Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-20

Dare go oy frencn Gene s; was tnat
trick?"
"The boy is honest, he wouldn't sell ye
twas his fathers doin' That's the safes
way, and home by East Lisbon. Hurry on
hurry onr'
She waved her skeleton arm as he turned
and drove noisefesssy down again to the
travelled road, keeping sharp watch, and
then on until an opening in the treei
showed him a road to the left Into this q
quarter mile, then blanketing his mules,
back on foot to shovel over the trail a ways,
and on once more half uneasy, looking on
every side for pitfalL Then after weari-
some miles of unbrokep road into clear
ing. where the lonly little house stood and
where child with big black dog was
waiting his approach with a curiously
! dreamer who sees some dread vision spring
into being.
He refined in his exhausted mules before
the door, looking down on the child from his
| high seat. "Who are you out this time O.
night?" he asked, with dog s-scsrlng
| folkses teams?"
'T'm Lobelia, Mister Santa Claus, an the
| chiIdren's all abed an is hung up their
stockin's but do you know I never really
b'lieved you'd come, though told 'em all
about voc"
"Crazy as a loon" muttered the old man.
"must be French Genes young one; where's
! your pa, missy7"
"Him an ma an the baby Is to gran ma 5
| to East Lisbon, an I'm takin' care of the
| house cause I'm to be trusted"
IT hope So" said Jack, slowly, stfor these
ere mules is beat out. There amt no one
expected, is there, wich yot was addressing
| fur me?"
| 81 never expected you," !" she said, bright
| ly, ''but now your come, amt it splendid;
1 guess Lonzo'll b'lieve me now."
f'And how old might Lonzo be?'' asked
Jack, cautiously.
"Just 10; an do you come down the Chin
bley, and have you got presents in that
sleil an be you going to fill our stockin's
1t flashed through Jacks mind then who
the child expected; they had been having
Christmas cheer at the Inn, and he had in
his sleigh two rare dolls for his little
neices' Christmas. too late for the day now,
he had been 50 delayed.
II have got presents for good children as
is quiet" he said, slowly, Can for them az
could hold their tongues bout me bein'
here. want to put ur these mules some
hours, git warm, an eat some lunch have,
You see, bad people is trying to drive me
off the earth cause they don't want their
children to believe in me, 30 I come this
way"
He half hesitated, she looked so earnest
and he could see what an imaginative child
she was-''bu. know you children is Ill
right So you 20 In and tuck yourself in
bed whilst I put up my team for q time.
Afore go I'll come down the chimbley
like pictur and leave somethin' for all Of
We. How many be there?"
"Pa, ma, baby, an Lonzo-he's q boy
an Melia, en- Lisbeth Ann. If there amt
nuff to go round you kin leave me out,
cause I'd ruther Lonzo an them got things
on account of me tellin' bout you.
though ht them fairy horses never got tired,
but if yourn's beat out, up there's the barn
an only two cows in it, an two empty
stalls an good hay. I'll 50 right in to be
sure to be sound asleep. I wunt peek q
mite
''Good night, missy, an thank ye," he
said heartily. He smiled later when he
came in and found freshly kindled fire
and plate of doughnuts on the table,
The dog, quite friendly now, sat by his side
and sharing his feast, while the cat ambled
about the room, purring loudly. He looked
at the three little fat stockings on the back
of q chair and one long, lean one that must
be Lobelia's, hid modestly behind the table
as if she hesitated to put it out at ALL
When dawn cold and gray stole into tho
chill room Jack reused himself from a COM
Portable nap and went for his team. Leav-
ing them harnessed, he stole back to tho |
house, filled the small stockings and left |
mysterious bundles beside each. |
'1m sure the ones with the holes is the |
boys" he muttered; "the thin one I'd
know 'mongst q thousand such pipe-stem
legs, but queer old brain little missy has"
He closed the door softly and went to his |
team; they we're fresh and willing after tho |
rest. When the red sun rose over the tree
tops Jack was far on his way through East |
Lisbon and safe from the revenue officers.
Lonzo, full of disbelief, even scornful |
doubt, crept softly out of bed Almost on |
his lips was the cry of "Huh, there amt a |
thing |" The frost covered the window |
was bitterly cold. The scattered about, |
bulging stockings and the mysterious pack |
ages met his eye. "Bella, Bella" he /
yelled. Lisbeth Ann and Melia ran out, /
while the sleepy eldest rubbed her eyes, |
what the matter was.
''Scatter Claws bin here" shieked Lis !
beth Ann, 'I've got dolly shut its eyes
and butuful mutt of kitty fur
''So've l." cried Melia, "an' he must a
come down the chimbley with his horned
horses, an my dolls got black eyes,
LoDella jumped out OF Deo, AIDING an
other red-gowned figure to the group. She
then, and with beating heart |
sought her own slim stocking. 1t was still
slim, but tied to it was mysterious parcel
She thrust her hand way down in the toe
of the stocking; there was something, at
any rate. She drew it forth; wrapped
in pretty silk handkerchief was
little gold ring with a'garnet setting.
She gave shrek of delight, and began un-
the parcel. A cape of soft brown
fur fit for fairy to wear, of sealskin way
from the frozen north. Lonzo leaped about
with a wonderful knife, Sheffield on its
shining blades, and pair of snow shoes
like Canadian boys wear, promised, alas, to
Jacks own nephew. On the table was
mans fur cap, pair of fur mittens and
white fur hood for baby. Jack had remem-
Dered all