Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1885-12-25

THE ROADSIDE WAIF.a

ing up his butter tubs and the rempant
of bis Christians marketing before RE-
turning to his expectant family far of in
the quiet counlry.qa stai "a h,.,au,ts
All day long the great Market house
had been full to OVERLOOKING with an eager,
crowd of people, busy with the buying of
their Christmas cheer; and Johns fat
turkeys, ducks and country, homc made
sausagcs had been SO well patropized that
not one remained to burden his two strong
horses, which had drawn the whole heavy
load into the great city on the afternoon
previous. Many kindly greeting ofthe
season had been given honest John by bis
smiling customers; for st. Nicholas gives
to all who love him u happy face and
light heart in this his own festive season
One thing yet remained to be dcnc, aud
John would have sooner lost his strong
right hand than neglected this pleasant
duty. There must be nice present
bought for the kind wife ut home, and
stop-a happy thought flashed athwart
the good mans mind. He would buy
Margery new bonnet, for times had
bc.n hard this w;nter md ,,,honsb an
had made M montio,' NJ ri JoI,e ,,a,I
know in his bonrt that n woul,, no ,I,o
vorv thing IN nIcaso bertDa Tho,' ,hera
was his little Dolly, who. with her Dyes
as black as sloeborry and bright as stars
kiss him rs bo ant in b;s. wagon w.lI
rolled in n blanket 10 kesn ont t5e colJ
and who ran Down ,Lo waIL 10 oman ,ha
wide oate Kissing her hand 70 him Nil
be was hidden from s;ob, bv ,n,n n
tbe road
"pussv shall bave bcr do,l .sbo has
asked for 90 Alton and = oooJ liz hov
Of suoar nlums too /" be sof,ly nre 1
bimself = loving look Gaming ;nto h;s
mild hrown evcs. 80 caII;na h;s hoy ia 10
finish h;s nrenora,;on. for L;1n saiHI;a5
forth on his GRAND If love- ~ strollsd
alone tho bnsv s,roo,s iooL;nr M ~
store windows viii wondor;na c,r;oo;,y
until n m;lI;ncr's J;snlov cansbt III pouo
and Le hanged IN fropt IL tLe e r;nJnw
Ills b;o burlv franc viii ;,s ,o,cb
overcoat took nm 80 mncb room andlnal
od % ,,,o,I, az, 30 ILL.,, a..
curioos smiling look was cast rnon I'm
Hc stood 90 lone n time trving N ann.
amer his difidence md enter tIe store
that l;,tlo .,roo, oam;n sonr mn ,s;.s
a nasal ,wang. SSav al ,,. ,s;,;ch.
su;ts YER comnIox;ou host , Raw ,he. ana
with iho neaLed TIM old oahhaca 'h.ad
ToIn Tins rndoIv a,ousoJ e :. s"n..
Of his position shook his Fat good.
na,,rodln a, ,Lo saucv u,ch;n '.,d
torod H. store Good hnmor and Lave
held birb carnival in Jobn's beart ,tb;s
blessed Gbristmas.lido and lcGt no room,
FIR unk;nd fccl;nos far anv ono
Tho smilino salosladv, WANDERING NJ
hos odd ono,o,oor d;snlavad so.o.aI e.
nets N .Jobn's astonisbe3, eves sa;r,v bc!
wiIdcr;no him with tbc var1etv ~ sl,ane
oolors feathers and flowers, and the MANI
other varieties that she exhibited 10 him.
At last he sank into chair. saving,
"Well, ma'am, / guess I'll have to leave
it to you | can drive pillow and man.
ago farm, but can't buy swoman's
bonnet" 4a lsl.. 10 S., gsusa J
The woman laughed heartily. and pickg
ing out one Of quiet gray silk, with rredt
rose and gray feather, presented il 10 his
tired gaze, and our good farmer, glad toi |,
be quit of this hurculean task (worse 10 }
him than whole davis hay making. /
clutched the bonnet box. and without |
murmur paid the fashionable price the |
the woman named, only too glad 10 get
off thus easily. ',', nv w og7a I
Next came the toy store. There he I
found less difficulty, and soon picked out.
an immense doll, almost as large rs the
human Dolly, and 10 this was added the
box Of goodies so dear 10 the heart Of all
little ones, tas 81. ~ Il
Now then he was all ready and in
another half hour was rattlihg over the
stones of the city toward the country, al
The horses, as if knowing whittier !
thoy we're bound, laid themselves to their
work right willingly, every now and thct,
playfully turning toward one another and |
holding, as il exchanging their IDEAS on
the many queer sights they had seen in |
the wonderful great city. John turned
up the collar Of his oyorcoat and tucked |
in the blanket closely around him. for
he faced the wind, aud tho. supsats sky
looked angry and lowering. In fact, in
less than half an hour snowAakes began.
30 fall, at first slowly and softly. then |