The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1886-12-25

l NSoPAAS 0uNA ucapAuS ia NAOAE Sll6IC way
Hearts will be happy in each loving home
And children's laughter make the whole
earth gay;
For bright December We with JOY prepare
] And ling glad welcomes on the frosty air.
THE BLUE SATIN DOLL.
A 81 500 Prizc Christmas Story by Julian
Magnus.
1t was rather late On Christmas Eve
when l entered Broadway toy store
in search of some OF those long priced
but short>lived articles without which
I should not, on the morrow, have
dared to face my numerous family.
The inventive powers Of toy makers
seem to grow greater each year, and
the almost endless array made choice
embarrassing. Before me on the show
case moved, with much whirrfng aud
clicking, q procession of mechanical
figures set In motion by an indefatiga-
bic but evidently very tired salesman,
| whose face seemed to express Q wlst1
that his machinery could be allowed
to run down for the night. While /
was debating between the merits of q
black bear that snapped and snarled
and clawed at the inofEsnding air In
way calculated to delight any boy aud
frighten any girl of tender years, aud
those OF miniature "Jumb0," whose
slow movements were a ludicrous
| reproduction of those of the deeply.la-
mented original, my attention was
diverted by voice at the doll departs
ment, asking;
"What is the price Of the large doll
in blue satin? ?''
had glanced with rather longing
few moments before but feeling sure
that the possession Of her flaxen lady,
ship would be too costly luxury,
had not inquired the figure at which
she was held. 1 had, however, some
curiosity to know it, and listened for
the reply.
you dressed dolls all the way from
s10."
Something in the unusually abrupt,
almost contemptuous tone of the sales
woman caused me to turn and look to
whom she was speaking. The figure
Of man, twisted and distorted In the
most terrible manner by some accident
or illness, stood, or rather was propped
up, against the counter. Clutches
helped to hold him, but even so sup-
ported his head and neck could only
have been visible 10 the salesWoman,
His clothes were shiny and almost
threadbare, and were evidently rap
idly reaching the stage where genteel
poverty loses itself in rags. His face
was turned from me, but I recognized
the man as one who had frequently
come into my Office selling pens and
pencils. l had from time to time
made small purchases OF him, and had
been impressed with the fact that he
always refused any offers Of charity,
though welcoming eagerly the chaace
to dispose OF his small wares. The
extreme incongruity between his ap.
parent position and the blue satin doll
was as striking to me as it had evident.
ly been to the girl behind the counter,
and l waited with some anxiety to see
what, if anything, he would buy.
81 do not want cheap DOLL" he said,
without trace of resentment, "but
$50 is more than can pay. Can you
not make some reduction ?'
81 will ask the manager" answer
| ed the girl; and she passed across the
store in search OF him.
By this time, had become so much
interested, that 1 hastily decided be-
tween the bear and elephant, and sti,
fling feeling Of delicacy which for
| moment or two made me hesitate, l
| walked to the doll counter, ostensibIy
| to look at its contents, but really to see
the end OF this strange negotiation.
The man, somewhat to my surprise
and chagrin, recognized me, as he
moved with difficulty little to one
side to give me more room.
| "Good evening, Mr.. Roberts," he
said; "you -~ara buying Christmas
presents, see."
| eyes. l have several little claimants
who will not be ignored. And you,
are you buying a doll ?" 1 felt that
was unwarrantabIy seeking TO intrude
myself into his affairs, but could not
resist the temptation.
"I am trying to, sir, This one; but
they ask more money than pve got"
81 was about to make some remark,
which hoped would draw something
more from him, when the safeswo-
man returned.
'.Our manager says that as it is get
ting so late, he will make the price
S25. That is very cheap. 1t is the
handsomest doll in the store"
81 know il is" observed my singular
acquaintance, "that is why I wanted