Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-12-26
Mr.. Chirrup'S Christmas.

Mr.. Chirrup was glum. Any one
else, any one with less amlable dis
position, that Is, would have been
'cross' under the same prOvocation.
But Mr.. Chirrup was never cross
and he was seldom 'glum.'
However, when it comes to the
day before Christmas and yOu have
no money to buy your wife a Christ
mas gift, or anything to put in the
childrens stockings, aOd no pros
pective turkey, or mincepie aud
plum-pudding for your Christmas
dinner, you are excusable for be-
Ing glum.
So, at least, thought Mr.. Chirrup
as he sat looking out the window
of Lawyer Ledgerly's office, where
he was employed at by-no-means
extravagant salary. Lawyer Led
cerley was ill-'toO i'll to be seen
| his mother-in-law said. SO there
was no hope of anticipating bis
next quarters salary, as he had
sometimes done on similar pressing 3
occasions.
For Mr.. Chirrup's salary was so
small and his family so large, it
was not much wonder there was
usually some difficulty in making
the salary stretch from one quarter
end to another.
All these things Mr.. Chirrup
pondered as,he sat looking out of
the window in Lawyers Ledgerly's
Office, which was on Fifth street,
Just opposite Union Market. And
our herO-if little Mr.. Chirrup can
be called anybOdy's heTo--grew
GUNNER than ever, and beat the
Devils tattoo ON the windOw-Sll,
as glum people generally do. For
the sight Of tine market stalls
crowded with Christmas luxuries,
was not exactly calculated to cheer
up mau iu Mr.. Chirrup's circum-
stances.
lie was still gazing mOOdily at
the well-1lled market stalls, at the
crowds of people, jostlsng and
elbowing each other, when he sud
denly started and peered sharply
from under his eyebrows, as if he
had seen some one lie knew.
That short, sleeklooking gentle
man, in the nobby hat and over
coat, with huge market basket in
one hand, and a gold.headed can'
in the other. Surely that was Mr.
Chirrop's elder brother, Roths
child.
As he made the discovery, Mr.
Chirrup-Mr. Rothschild Chirrul
that is-was evidently pricing
, turkey. a monster turkey it wal
too, the biggest that Mr.. Chirrul
either of the Mi. Chirrup's-ha'
seen in the market. And tn
would be purchaser held up
punched it, turned it around AM
, held itup aggin for all the worl'
as if he we're exhibiting it for th
benefit of his brother, lookln
grumly down from the window OF
l. posite.
But in reality he was decidin
= only in his own mind that this wa
really the biggest, the plumpes'
the tenderest and most temptin
. looking fowl he had seen yet, an
therefore he would take it. An
plump it went, forthwith into Nj
Rothschid Chirrup's huge marke
basket, which seemed yawning
receive it.
% Mr.. Chirrup-Our Mr.. Chirru
this time, came as near sneerln
as he ever did in his life, when til
turkey disappeared in his brother
basket. For a bitter estrangenler
had existed between the two brotl
ers from time immemorial-'
y thereabOuts.
! mo doubt be can buy turkeys
thought Mr.. Chirrup-Caleb hi
o. name was. NO doubt he can bu
turkeys, and celery too For
big bunch of celery, large enouG
for a winter bouquet, had follow'
S the mammoth turkey to its hidin
place.
sAnd if there's one thing L Ill
2, better than another, it s celer,
thought Mr.. Caleb Chirrup, tryil
a. very hard to look Grabbed and
vengeful, but not succeeding vel
well. However, he did manage
- look quite savage and resentful
him, which is saying a good dea
Mr.. Rothschild, in the meantin
pursued the even, though pompo
tenor of his way thrOdgh the cro'
r, which jOstled him on every sic
Now and then he stopped at t
best. filed stalls, and added rela
osr of vegetables and other articles
the contents of his rOomy basket
." Buuches Of ripe bananas, dozC
of golden-rined oranges aud le