The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-12-23
Selerf Story.
A MERRY CHRISTMAS.
Br T. 9 ARTHUR.

II don't tnlnK IL ~ all worm Wntle,
said Mrs. Lamberton. "It's a erea
waste of money and, besides, does then
no real good"
"Very true," remarked Mr.. Lumber.
ton; ethoussnds OF dollars are spent Al
Christmas for one lrumpery thing ant
another that might be far more useful!
employed never liked the sys'en =
II does children, as you say, no good.
How much did ne spend on last
Christmas for drum, horses and dogs
and the dear knows what all Z"
"Oh, don't ask me! More than II
like to count up And il was all shee
waste. Ii tue monev b, d been given tc
the poor there would have been som,
satisfaction in thinking about it. Bu
now there is none."
well, I'm not 10 favor OF spending
single cent for toys and such lik'
things"
"Give them all sixpence apiece ant
they'll be happy enough" said th'
father, sand then we'll have no crying
over broken dolls heads, crippled wag
ons or legless' horses "
"Hsrry will be dreadfully disappoint
ed I'm afraid" remarked the mother
already half relenting. "He has don,
little else all day but talk about wha
Klss Kringle will put in his stocking TO
night. And Anna will cry her eyes on
lif she doesn't get new doll"
Uncle Joseph and Aunt Rachel were
silent auditors OF ibis little conversation
Just then the lights we're brought into
,he room and Anna, Harry and Charley
came bounding in with them. as wild
aud playful as young fawns. They bad
been looking forward to Christmas for
cant tell how long, and now that it wa,
only one day off they could hardly con
tain themselves Their young imagina
tions ieemed with images OF things II
store for them by the good Kriss Krin
gle, in regard to whose identity ther'
was division among the younger mem
bers Of the house. Anna, who wa,
eight years old, and, therefore, entitled
by her age to have her opinions consid
cred OF weight, positively declared tha
her father was Kriss Kringle; but Har
ry, three years her junior, as p,sitivel'
asserted that the aforesaid Kriss cam,
down the chimney and was, therefore,
very different parsonage from her father
who was too big 10 get in At the top o
out at the bottom. As for the little curly
headed, rosy checked Charley, as mis-
chievous rogue as ever lived to low
srgar plums, he didn't trouble his hes'
at all about the matter HIS whole tbeor'
on the subject lay in his confident expec
tation OF inding his stockings filed will
toys and candies on Christmas morning
Beyond that he bad no questions to asl
oor doubts for solution.
"Oh, papa, to morrow's Christmas 7
cried Charley, climbing upon his father
knee. ITO morrow's Christmas! AM
won't Kriss Krinele bring ne the mic
things! l want horse and sword AM
a wheelbarrow-and a whole heap Of So
gar plume!
I'm afraid Kriss won't come thi
year," returned Mr.. Lamherton. wishin,
to take the edge of Of Charley's disap
poin'ment.
"Oh, yes, he willf' spoke up Ann
and Harry, qaickly. "And he'll brin,
me-" said the latter, "a gun ard q swor'
and then won't / fight the Mexicans
Bang! boom hang!'
sand he'll bring me the dearest wa.
doll !" SAID Anna. "with curly hair, an,
eyes that open and shut just as II 1t wer
alive. Oh, won't 1t be nice! T.
"Don't he too certain, Anna," saidth
fatber. "Kriss Kringle don't come ev
cry year,"
"Ob, ives, he does! yes, be does
answered two or three little voices 6
once. "He came last Christmas. an
he Christmas before" sdded Ann,
"and he'll be here this year-l know b
will
7 "But, suppose he shouldn't come
suggested Mr. Lamherton, and he lool
} ed verv grave.
There was something so serious
their fathers vnice that the children fe
Z that his words really meant more ths
they had at first believed-and the
. faces became sober also. Just then Il