Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1884-12-27
THE LITTLE MAN In A..BOX.
A Christmas story for the children
ahout an Old Friend Of Theirs.

A Christmas story for the Children
About an Old Friend Of Theirs.
In quiet looking little house, with
pointed roof with red tiles, lived an old
man with a very round, red face. he
wore glasses, and his white hair stood
ont ON either side of his head in two
fuzzy bushes. Between these little
bushes was no hair, only smooth, SHIN
ing pathway leading to little fringe OF
hair in the back.
He had lived SO long in his box on
counter in the great toy shop that the
rest of the world of dolls and animals
came and went without so much as a
"hew-dye.do" or a goodbye to the
queer old gentleman.
He had strange habit of jumping out
at newcomers when they did not expect
10 see him, which would frighten them
at first, but in short time they would
soc get used to it, and every one by
this Christmas had given up minding
him, and the dolls would simply smile
if they noticed him popping suddenly
out of his roof at the children who came
with their mammas to see the Christmas
things.
But if one watched him closely one
could painly see that it was not to sec
and frighten the children that the little
round head popped out this Christmas
He had the air of some one who had a
secret which would not let him keep
still. neither would it let him look to
the right or left, but straight at the long
counter before him.
twill they ever grow larger, and will
the time ever come, or was he only Jok-
ing?" he was whispering to himself
about O'Clock one cold afternoon. u
have been SO many years in this one
place and can scarcely believe that the
time has come when ] am 10 travel and
see the world. They say it is a great
thing to see Macy's windows this Christ
mas. One can see huge elephants anc
camels walking in them. To think tina
Santa Claus should have told me so Ions
before the rest p
The long twilight and evening wor'
away. The great store was left In al
most utter darkness. The poor doll
were tossing restlessly, wondering how
many more nights would find then
half-roughly tucked away before eacl
would find herself in the loving care @
special little mistress. All eyes ar
closed in sleep save those two roun
specialized little ones, that burned an
flashed like two beacon lights from tn
gable roof of the small house.
Il cannot let the roof down tonight
murmured the old gentleman; 81 dal
not close my eyes. Hush-sh-shl VIII
does that scft light mean? Can it be ii
morning?"
No, ii is not the morning little ma
But hold your very breath. Along Il
counter before him stand the same Gig
little reindeer, with the bells he h
80 often counted and the sleigh sc
with fms and rugs. Ovor oil 10 CLOWN
soft light that seems filled with hos
of wee, shining stars that glisten lii
frost-work. Each star seems to OPP
into picture crowded with happy chill
ren's faces. Sometimes they will
gathered about hearth, looking doy
into stockings brimful of presents, VIII
the morning star still looks in at t
window; again, they would be resting
rows upon cots. whose eoverlids Won
be strewn with dolls and bright to.
Then the stars would close and bu
again in one strong, sweet, steady Zig
over the place where the young Chi
lay,n as though that held the very he
gift of all.
Presently the little nan hears Il
restless stamping of small-hoofed fe'
which makes him think of the taps
lead pencils on the counter.
Are you awake and ready?" whispe
well-known voice in our little friend
ear.
30, yes! yesl" breathlesSly he a
swers; ''but there will not be room Fl
allp
"Get in, and I'll see about that" al
swers Santa Claus, as he gathers up tt
reins more firmly in his warm-glove
hands.
sect up here alongside of me-"