Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1885-12-24
"NUqGKT."
A CHISTMAS STORY.

CHISTMAs STORY.
rMT.iss Hanford's little village shop
SSyaa looked unusually festal just be-
fore Christmas, with its strings
of cheap, but brightly painted tin toys.
its gay cards, and wonderful display of
worsted work, to say nothing of the ev-
ergreen bush that adorned the window,
hung with a variety OF tinsel ornaments
that glittered like silver and gold when
ever the sun struck them. To-day,
however, no fiatteriug sunbeam dances
that way, for old Sol has hidden his
race beneath a heavy gray veil and n
thick snow is falling quietly but stead
lily. as though it meant business, and
Miss Hanford's face IS almost as gloom
y as the sky overhead, while she match
es crewels, and selects needles for pref
ty Mrs. Pulsifer, the Doctors wife,
1T will be a white Christmas, after
ALL says that CHEEKY little woman,
while the materials to complete her
husbands slippercase, are being tied
up, (which. they do say, is bad for doc.
tors.'
Yes, "A green Christmas makes a
fat churchyard > and no mistake"
sighs Miss Hanford.
Amy sort of Christmas makes fat
pocketbook for you. suppose" laughs
Mrs. Pulsifer.-'Not this year. The
new shop with plate-glass windows, up
the street, has cut into my trade sadly
but thank the Lord, Tom Tucker and |
don't need much,' and Miss Hanford
patted big black and white cat doing
on one end of the counter. ut is sort
o. lonesome. though, livin' all alone,
specially about Christmas. Some
times get dreadful blue, and down in
the mouth. .''-sNo wonder, poor
thingI" rejoins Mrs. Pulsifer, sympa-
thetically. You ought to haye my
three young rogues you'd never have
time to be dull, then. But, goodbye
I mustn't chatter another minute all
the oddments for the stockings are to
be bought yet
That's it!' exclaimed Miss Hanford,
as the shop-door shut with a slam.
That's jest it I'm an old maid. and
ought to be used to ,ivin' alone, dear
knows butt Christmas seems to stir up
all the sociable feelin's in my nature,
and I'd Almost be willin' to give the
trade them plate-glass windows hey
left me, to hey leetle critter to cuddle
up, and make jnst such "a Christmas
for, as Cy. and I used to hey, when we
were youngsters, in the old red farm
house. Tom Tucker, why amt you a
baby!' to which pussy only responded
by blink Of his green eyes, and purred
harder than ever.
'Tinkle-tink,e = rang the shop-bell,
and two eyes appeared on level with
the counter, surmounted by a shock of
shaggy hair; and a shrill voice piped,
please, Miss Hanford, ma sent me ov-
er for three-cent loaf. and wants to
know if you will trust her few days
longer The little country store was
very mixed 10 its contents, and kept
bread and cake as well as toys and
worsted.
Hey is that you, Patsey Bait Tell
me, Patsey, my child, how's your poor,
sick pa to-day ?
very bad Ma, she's been up with
him all night, and most cried her eyes
OUT
Then you won't hev much of a
Christmas to your house, tomorrow p
No ; ma says, Santa Claus sent word
he couldn't come this year > ard big
sob choked the child's utterance.
Poor little critters!' muttered Miss
Handford, under whose rather stiff ex-
terror beat the kindest heart in the
world. There, you take seed cake ov-
er to your ma, with my compliments,
and as the tiny girl opened her mouth
to express her thanks, she popped in a
sugar plum, and laughed heartily at the
amazed face that nodded goodbye, and
disappeared across the road.
it's mighty curious. how queer
things are arranged in this world = So
Iiloquized Miss Hanford /; Not that ]
want to question the ways of Provi.
dence; but there is Mrs. Bait, with
four youngsters, and not SO much as a
peppermint-drcp to put in their stock.
ings and here am /, with a lot OF
knick- -knicks gettin' stale on my hands
thanks to them plate-glass windows)
and pinin' to make "a Christmas fol
somebody, and not klth nor kin be-
longin' to me, that / know of. for il
brother Cy. had ben in the flesh, he'd
a turned up like a bad penny, long be-