The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1889-01-10

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'Ior, sonny! haves it in, in bundles,
but you've the right heart, and the Lord
loves a willing spirit" then with her
wrinkled face aglow with kindIiness the
worthy soul hastened on her way.
"Here's luck!' calculated Bob, land
I'm b'lievin' what Johnnie's mother
said, and Bob repeated slowly.
"The Lord cares for the orphan" ad-
ding emphatically, ''and Pm blessed ifI
amt an out-an'- outer; fur a feler
couldn't be orphaner than a feller wot
never had no father an mother, take
it."
Here, with whoop, Bob darted across
the street. A barrel of molasses had
been stove in, and a swarm of young
stcrs were scCoping 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 squealer if we amt in fur a
regular jollification."
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, Joh2nie! Wake up" shouted
Bob. at which d little fellow, with the
| borp;oc+ of I,I,o ovoa o,J +bo cupr;o,+ ~ 6
curls, poked his head from out of the
straw in the crate, with:
'Tse here, Bob. Does US have break
fast2"
"You bet," replied Bob, displaying
the treat, and continuing with: eve
are Going to do things in style this
Christmas. Nibble on that while [ set
the table" and Bob tossed the little
chap a cookie; then, gravely piling sew
eral 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 calculate ed ::
''Pitch in, little 'un, and say grace"
Folding his tiny hands, Johnnie
lisped, 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 Christmas. Hurrayw
After this rather peculiar grace the
feast proceeded without interruption
until Johnnie propounded
"Whats Sanity Claws! !"
"Oh, he's chap with a jolly, red
face an white beard, wot goes round
Christmas with heaps of toys and SIGH. :"
"Will he come hereI" cried JOHNNIE,
his eyes opening wide.
''No, l don't b'lieve as how he'll visit
our establishment. | only hear tell of
him going to the nobs, as can buy plenty
for themselves" answered Bob, grin
ming.
"P'haps-oh, Bob!-p'haps Mrs Sanity
Claws 'ull come to us poor folksl" inter
rogated Johnnie, wistfully.
Mrs. Sanity Claws? never exactly
heard of sich, but l hear say there's wo-
man at the bottom of everythin'; so l
guess there's nice, jolly old lady Sanity
Claws" replied FBob, assuringly, as he
noted Johnnie's anxious little face.
''Where's Sanity Claws ive?" was
Johnnies next query.
ooh, in swell house." and Bob,
coolly drawing upon his imagination,
added, mo end of tip-top furniture, al
gold and heaps of pictures and blazing
fires"
oh" uttered Johnnie, with wistful
sigh, and 'it 'ud be nice there, wouldn't
it9" Then, nesting closer to his com
panion, he added: but it's nice here
too in this warm straw, an like being
with you, Bob, 1 does"
A burst of joyous bells t1oated toward
them on the crisp morning air. A melo
dy of welcome to Gods house of prayer
"Johnnie," called out Bob, ''how'c
yer like to 60 to church"'
"What's there's" questioned the little
fellow.
"Oh, they ses prayers, an plays the
origin, an sings, an folks as wants te
take snooze.'
lis it warm?" anxiously asked John
ME, cuddlIng into the straw.
"Warm2 You bet! AM sofys as sof
as-as mud"
'TI gol' cried Johnnie, crawling ou
of his nest.
Such a quaint little figure as he looked