The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1889-12-27

basement whore the blinds were up and
a maid-scryant conspicnously clearing d
long table Of its dinner perquisitcs and
setting u FOR the next mornings break
fast, 50 that he who ran might Gee;
while tie other half was dark. save for
the flicker OF freight in the window OF
the room in the second story. which
must have been the nursery. from the
number Of little heads crowded up
against the frosty pancs. revealed ever
and anon by the winking light. You
Y see, one was a clearinghouse. and the
/ other was a home.
4 Just as shabby little woman with
her hands full Of small paper parcels
turned in towards the steps OF the board
I ing-house, sleigh came jingling gayly
! up, and q gentleman, tossing aside a
black fur robe. leapcd out with rather
an agile step for 50 portly figure. and
picking his way sprucely across the icy
pavement began to ascend the steps Of
the other. He bore himself somewhat
pompously, and searched in his pocket
for his latch-key with 'monarch-of-all-
l-snrvcy" air, heightened in effect by
the colored coachman who dismounted
and followed behind fairly tottering
under the weight OF pyramid Of boxes
and packages piled high above his shin
ing beaver. But the search for the
latch-key was an empty form and moth
ing more, for the portly gentleman Mad
scarcely planted one well-shod foot upon
the first stone step when the front door
few open. as II its owner had touched a Sc
cret spring. and troop Of children came
frisking out. dancing gingcrly on their
tip toes for fear o. the light tall OF snow,
and shaking their hands up and down
with cold and excitement.
Papa! papa. papa" they screamed
In chorus; and then down they swoopcd
upon him like cavalcade Of Arabs.
each one eager TO capture the prize: and
up his legs thcy swarmcd; and over his
arms they hung and swung: and hand
overland they climbed up his coat-tails:
50 that as he crossed the threshold OF
his home there was very little to be
seen Of the portly gentleman. in spite OF |
his size. and great deal to be seen OF |
his acrobatic progeny. in spite Of theirs. |
The great door closed. and left the |
shabby little woman smiling to herself
as She hurried on. She entered the l
clearinghouse, FASTENED up three
flights Of stairs with her spry. nervous
step, and coming to the attic. where two
small bedrooms had bccn partitioned of |
for the use OF impccunious dodgers.
opened the door OF the front one, and
scurricd In as though she were afraid OF
being caught at IL. Five minutes later
found her Invested OF the shabby bon
net and sacquc. and with the shabby wet
shoes replaced by pair OF shabby dry
ones, busily shipping twigs OF holly
from branch and tying them with bits
81 scarlet ribbon.
I'll put them at their places down in
hat dismal dining-room," said the little
Did maid, among whose oddities was
his one Of talking aloud to herself;
they may be suggestive. At least it's
} wee spark Of Christmas, and may
manage TO fan up quito a blaze before
hight, who knows?r
And she shipped and tied, and Christ
mas ditties went juggling in her head,
md neighborly thoughts made pleasant
ines about her mouth. and her eyes ,
,camed like the eyes OF good mother.
In odd place for ncighborly thoughts,
'ou may say; for each individual in this ,
rouse this collection OF units"--was ,
3 completely sundercd from every other
Individual in IL or out OF IL for that
natter, - II they rose and dressed and
ed themselves and went to bed in (,
ihcrcnt solar systems: always except 4