Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-12-18

every newspaper Office In the land), when
Mr.. Sackett, TIE somewhat intellectual
looking sporting editor, cooked his feet
On the desk in front of MIN, squirting
through his Eyeglasses in the direction
OF tn telegraph editor, and asked the
latter:
What the deuce are you doing with so
many bundles, Mack?''
Christmas presents for thu children, "
replied the telegraph editor. They We
got to be happy one day in the year,
you know, if their father is a newspaper
man"
at is Christmas, isn't it?" continued
the sporting editor. | haven't given or
received Christmas present In ten years,
| guess. | suppose you think I'm deteri-
oratingY
81 never think any man is deteriorating
/ who can show up as much money as that, "
replied the other, glancing at great pile
of crumpled bills-ones, fves, tens, and
even twenties-that the sporting editor
was smoothing out and piling up in what
| he would have called homogeneous
mass.
Eyes, I'm not poor tonight, said
Sackett, in slightly self-satisfed tone
of voice. 81 guess | could afford to
deuce Of 1t is | haven't any one to give
them to. "
''Get married." said the telegraph
editor, walking out of the room with his
bundles.
Mr.. Sackett was blessed not only with a
happy disposition, but likewise with a
very healthy appetite. So, when be
walked ont of the Office, he wendell his way
down Ann street to an all-night restaur-
ant, where he leisurely discussed Conape
Lorenzo and bottle of ale. Then ne lit a
fragrant imperial, took couple Of critical
whltfs, to let the proprietor know that he
knew what good cigar was, buttoned up
his coat, and started for the Third avenue
l. station.
1t was singular coincidence that his
cigar should go out directly in front of the
air-shaft that sheltered the disconsoIate
Scotty and the sleepy Blinks. Mr.. Sackett
leaned over into the shaft little to get
out of the wind and lit match. As he
raised the match to his cigar his eyes
rested on something that made him pause
and smile. 1t was boys worsted stock
ing hanging empty on the projecting end
of BOLT on the side of the shaft. Mr..
Sackett's match went cut, but he
lit another silently, and, leaning still
further over into the shaft, he saw,
in the faint light that the match gave,
the sleeping forms of two boys at
the bottom-the smaller with his arm
thrown around the others neck and
little, bare leg snuggled close up to the
warm wall.
- - Poor little devils!" exclaimed MIR.
Sackett. Then his second match went out.
1t was several minutes before he lit a third
match but when he did, an observer
might have noticed that is face wore an
unusually self-satisfed expression even for
him. And he did not look half as cynical
and worldly as he usually tried to look, as
he walked on to the station.
~.
1t was very early In the morning when
Blinks shook Scotty and told hin to wake
up.
Where's your stocking?" he asked al
most roughly.
At the sound of the word ''stocl1ing,"
Scctty was wide awake. He looked eager
Iy up. There it was hanging at the top of
the shaft where he had hung it the night
before. after he was certain that Biinks
vas sound asleep; but, alas! it looked even
leaner and emptler than it did when he
hung it up. 1t was half covered with ice,
too, and there was a long iciele hanging
from the end of shoe-string with which
be had tied up a great hole in the toe
"Well, on are a Sissy" said BinEs.
Contemptuously, climbing up aud throwing
rhe cold stocking down into Scotty's lap
Scotty said not word. He couldn't have
said word for his life's sake; for he was
biting his quivering lip till 1t hurt worse
than the pain at bis heart. He had trouble
getting the string united from his stock
ing, too; for there was food of tears In
his eyes that almost blinded him.
Hurry 1p." said Blinks, roughly.
Scotty managed topull on the stocking
at last, though and, TO- as be did SO, his
little cold feet showed out of the hole
In the toe-a beautiful new fve-dolar
bill!
The tears ceased. The Gliding of the
manly Blinks ceased, also. And four of
the most astonished eyes that were ever
seen in the heads of small boys looked at
the wonderful sight.
"Hully Gee!' said Blinks, finally, catch
ing his breath for a moment.
Il knowed it, Blinksey-I knowed it,"
said the little boy, with look of
triumph.
"Scotty," said Blinks, after another
pause, in which he had made sure, by per
sonally examination, that the bill was
actual entity. and not the creature of
Christmas delirium, ''how I've s'pose he
knowed we wanted money!"
God must a told him, Blinksey,"
answered Scotty.-New York Ledger.