The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-26
faster and faster he added with his tail back

of his legs. and with all of the other six turned
into hands and arms furiously ratified some
Fast as the solemn mouse fddled, faster Jet rat
tied the spiders castanets, keeping time with q
clackety clack, clack cack, that led the pace for
everything else in the room.
Faster and faster waxed the fun. The brawny
truckman, with Mrs Policeman In his arms,
whirled round and round till you couldn't tell
which was which. Mr. Policeman and Mrs.
TruckmaI were at it just as furiousy Fat Din
ME and lean Teddy, on the footrail, stood up and
bent themselves nearly double trying to dance a
jig fast enough TO keep up with the music. Even
the table, when it got tired of having every body
humping into it and climbing over it, caught the
infection, too and fitting up on end, locked legs
with the lame chair and went to Waiting and
whirlng about as merrily as the rest. while the
three-legged stool seized the cat that wasn't
dancing with the stray dog and danced as madly
as the rest.
Only the solemn mouse, perched on the cheese
on the shelf, his head nearly to the ceiling never
smiled nor moved as he fiddled away with his tail
faster and faster, until presently nothing could
be seen but gray simmer where his arm was
going back and forth.
Jennie was dmly grateful for this. She was
becoming tired of the furious movement every
where, although herself with the something in
her head was going it as madly as the rest and
with each beat her heart was quivering more and
more.
She was more grateful! when other things in
the room began to grow more indistinct, too.
The spiders arms moved quickly presently
that they were only misty and indistinct some
things. The big policeman became only blue
patch, he whirled at such terrible rate.
AS faster yet iddled the solemn mouse, dim
mer and DINNER grew the figures in the mad
orgy. Slowly they blended into one indistinct
mass. until only Teddy and Dinnie were left,
dancing their jig the footrall. Presently
they, too, faded into the general vagueness, and
there was nothing in the room but sort of
antNs ~.
around so fast that they couldn't be seen-ex-
cept the tall mouse, with his solemn face and
his tall that was fiddling away the fiddle that
had come out of his ribs Jennies head grew
quieter from the same cause, that it was going
SO fast that she couldn't feel it. It was like rest
to her after the wild merriment she had been
seeing.
She lay still and gazed vaguely into two
fiery spots that showed whore the eyes of the
spider were in the center of the body that was
going so fast that it was only speck of dark
brown in the mist that filled the room. They
were very bright, those eyes. and they seemed
to come nearer and nearer and grow more and
moro distinct, until they were right over her AT
the same time the misty cloud which was all
that was left of Teddie and Dinnie the big DO
licemar the little stool and all the rest seemed
to gather itself together into a shape that the
two bright spots presently became the eyes of.
and the gray solemn mouse the body of, and. al
most before Jennie knew it, there was dim
figure IN human shape gazing at her with eyes
of infinite tenderness and good humor. Findn &
tongue for the first time as the figure grew
more and more distinct, she asked: WHO are
you?"
The mysterious newcomer laughed a merry.
rich laugh, and Dlayfully patted the girls sunk
en- cheek. She had never before felt so soft a
hand nor so tender a touch.
Haven't you seen who amir he asked. and
then, as she did not understand, he laughed
again and said, Il am them all"
Still she did not know what he meant, and he
continued
Il am the combination of all that you have
seen here. They call me Christmas Past.
am the spirit of all the good
that is done on Christmas day. Few
have ever seen me. because few are worthy to
see me- For who gives gifts out of abundance
or TO those who need not, or to those whom he
owes, or that he may gain other gifts or that
man may call him generous there is no Christ
mas Past For to who remembers such gver
when the years have Gone-except himself, in
deeda Christmas Past can live only in one at
mosphere-that of sincere gratitnde-and no
such atmosphere surrounds the selfish giver as
the Christmas days come and go.
The strange being had become oratorical as he
proceeded, hut. remembering himself, he as.
sumed once more the jolly, gentle air. and bend
ing over Jennie smiled smile, as he continued.
that seemed a sort of warmth and food together
But when he said, there is one who gives
what she need for herself; gives from her little
all; gives to the poor, the sick and the outcast;
gives where no gifts can ever come bnck. 20 her
come on every Christmas day the blessings of
the poor and the stricken. From the soul of
every one she has befriended in his need comes
a grateful thought to aid her to keep Christmas
right merrily. az it should be kept.
Though he did not say it, there was that in
the look of the jovia chap that said that all he
WAS saying meant JennIe herself Feebly she
protested, But why do you come to me; have
never done anything greatY
Kinder and kinder grew the great, soft eyes
of the strange being. The look soothed the
whirling feeling in her head, and for the quaver-
ing of her heart came a gentle tugeng as though
the eyes of Christmas Past were drawing some
thing from within her out and away.
You have never let a Christmas pass without
making some one happy" said the spirit, for
that it was spirit Jennie was now fully as-
sured. AS she looked, no began to spread out in =
to mist again all around, and his form grew
DINNER, except his eyes, which kept lookin 2
into hers with the same soft. comforting gaze.
"Out of your nothing you have given much.
The ragged, the dirty, the wretched, the sick and
the suffering have remembered you each Christ
mas with thoughts of gratitude, the only reward
they bad for the good you had done. In the at
mosDIlere of those thoughts have come"
TTe outlines of the spirits form grew more and
m/re vague; a strange peace fell upon Jennie's
NrobbiDg head the soft glowing eyes looked
deeper and deeper into hers her hear beat slow
or and slower; food of mellow light, strong
though gentle. came Juggling at her her heart;
Il have come, repeated voice that seemed to
be melting away, "to give you your reward.
Her eyes dimmed 'To give you your reward -
repeated the voice more family, more gently
STILL. A strange dizziness was in her ears: the
strong soft eyes drew slowly away from hers; a
smile came upon her lips; the voice again
| Come" Her head raised little from the pill
| low and then fell back.
A famished mouse upon the shelf lay dead be
side bit OF cheese-rind.
Caught by one leg in cobweb in the window,
lfel ess spider swung against the pane with
each breath of air.
Outside the tense air throbbed with the sound
of midnight bells, ringing in another Christmas
day. ERNEST o. CHAMBERLAIN.
Violafs