
til now boy OF ten wheels chair to him,
whom he thanks ostentatiously- admirable
old boy as he himself is.
"How many Christmas days have known?
This makes seventy-nine."
Eighty, grandpa
"Why, you young slsnderer," he e1olsims,
plsyfully shifting the girl in the isunty
apron; "trying to make an old man of mel'
The four children chorus laugh in which
even Mac joins.
81 was just telling these old kinspeople Of
NINE" and he nudged the cheek of an eight
year old leaning upon his knee and looking
tondly into his face, ''that 1 remember
Christmas evenings in Indiana when there
ives not a dozen houses where Indianapolis
now stands. When their grandfather, my
Oldest son. was born, hadn't neighbor in
six miles of me, and there were ne schools.
Our house hsd but one room, and hewed
The logs and built it with nay own hands.
We had no carpet nor cushioned chairs like
these. nor stoves, nor even glass windows;
no carriages buggies nor sleighs. / remem-
Der going to Madison once when my wife
and child we're alone during the entire
Christmas while was gone.
ayes, rememp er the first train OF cara
that came to Indisnapolis-the road was the
one from Madison here. 1t was a great show,
and people could talk about nothing else.
Why did come Quito so unsettled sectionP
Well, believed this was to be rich coun-
try. But then there was something more
than what we expected to make for our
selves that caused the earlier settlers to
move West from the older States. think
Providence must have put it into our heads
to come; He wanted the fertile West opened
up for the habitation of men, and sent lot
of Us forward as His advance agents,
maybe"
"Oh, yes, it does me good to reflect upon
the difference between then and now. 1 en-
Joy thinking that lent q pioneer hand in
opening up Indiana to settlement. All
those who were near and dear to me in those
earlier days are gone. The wife who was
such a helpmeet and comfort to me- then
God bless heri went to rest thirty years ago.
and OF our six children but one is now liy.
ing. But then 1 have grandchildren and
Observation-Disclosures and l live smeng them
now with one family and now with an
other. 1 came up to spend this Christmas
with these little ones and their parents.
81 seem cheerful Why should I not be
so2 A young fellow like me-" and here his
eyes twinkled down upon the group about
his knees, with 30 many Jolly pIayfellows
should be cheerful. None of Cs have the
| right to look sour and talk complainingly to
those about Us.
"You must go? Well, goodbye; merry.
merry Christmas to you, and more OF
them than even 1 have enjoyed"
'That old gentleman is positively OBJ
stinste," says Mac, when We are on the
| street. zone at his time of life should be
thinking of something else beside fun
making with children. He ought to have
rheumatism or something of the sort. He
is entirely too undignifed for q man OF
eighty"
Ten minutes trudging through the snow
| women's voices are heard mingling with
mems. 'Shall we go imp" ''Certaiuly-our
rsmble shall include variety OF scenes"
| About tables in the rear of the
place four young women and a like
| number of men are drinking though sll are
already boisterous from drink. Two OF
them might be called comedy bat for the dis.
| sipstion distorting their features. With the
| tipping off a toast they join in baccausl
| song. A besotted wretch makes a coarse re-
mark concerning them, upon which We start
| for the door. 'There are possibly four
homes," Mac comments as We walk, dark
ened tonight by thoughts of those hspless
creatures; four mothers grief-stricken over
| their fall"
| Gentlemen" addresses a thinly clad
boy on the corner, 'can you help
me to g little money to get supper
and bedr Without q word of ques-
tioning Mac drops silver piece In
| bis hand, not even slackening his pace.
81 make it q rule" he says, ito never ask
| beggars question. II they are deserving 1t