Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-12-24

every newspaper Office in the land), when
Mr.. Sackett, the somewhat intellectual
looking sporting editor, cooked his feet
on the desk in front OF MIN, squirting
through his eye glasses 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've
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-
orating?'
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 a homogeneous
mass"
Eyes, I'm not poor tonight, said
Sackett, in slightly self-satisfed tone
of voice. ST guess | could afford to
give a few modest presents, but the
deuce Of it is l 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 he
walked out of the Office, he wended his way
down Ann street to an all-night restaur-
ant, where he leisurely discussed Conape
Lorenzo and bottle Of ale. Then he lit a
fragrant imperial, took a couple Of critical
whiffs, to let the proprietor know that he
knew what a good cigar was, buttoned up
his coat, and started for the Third avenue
l. station.
1t was a singular coincidence that his
cigar should go out directly in front of the
air-shaft that sheltered the disconsolate
Scotty and the sleepy Blinks. Mr.. Sackett
leaned over into the shaft a little to get
out of the wind and lit a 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 d bolt on the side of the shaft. MI.
Sackett's match went out, 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 a
little. bare leg snuggled close up to the
warm wall.
- Poor little devilsr' exclaimed MIR.
Sackett Then his second match went out
It 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 stocking"
Scotty was wide awake. He looked eager
ly 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
was sound asleep; but, alas! it looked even
leaner and emptIer than it did when he
hung it up. 1t was half covered with ice,
too, and there was long iciele hanging
from the end of a shoe-string with which
be had tied up a great hole in the toe
"Well, on are a sissy" said Blin4s.
contemptuouSly, climbing up and throwing
the cold stocking down into Scotty's lap
Scotty said not word. He couldn' have
said word for his life's sake; for he was
biting his quivering lip till it hurt worse
than the pain at Dis heart. He had trouble
getting the string united from his stock
ing, too; for there was flood of tears in
his eyes that almost blinded him.
Hurry lp," said Blinks, roughly.
Scotty managed to pull on the stocking
at last, though; and, 10, as he did so, his
little cold feet showed out of the hole
in the toe-a beautiful new FIVE dollar
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 moment.
81 knowed it, Blinksey-I knowed it,"
said the little boy, with a look of
triumph.
"Scotty," said Blinks, after another
pause, in which he had made sure, by per-
actual entity. and not the creature of
Christmas delirium, chow I'VE s'pose he
knowed we wanted money!"
God must "a told him, Blinksey,"
answered Scotty.-New York Ledger.