Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1891-12-24
CHILDISH PRATTLE.
A Little Story TO" the Christmas Sea-

A
IT was about the middle of the after
noon. The car was full Of suburbanites
returning home laden with purchases
for the holidays.
A lady entered the car, followed by
little girl Both had as many bundles
as they could carry. and when the lady
had been provided with a seat there
was only one other to be had. It was
by the side of large man with close
ly cropped beard. The little girl was
duly installed in that seat, her pack
ages disposed of to her satisfaction,
and as the train started off she began a
conversation with the large man. He
had smiled at her and taken part of
her load on his own lap.
awful hard work buying so many
Christmas things, isn't it?'' she OBJ
served.
Yes. it must be hard work.
''But l like it. I'd most rather buy
Christmas gifts than to go skating, and
I'd rather go skating than do anything
else 'cept eat candy-and go to Sunday
school, she added, pulling down the
corners of her mouth as if with sud-
=
impression of personal giddiness not
warranted by all the facts in the case.
That's my mamma over there that
lady with tie brown hair. It's all her
own hair, too Don't you think my
mammals nice?"
Indeed 1 do"
$50 does papa He takes mamma on
his lap sometimes, just like sire was a
little girl Don't you think she'd be a
pretty big armful?'
"H'm-no; none too big"
''Well, / guess that's what papa
thinks. He's a big man-most as big
as you are. And he's just as strong!
He carries me round on his shoulder.
Sets me up on it, you know. and l hold
on by his head, and 1 amt a bit afraid.
You can't guess what I've got for my
papa in this bundle
"A pound of candy?'
The little girl laughed gleefnlly.
mo. 'spect he's got lot of candy
for me. Guess again"
"A necktie?"
No. 'Tisn't that. Mamma tends
to his neckties, and they're always
nice"
I've no doubt of it. ="
You'd never guess. I'll have to tell
you. It's a mustache cup. It's just
the loveliest one / could fud, and it's
awful pretty. Papa, he's got a great
long black mustache. Wouldn't you
think it would be dreadful unhandy to
kiss nybody with long mustache?"
''Why-'
Well it isn't. You get used to it,
you know. When you want to kiss
any body right bad you amt going to
let 4 mustaehe stop you"
A young lady on the seat immediate
ly in front was seized with violent
fit of coughing that made her face very
red, and she pulled down the blinds to
keep the sun out of her eyes.
Most every body in this car is load
ed down with Christmas things, amt
they?" went en- the little girl. Its
good thing your seat isn't, or I'd had
to stand up. Don't you have any
Christmas at your house,"
Eyes. We always have Christmas
in some shape
MAY be you haven't got any littl-,
foll1s?''
''Oh. yes. I've got little girl about
your size"
us she good little girl?"
Indeed she is"
Doesn't she ever pout?'
Never
We'll. I do sometimes when they
won't give me another piece of cake.
Doesn't she ever so off in some corner
and throw herself down on the lounge
and kick the floor with her toes and
say she's mad and hates every body?'
Never"
Never acts bit cross and naughty?"
'.No-never."
she must be-a dear little girl Don't
you love her Sby much?''s 4
"Yes-Oh. yes.s a.ss-g
Then why haven't you got youi'
arms full of Christmas presents tdfaks
home to her?"
s.She doesn't need them, my dear.
said the gentleman, gently stroklng
the little girls glowing cheek. "She
has gone to live with the angels -
T~,l