The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1886-06-13

demonstrate it to me III give you q check
for twenty-five thousand dollars, and
twice as much more rs soon as a patent 10
issued in our joint interests.
SIN one respect this was encouraging,
but it did not help the case that night, and
] was sitting supperless over my model,
and reviewing the situation. Suddenly
my thoughts wandered off from the ma
chine to every day things and from that
back to my cnildhood. All that had
loved then was dead, or gone. Both my
parents and my only sister had died in my
arms, and my only brother, George, be-
tween whom and myself only one years
difference occurred-my sister being much
older-was gone. George and were
deeply attached. We went to the same
school, learned the same profession that
Of engineering; and until George, at the
age of eighteen, drifted away from New
York to seek his fortune, we eltnightIy
beside the same bed and prayed.
"Ah! how it flashed upon mel Prayed
Yeei even this had falien away from me.
and since George went of, eleven years
before, had seldom prayed. had not
heard from him fer eight years, and
believed him dead. His last letter was
dated from New Orleans, and he was just
about to depart for that grave Of the white
man, Panama. to fill position on the
railroad. The thought Of George did net
add to my happiness on this Christmas
eve, and | cried like child, not over my
owa Disappointment and troubles, but
over bis memsry; and, before realized it,
was ON my knees, praying aloud. |
prayed for divine help in my efforts, and
for the happiness OF George II be were
alive, and that | might have the favor
granted me of seeing him again, once
more; and rose from my knees much
comfortcd, but started at beholding before
me, standing at Tue opposite SIDE of the
table, the figure of man whose appear
ance, for few moments, made me speech
less. At last gasped out:
"'Who are you, and what do you want?"
t'I am the spirit Of Christmas, it said,
in pleasant voice, commonly keown as
Santa Claus.
Il looked at the figure in astonishment.
There was nothing about it that accorded
with my ideal Of that personage, as con-
veyed by our artists. he was about thirty,
with long. flowing locks of rich brown
hair, bronze complexion, beard almest
black, and eyes that seemed to leok into
my very soul. His costume was a long,
fac cloak, of some material that seemed
almost phosphorescent; his throat, not
withstandlng the season, without cravat or
collar. thought him handsome, and q
great improvement on the Santa Claus of
my Imagination, and, perhaps, showed It
in my looks.
"'Yes,' he said, 4 see that do not
agree with your established idea Of Santa
Claus, but cannot help it If people mis-
represent me in my looks as they do In my
actions. am not alone the patron saint
, of children, but of all good people. / am
on my rounds, and heard your prayer. /
liked it. and fingered q moment. What
could do for your
This was said in business tone of
voice, and yet thought could detect a
slight tremble in 1t, as well as a certain
10, in the eye that seemed to betoken a
tear. 1t was no time Tor trlhing, though,
and said:
&c Well. ii you are a spirit you can tell
me all things past, present and to come. |
wish, Therefore, that you would tell me
something about my brother George. Is
he living?'
- He is alive and well, and will be with
you in few days. He is on his way from
foreign land, but he returns TO his home
Z. Thank Godl Thank Godp I said.
No matter how poor, go that he returns
in life. He shall share with me.
You don't seem to have much to
share just now, said the spirit, griinly. /
am distributing gifts Tonight to all ages
and conditions Have you no request TO
make for yourself; no gift that can be-
stow
N-o-ol' ! stammered, and then
thought of the ring had seen in the store
window that day, and of my desire to pre-
sent it to Beatrice, telling who she was
and the story Of my love in few words.
80 1t shall reach her tomorrow, said
Santa Claus, without fail What is that
you have before you?
II was always glad to talk to any man
who would lislen to me about what I was
doing, and found patient and intelli-
gent listener in Santa Claus. He asked
me several puzzling questions thai showed
me at once that he thoroughly understood
the subject, aud at last he said:
My dear friend, it seems TO me that
you are wrong in this matter from the
very beginning, and having got into the
wrong nut, the only thing for you TO do Is
to retrace your steps, and begin again.
Now, if l were trying TO achieve this
thing. ! would do it in this way e
And he took up my model, and in 4
few words showed me my great mistake
and how | could rectify it. The whole
thing broke upon me at once My thought
was born, full-fedged, in my brain. At
first was specifies ald could only stare.
Then found tongue and rolled out vol
umes OF half-incoherent eulogy. My visi-
tor smiled, one Of the sweetest smiles /
ever saw on human face, but you know it
was not human face. Twas crazed with
JOY. fairly danced about the room. MY
future was made, the problem elucidated,
and | made rush for my spirit visitor, to
embrace him; but. in my haste. struck
the table on which stood my model aud
the lamp. Santa Claus caught at it and
prevented it from going over Int he did