The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1886-12-25

SCI OF dishes. 1t was almost ike peep.
ing inio The bundles themselves.
A great toy store store, its window:
decorated in the br'sntes,, Gayest man.
ner a traced the boys a len on aboye
all @ hers, and lingering there he be,
came for the SINE quite oblivious q
pain aad cold.
In one window sto)d a tall Christ
mas tree, with its gilt and silver balls,
its sparkling candles and wealth of toys,
and beside it, clad in The ,ime honored
fur5, his pack fairly bursting open with
its treasures, his blue eyes looking
kindly out from Under shaggy white
eyebrows, a perpetual smile on his
ruddy face-Santa Claus himself. In
the other window charming interior
presented ltself-a richly furnished
apa' iment, glowing fire behind the
polished CRATE, kitten curIed up on a
snow-whte rug before the Haze, a
stocking overaowing 9th danny toys
hanging from the carved mantel and a
glimpse into the hail where a rosy
checked little maid was descending the
softly carpeted stairs, lifting her white
n'!htgown that she might not stumble,
and infect on the pleasant surprise be-
fore her.
Surely, Dave thought, the Christ
Child would come by that store, and he
turned from its temptations to watch
the passers-by.
Children passed him not a few, but
the Child was not among them. He
would have ring of light about his
head, and after the picture the teacher
had shown them Dave was sure he
could not mistake him.
The lads eyes rev tired and his
head wh;rled from watching the ever
mov'lg throng, but he did not s.r till
blue coated officer told him, not un-
kindly, to 'move on"
With a wholesome fear of the law
Dave passed on with the crowd, not
daring for some time to stop 10 look
into the aluring windows till one more
beautiful even than the Christmas WIN
dow, rived his attention. In the centre
Was great pyramid of roses, red and
fire., rant and all around were massed car
na.ions, red and white, dewy violeis,
purple pansies and creamy lies. There
was something Strangely comforting 10
The boys heart in this florists window.
at first he scarcely knew WHY. 1t seemed
to bring the Christ Child nearer 10 him,
and he remembered hat in the picture
the Child hid III his hand lily.
The dark eyes slowed anew with
hope, and he looked so long;psly at
the flowers that lady who was standing
near asked:
"Would you like a flower, my little
man?"
Dave looked up into the kind face
and smiled by way Of answer, but his
friend scanned to understand his silence,
and said, cheerily:
"What shall it be- rose, a pink or
a lily?"
"Oh, ma 'am, lily, please and be-
fore he could fully realize his good for
tune he held tightly in his hand a great
white lily, and the sweet faced lady had
hurried on.
Il will give it to the Christ Child"
thought Dave, and again he began to
watch for boyish figure in flowing
robes with ring, of light about His
head.
Another weary time of unavalling
waiting and Dave Grew so chilled that
he was forced to move on.
From basement restaurant a Whit
of warm air and smell of savory food
came to the half-frozen lad, tempting
him to pause once more, and as several
men descended the steps Dave ventured
to go with them and to enter the warm
and brightly lighted room.
A white-aproned waiter caught sight
Of the forlorn little figure and came for
ward 10 order the boy Old j., but the spirit
OF Christmas seemed 20 be in the very
air, and the man could moi find it in his
heart to turn such a frozen looking atom
OF humanity out into the snow.
Come into the kitchen. my boy,
and III warrant the cooks will give you
something by way Of supper" and
Dave, wondering at the kindness Of the
people, followed the water into a sill
warmer room, where nalG dozen men
IN While paper caps were flying about.
S, Il, 20 his wonder, he Was not told
roughly 20 set obi. and one Of the cooks,
Il jolly, red feed man, who had no
less than six boys OF h,s own at home
gave him a seat in warm corner, and
hastily filing plate with fragment, of
dain,ies such as Dave had never tasted,
handed it to the boy, thinking as he
hurried on about his duties, "Poor little
chap Suppose my Joe was as cold and
hungry as he is
The delicious warmth, the sense of
hunger satisfied, thrilled the triendless
lad with happiness, and he watched
with bright, pleased eyes the def oper-
ATOMS of the mea about him till the
thought flashed uoon HIM that III thus
tarrying he m ght mss the Christ Child.
As he rose TO go he imidly thanked
the man VINO had sven IN the food.
and moment laicr he was on the street
again. so warmed and comforted that
he felt he could watch long 'ime with