The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-12-25

back in big, skeleton letters of chalk,
$1.50; and to his Imagination they
seemed to grin at him mocklngly.
The price was unchangeable; MIR. Sharpe,
the storekeeper, had assured him that;
and Tommy had only fifty cents. a
dollar more was needed. Tommy had
worked the sum out upon his slate a
hundred times, and the result was in
variably the same--one dollar, one
dollar! It seemed a vast, unattainable
fortune to Tommy Dodd just now.
1t was Christmas Eve, and Tommy's
mother was putting little Laura to bed.
The sun had set two hours ago in an ON
inous, gloomy sky of angry gray, that
boded astorm; and even now few flakes
fickered silently down, but speaking
quite tale to Tommy Dodd, who watched
them and the sky very closely.
''Do you think Sanity Claus will bring
the sled, Tommy" said Laura from her
cot. "You said he would, you know,
and mamma says he won't come this
year." And the little girl sighed anx-
iously.
sHe'll come all right, sissy, never fear, :"
returned Tommy quite confidently, though
he wondered at his own temerity. But
when Laura, satisfied, went to sleep his
mother said:
81 wish you wouldn't put foolish ideas
and hopes into your sisters head, Tom.
You know your father has only money
enough to buy food he's gone to town
for. And then Laura will be unhappy
all day."
Tommy said nothing; but little later,
under pretext of meeting his father in
the lane, he left the cottage, and five
minutes afterward he was tramping on
the high road to the town, three miles
off, with his treasured half-dollar deep
and safe in his trousers pocket.
II don't see why can't strike job or
two, like Billy Rance did last Christmas, !"
mused Tommy, as he neared the town.
."At any rate, I'm goin' to try"
He passed Skinnum's, the grocers
with its windows brilliantly lighted, dis
playing wreathcs of evergreens, with red
berries peeping brightly here and there,
and he stopped for moment to gaze at
the wealth of raisins and peel and oranges,
and a hundred other delicious things.
Looking into the shop ne saw his father,
q bent, tired looking man, at the counter
making his scant purchases.
'sIt won't do for him t. see me-" said
Tommy to himself, as he slid off into the
darkness, "cos. if he does, it'll mean car
ryin' home them parcels, an then t Ill
be up with the sled"
Presently he came opposite to Soakey's,
the saloonists. There was jovial crowd
inside the gorgeously lighted place, with
the hundred and more glasses and bottles
scintillating and sparkling in perfectly
bewildering manner. Bursts of merry
laughter came every moment to the ILL
clad little boy as he stood irresolute and
pondering outside.
~ don't see why it wouldn't work."
soliloquized young Tommy Dodd, as he
withdrew his face from the big window.
"Soakey hain't got boy just now, an
he's sure to have lots of parcels to deliver
on Christmas Evc," And he walked
slowly but determinedly toward the door.
Just then the latter opened, and
young, rosy-faced man stepped out to
the road to quiet pair of fretful spirited
horses that stood by harnessed to light
cutter. 1t was young Robins, the son of
the richest man in the township.
Robins caught sight of Tommy.
"Hello, kid" he said merrily, "what
are you standing out here FORE Come in
side and get warm and set 'em up"
"'Set 'em up" echoed Tommy mentally,
as he followed young Robins up to the
bar, ''that means stand treat.''-
"He's young man with bis pocket full
of money, who wants to treat the crowd" "
said Robins, and the crowd all laughed
and cheered Justify.
Selfshness was thing not to kin to
Tommy's nature, but he turned trife
pale. Surely they wouldn't make him
spend his money!
"Come on, fork out, Thomas, cried
Robins. Chow much have you got?
Half dollar, eh9" as the big coin was
solemnly laid upon the counter with
Tommy's small hand still upon it; while
"a. ~~uo,,1 fooo MOO furno6 oppoo1SpnIu