Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1885-12-24

them on the tree, but it'll be splendid
Boys rasped out Billy Graham, look
at the stovel The red hot's going on up
into the pipe. We must throw in some
more wJod, and see how high we can
make i. climb
IushP said his mother. Miss Hop
kins is saying something in there
Even Mrs. Graham herself did not
know that her husband was under in
structions to keep them singing hard all
the time The hymn be was now on was
long one, and the next stanza of it pour
ed out and drowned whatever talk was
leaking through the curtain.
During all that time there had really
been great deal going for ward upon and
around the platform. The Christmas
tree reached to the very ceiling, and its
branches were ancommonly wide. and
there was perfect extravaganza Of half
candles tied to them everywhere. There
was nothing but half-candles until after
the sleigh bells came jingling around the
house, and Peddy Nudge and Joe Hei+
deloerg were called in to help Miss Hop
kins. Four other boys and three girls
had to be sent out, and neither of them
heard Miss Hopkins say to herself:
'Peddy can keep her mouth shut, and
so can Joe, but not one of the others
could for minute
The people out there in the dark began
to see one another as the candles on the
tree were lighted and the light shons
through the curtain, and Wash Martin
got his ears boxed for going up to peek
through. His mother said that nobody
could blame him, considering what an
awful hustle was going on inside there,
and Deacon Graham struck up old Hun
dred' tremendously. Then everybody
stood up, and at the end of the last line
they beard Peddy Nudge say:
Now, Miss Hopkins, if it doesn't break
down
Ready JoeP' said Miss Hopkins, very
loudly. All ready, Peddy? Now, one,
two, three drop!
'Ah-ah-sh-hp was the first sound
that was heard. 1t came from every
long drawn breath in the whole school
house, and then small boy who was
standing so near the stove that his trou-
sers were scorching, gave sort of hot
dance, and called out, 'BullyP
Wish you merry ChristnasP almost
laughed deep hoarse voice from just in
front of the tree. And Peddy Nudge
stood close by that voice and shouted,
'Hurrah for Santa Clausp
Nobody else could hurrah at ali for
looking at that perfect blaze of woAder.
All the candles were well a-burning
when the curtain fell. and they had q
sort of miracle to shine upon.
Everything old Crump had, sure as
you liver said Wash Martin.
All was there, sure enough. with some
other things that had never been inside
of Mr.. Crump's store. There were three
big frosted cakes on the table at one side
of the tree. The tree itself was hung all
over with little white parcels, and little
colored parcels, and toys. and skates, and
there were sleds and other things scatr
tered around it. 1t was just the craziest
thing to look at that had ever Seen seen
along the North folk.
Right in front of the tree stood little
fat mountain of wolf skins, with fur
cap and long white beard, and the deep
hoarse voice came out through the beard:
Children, step up as your names are
called, and if anybody isn't called for,
let him say so. Now, Peddy, read the
list
'Jerusha Langworthy,' began Peddy.
And Jsrusha came up all Of tremble,
to GO back with her hands full. Peddy
read another name, and another, as fast
as the furry man nudged her; and first
it was a girl. and then it was boy. by
turns. They all came forward on tiptoe.
and with very red faces. Some Of them
tried to say. Thank you, sir, and said it
huskily. and some could not get it out at
all. The furry man said something or
other, very chirpily, to each as they CAME:
All done? be shouted at last. Now,
Miss Hopkins, the Christmas CAROL
Never before had the children Of the
North Fork sung as they sang that carol.
The furry man beat time to it with his
hands and feet as he stepped slowly back
till he WAS very nearly behind the tree.
On went the singing, and now his left
hand touched the latch Of the door. just
as it died away he lifted his right hand
very high, and said: Children, don't any
of you ever forget tit is written, AND
THEY BROUGHT HIM GIFTS
The door be was touching flew open,
and before anybody knew what to say or
do there was sudden jingle of sleigh
bells and q sound of rapidly trotting
hoefs, and Peddys Santa Claus had dis
appeared. There was 8 great time after
that, and the cake was all eaten up; but
Miss Hopkins knew nothing, and Mr..
Crump knew nothing. and Peddy Nudge
said he told her that he came from the
East, and she thought he must be one of
the Wise Men. Perhaps, he was, for as
he drove away he remarked TO himself:
It's worth while to 6e rich now and
then, but L never before got quite so
much for little money. Hurrah for
Christmasr-B William o. Stoddard, in
Harper's Young People.
S%~%S
EFFICIENT Democrats who have sue
ceeded the offensive partisan in office
are most enthusiastic on the subject Of