Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1888-12-20
THE WAITS CHRISTMAS.


Christmas morn! clear, snow decked
with the bluest of skies, and Jack Frost
and old King Sol holding high carni
val.
A jolly dayl foretold the merry laugh
of children as they tripped briskly along
taking in sundry peeps and whiffs of the
forthcoming feasts. Huge turkeys rob-
bed of all digaity, lying helpless upon
their backs, their lank legs upraised in
protest. Savory looking compounds be-
ing mixed by cooks deft hands, while
fruits, spices, etc, Uttered up the kitch-
en- tables.
Plenty and to spare for Gods poor.
At least so thought one of them, as he
gazed into the kitchen window of hand
some dwelling. Not in these words,
perhaps, but why some should have so
much more than they wanted and 9TH
ers nothing, was riddle to him. A mo-
ment he fingered, and then turned away
with the words:
II don't mind much bout myself, but
I'd like summat for the little 'un."
Rather comical figure did this young
ster cut as his bare feet wended them
selves toward less prosperous part Of
Brooklyn. Yet despite the amplitude of
ragged trousers and dilapidated froek
coat, with its skirts reaching almost to
his ankles, there was something in the
boys straightforward eyes and honest
face that gave evidence that he was de-
serving of better fate than that of a
waif. Clothes, however, never troubled
him. Something to stave off the crav-
irgs of hunger and hole to crawl into
at night, these were the things that
were the cause of thought to this child
of the streets, more especially since he
had taken unto himself charge. Here
tofore he had led happy gO=lucky ex-
istence, OtwiJhstanding the SnubS that
fell plentifully to his share. FOraging
for breakfast was his errand this morn,
but somehow, amid so much good cheer,
there seemed nothing for him till little
old woman, whose garb showed scanti-
ness of means, paused at sight of the
lad, and, opening basket she carried,
said cheerily:
"There sonny, there's couple of buns
and few cookies l made myself, that
I'm taking to the grandchildren. It's
not much, the Lord knows, but ye're
welcome, and a blessed Christmas to We"
And with friendly nod she trotted off.
Recovering from his surprise, the boy
hurried after, exclaiming breathlessly:
'Oh! l say, thank We. My names
Bob, an if yer got any wood to saw Pm
yer man."
"Lor, sonny! Ihaves it in in bundles,
but you've the right heart, and the Lord
loves a willing spirit" then with her
wrinkled face aglow with kindliness the
worthy soul hastened on her way.
Here's luck~ calculated Bob, and
I'm b1ievin' what Johnnie's mother
said" and Bob repeated slowly.
"The Lord cares for the orphan" add
ing emphatically, land I'm blessed If l
amt an out-an'- outer; fur feller
couldn't be orphaner than a feller wot
never had no father an mother, l take
it."
Here, with a whoop, Bob darted across
the street. A barrel of molasse5 had
been stove in, and swarm Of young
sters were scooping up the sticky mess
by every available means. Selling a
broken dish from out an accommodating
ash barrel, Bob secured a share of the
prize, uttering:
I'm a squeeler if we amt in fur a
regular jollifcation."
His dish full, off he started, and after
sundry turns made his way to a vacant
lot, where shielded by pile of bricks,
lay, tilted to one side, a large crate,
partially stuffed with straw.
"Hello, Johnniel Wake upl" shouted
Bob, at which little fellow, with the
bonniest of blue eyes and the sunniest
of curls, poked his head flom out of the
straw in the crate, with:
Use here, Bob. Does us have break
faSt?"
"You bet," replied Bob, displaying
the treat, and continuing with: 1--WE are
going to do things in style this Christ
mas. Nibble on that while l set the
table," and Bob tossed the little chap a
cookie; then, gravely piling several
bricks together, he placed thereon the
broken dish of molaSSes and the old
woman's donation, when, 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 lisp
ed, gravely:
"For what us bout to 'ceive, Lord be
thankful. Amen"
To which bob subjoined:
Here's to'the old lady's good health
Merry Christmasl Hurrah!"
After this rather peculiar grace the
feast proceeded without interruption
until Johnnie propounded:
whats Santa CLAUSE"
"Oh, he's a chap with a jolly, red face
an white beard. wOt goes round Christ
mas with heaps of toys and SIGH"
"Win he come here?" cried Johnnie,
his eyes opening wide.
mo, don't b1ieve as how he'll visit
our establishment. l only hear tell of
him going to the nobs, as can buy plen-
ty for themselves" answered Bob, grin
ming.
"P'haps-oh, Bobl-p'haps Mrs. Sanity