The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1884-12-25
J0E'S TREAT.
How Santa Clause Appeared to
Master Joe and Miss Sis.

II was Christmas Eve and crowds OF
busy buyers and pleasurc-scekcrs
throngcd Avenue A. Among them
might have been seen a boy OF perhaps
ten years and a girl some three years
his Junior, who were evidently bcntupon
a very important errand, II one could
fudge by the number Of times they
paused and consulted, the look OF earn
rstncss deepening in their faces. Good
faces they were, too, II n little solled.
The boys frank and honest, with n
merry twinkle in each dark eye, whilst
Lhc girls blue ones wore an innocent,
wistful expression. She would have
been quite pretty il ii had not been for
The sickly color Of her skin (want Of
proper nourishment) and the matted
locks, which only needed soap and
Yater to render them soft and golden.
"A straw bonnet, II portion OF the brlm
missing, on account Of It's being several
sizes too large, gave the child constant
employment trying TO keep II on, It's
counterpart in the shape OF u hat cov-
cred the curly head OF her companion,
whose pants could have easily held
another boy.
Presently they paused before n large
store with It's window filled with cakes.
Square cakes, rounded cakes, frosted
cakes, cakes with snOw-white towers
and cunning sugar cupids, cakes large
and small, yellow with eggs or black
with fruit. As the children stood gO2-
Ing at the rich display NJ old gentle-
man passed, turned and rctracod his
steps and also took his stand before
The cake window. Ever and anon his
kindly face was lii up by o smile as
Bome remark Of the children's reached
his ears.
At last the important question seemed
decided, for the boy, with a nod and
HE words, "You jess wait here, SIS"
made his way into the store. II was
crowded, so he had to wait his turn,
while the girl pressed her eager little
knce tightly against the window pane,
%Iiptoeing on her small, bare toes In her
excitement,
There was quito q pretty flush on
me child's delicate cheeks when tho
boy r%cappeared with u small parcel In
his hand, and she exclaimed, eagerly;
"Did you get itP'
'You betl' was the answer, followed
by n long.drawn-out "Oht' from the
httle girl MS they made their way along
Lhe avenue, the old gentleman close
behind them. Aftera while they turned
into n side street, and bent their steps
coward q vacant lot, half shut In by n
brick wall and Uttered over with old
packng-cases, bits Of tarpaulin and
refuse.
ais II n nice place where you livep"
questioned the girl, as her companion
piloted her over barrel hoops and old
~crockcry. A saucy look twinkled In
The boys eyes as he answeredi
"Woll, sis, IL a~in'texactly what you'd
call q brown-stono front; It's more,
more on the Oscar Wilde style"
whats thatp" and the little girls
eyes opened to their widest extent.
"That's u kinder style MS Is made up
Of old things as was ohucked away rs
no good to nobody" Then he added;
ssIIero we are; Jess hold on q minute
I'LL | light the chandelier, or you might
knock your head agin the f%rescoing."
A smell Of sulphur, then tho faint
elimmor Of n candle showed the out
hno Of o large packing.case, partially
covered with pieces Of tarpaulin.
Drawing n Of the pieces aside, the
boy babe his companion enter, addingt
"Sit down, sis, I'LL | git the fro u
going; you're company, you know"
0beying orders, sis seated herself on
m upturned butter.tub and gazed In
quiringly around. The paoking-cast
within which she sat stood %lengthwise
n hole In Its side being concealed by .
curtain Of sail cloth, tie other side wal
md part OF front were composed o.
pieces OF tarpaulin, propped up by ole
broom handles and n bent iron sta
pie, At the rear stood a high bricl
wall. Adjoining the packing-caso'
sides were n part OF a circus poster, I
Sunday-school card and q colorcd lith
ograph Of Tony Pastor.
by the time sis had finished her In
rpectlons the fire, which consisted o
charred coal and odds and ends o
wood, was lit. II was built upon thI
ground, under n convenient air-hole
SO the smoke was not so bad rs II nigh
have been. Then sis produced n bun
die that she had Rugged carefully un
dor her arm during the long walk
Enrolling the old apron that wa
wrapped around u, she disclosed :
view o small battered coflce-pot, nbot
mn ounce of collee and q tiny packog
OF brown sugar, observing, with . It'll
womanly gestures
~ know very we'll shat = DO
wouldn't never think OF shat; 40
Begged Mrs. Dixie to gisr me the COLE,
pot. Isn't II nice, JoeP and she WI
n-going to throw II a~ NY aod lgot TN
coffee of u woman as | inipdr her bub
somctimes instead Of Inc peDcy. aud