Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1888-12-22

'1'm squealer if we amt in fur 0
regular jo,lification."
His dish full, off he started, and after
sundry turns made his way to a vacant
lot, where shielded by apple of bricks, lay,
tilted to one side, large crate, partially
stuffed with straw.
"Hello, Johnnie! Wake up" shouted
Bob. at which little fellow, with the
bonniest of blue eyes and the sunniest Of
curls, po&ed his head from out of the
straw in the crate, with:
'Tse here, Bob. Does us have break
fast?"
"You bet," replied Bob, displaying
the treat, and continuing with: awe
are going to do things in style this
Christmas. Nibble on that while / set
the table" and Bob tossed the little
chap cookie; then, gravely piling sew
eral bricks together, he placed thereon
the broken dish of molasses and the old
woman's donation, whe1, wedging him
self in beside Johnnie, and tucking the
straw snugly about them, he CALCULATED
''Pitch in, little 'un, and say grace"
Folding his tiny hands, Johnnie
lisped, gravely:
''For what US bout to 'ceive, Lord lie
thankful. Amen"
To which Bob subjoined:
"Here's to the old lady's good health
Merry Christmas! Hurrayv'
After this rather peculiar grace the
feast proceeded without interruption
until Johnnie propounded:
"What's Sanity Claws!"
"Oh, he's chap with jolly, red
face an white beard, wot goes round
Christmas with heaps of toys and sch"
"Will he come here" cried JOHNNIE,
bis eyes opening wide.
"No, don't b'lieve as how he'll visit
our establishment. l only hear tell of
him going to the nobs, as can buy plenty
for themselves" answered Bob, grin
ming.
"Phaps-oh, Bob.-p'haps Mrs. Sanity
Claws 'ull come to us poor folks2" inter-
rogated Johnnie, wistfully.
Mrs. Sanity Claws? l never exactly
heard of SIGH, but hear say there's wo
man at the bottom of everythin'; so
guess there's nice, jolly old lady Sanity
Claws" replied Bob, assuringly. as he
noted Johnnie's anxious little face.
"Where's Sanity Claws live1" was
Johnnie's next query.
"Oh, in a swell house." and Bob,
coolly drawing upon his imagination,
added, mo end of tip,top furniture, all
gold and heaps of pictures and blazing
fires"
och" uttered Johnnie, with wistful
sigh, and cit 'ud be nice there, wouldn't
it" Then, nesting closer to his COM
panion, he added: "But it's nice here,
too, in this warm straw, an l like being
with you, Bob, does"
A burst of Joyous bells fioa ed toward
them on the crisp morning air. A mclo-
dy of welcome to Gods house of prayer.
Johnnie" called out Bob, how'd
yer like to go to church?"
'What's there9" questioned the little
fellow.
ooh, they ses prayers, an plays the
origin, an sings, an folks as wants to
take snooze'
''Is it warm" anxiously asked John
ME, cuddllng into the straw.
"Warm9 You bet An sofys as soft
as-as mud"
'Ill go!' cried Johnnie, crawling out
of his nest.
Such quaint little figure as he looked
all muffled up In an old shawl, the ends
trailing on the ground as he marched
happily off, his hand in Bob's. Shortly
after these two children stood watching
the handsomely dressed throng as it en-
tered fashionable place of worship,
till Bob, with "Now, Johnnie, look
alive, or the cop'll nail u.s." pushed the
child before him into the crowd, and,
sure enough, an alert policeman. spying
Bob, made grab for him, which Bob
deftiy eluded, but meanwhile Johnnie
was carried on toward the baize door
amid swirl of silks and satins.
The little fellow was triae awed at
the church's solemn grandeur; but as
Bob never failed to turn up all right,
Johnnie made for an empty pew and
curled himself up on hassock to await
his friends coming. Presently the Or
gan pealed forth and Johnnie's eyes
grew round W. establishment as the
voices of the Aseen choir mingled with
its wondrous tones. But soon the lit
tie head dropped, and lulled by the
sweet strains and the unusual warmth
and comfort, the child slept. Nor
needed he tia advent Of plump, rosy