The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1891-12-25


damned their heels into the trodden
snow, but made their way rapidly, never
theless.
Around the corner, into the avenue, in
and out among the throngs of Christmas
eve pedestrians, lodging Acre and there,
stepping on toes, stopping in front of
show windows, kicking themselves to-
gether and stamping on the ground
thus went the old boots, and after them
followed the excited lawyer.
They turned into big store. "Now,"
thought Lawyer Flint, as he entered
the door. ''some one will be sure to see
them," but strange to say, the boots
were entirely unnoticed by the buzzing,
laughing, happy people who thronged
the store.
The lawyer leaned against the toy
counter and watched the boots as they
shufded around on the floor.
Something for the little ones:'
The question was asked by pretty
salesgirl. and it was addressed to Har-
ders Flint. He started, and for the
first time realized that he was in a
rather peculiar position. Why was he
standing around there, the people would
ask, if he did not wish to buy? How
long would he be obliged to remain? He
couldn't tell. Should he say that he
was waiting for those old boots? No,
no; he didn't wish on any account to
call attention to the ridiculous perform
ahce they were going through.
eyes," he said, coloring, something
for the little ones;" and then he went
about selecting tin horns, and silver
bells, and woolly dogs, and wooden
monkeys, and trumpets, and checkers,
and dominoes, growing white and red
by turns as he thought of the fearful
extravaganza, and, glancing furtively,
with increasing impotence and anger,
at the boots, which seemed ivelier than
ever as his purchases increased.
'Seven dollars and forty cents, please"
said the salesgirl.
Into the silver ball went a good ten
dollar bill! click, click, it shot upward
and slid across the cashiers desk, while
the lawyer groaned and waited for his
change.
Rattle te-tat-te, rattle-te-tat-te, rattle
te-tat-te, rat-ta-tatl went the old boots
close by his side. Several people looked
at him with smiles Of amusement.
"Happy time, isn't it," said jolly little
fat man, glancing at the lawyers big
bundle. II feel like dancing myself"
Change, sir; thank you. Merry
Christmasr
The exasperated lawyer grasped his
bundle and hurried after the boots,
which now seemed anxious to get away
from the store When he struck the cold
air and again drew his coat around him
he seemed somehow to feel less annoy
ance. The excitement of the chase had
warmed his blood. 1t was a curious
feeling that began now TO steal over him,
the like of which he had never expert
creed before, or at least not for many
years, he sail to himself, as he stopped
before candy store and followed the
boots inside.
Candy for Christmas" He smiled
almost to think that he. Harders Flint,
should hear such question addressed to
himself, and more astounding yet was
the fact that he did want to buy some
candy for Christmas, and that he really
stood there. pocketbook in hand, wait
ing for it.
Rattle te- tat, te-tat-te- tat!
A smile broke over the salesgirls face
as she handed him the package Of candy,
and away went the lawyer, after tho
boots, which seemed determined to give
him a lively chase before the evening
was over. Again he was IL the biting
air, but the warm blood coursed through
every vein in his body as lie hurried
along. Again and again they stopped,
until the lawyers purse was nearly
empty and his arms more than full. The
old boots seemed fairly wild with de-
light, and Lawyer Flint could not, 10
save his life, help laughing at them as
they skipped and slipped and danced
along the sidewalk.
Away they led him, out of the avenue,
down the dark side streets. until he
heard the sound Of children singing. In
this direction the old boots fastened and
stopped before the mouse from whence
the singing came. Up the steps they
went; the door opened, and somehow
the lawyer, too much fustered and con-
fused to know how it was exactly, found
himself in Il room filled with children,
and a lovely lady was saying to him:
"Ah! you're in time, sir. Thank you so
much. We haven't distributed the pres
ents yet. You will make a good many
little hearts glad tonight, sir" Ana all
around him was warmth and light and
music and Gathering of happy tongues,
and altogether such a joyous atmosphere
as he would not have believed could pos
sibly exist anywhere.
Good night! Merry Christmas!' The
sound rang in his ears as he followed
the lively old boots out of the door and
back through the dark streets into the
avenue.
81 wonder where they'll take me
now:' he said, chuckling and laughing
softly. 'sGad!" he continued, Il had
more than forty dollars in that pocket
book, and there isn't enough left to
hello! there they go into cigar store.
HIM, cigars are too great luxury for
Harders Flint; not tonight, though" he
laughed. I'll smoke tonight" and he
came out of the store a moment later
with box of choice cigars in his hand.
And then the old boots led him back
at moderate pace to his bachelors
quarters. He whistled softly as he re-
moved his coat and got into his dressing
gown and slippers; then he lit cigar,
threw himself into the big chair before
the fire and sat contentedly putting the
fragrant smoke and watching it curl up
ward toward the ceiling, and he laughed
when from the closet he heard the old
boots dancing again.
Rattle-te, rattle-te, rattle-te-tat, rat
tat-tat-tat- tat-ta -tat-tat-
"They must be tired" thought the
lawyer, as the lively rattle dwindled into
a regular monotonous tapping.
Then he started, sat up straight and
opened his eyes. The tapping did not
come from the closet, but from the hall
door. 1t was Joe, come to replenish the
fro