Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1891-12-24

Z ItIly cOIQ, ana Lawyer 1unb Sn1Ver6d as
he buttoned his heavy coat close up
around his neck Up the street he has
tened, following the empty boots, which
slipped sideways at every other step and
jammed their heels into the trodden
snow, but made their way rapidly, never
t'leless.
Around the corner, into the avenue, in
and out among the throngs Of Christmas
eve pedestrians, lodging here 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
4 followed the excited lawyer.
They turned into big store. 'sNow,' -
thought Lawyer Flint, as he entered
the door, "some one win be sure to see
them,' but strange to say, the boots
4 were entirely unnotieed by the buzzing
laughing, happy people who thronged
the store
The lawyer leaned against the toy
counter and watched the boots as they
shuffied around on the floor
Something for the little onesg'
Y 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 III a
I rather pecHliar position Why was he
standing around there, the people would
Y ask, if he did not wish to buy? How
long would he be obliged to remain? He
I couldn't tell. Should he say that he
was waiting for those old boots? No.
( no; he didn't wish on any account to
Y call attention to the ridiculous perform
ance they were going through.
yes" he said, coloring, something
I for the little ones;" and then lie 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
f extravaganza, and, glaDcing furtively,
/ with increasing impatience and anger,
\ at the boots, which seemed livelier than
K ever as his purchases increased.
Seven dollars and forty cents, please, r'
said the salesgirl.
Into the silver ball went 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:n said jolly little
fat man, glancing at the lawyers big
bundle. II feel like dancing myself
"Change, sir; thank you. Merry
Christmas!H
The cxasperated 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 curious
feeling that began now to steal over him,
the like Of which lie had never expert
creed before, OF at least not for many
7 years, he sail to himself, as lie stopped
/ before a candy store and followed the
boots inside
Candy for Christmas He smiled
almost to think that he. Harders Flint,
should hear such a question addressed to
himself, and more astounding yet was
the fact that he did want to buy some
candy for Christmas, and that be really
stood there. pocketbook in hand, wait
ing for it.
Rattle-te-tat, te-tat-te- tatl
A smile broke over the salesgirls face
as she handed him tile package Of candy,
and away went the lawyer, after tl;c
boots, which seemed determined to give
him lively chase before the evening
was over Again he was i'll the biting
ar, but the warm blood coursed through
every vein i'll his body as he hurrieI
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 do-
light, and Lawyer Flint could not, to
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 hastened and
stopped before the house from whence
the singing came. Up the steps they
wenx; the door opened, and somehow
the lawyer, too much fustered and con
fused to know how it was exactly, found
himself in a room filed with children,
and lovely lady was saying to him:
"Ah! you're in time, sir. Thank you 50
much We haven't distributed the pres
ents yet. You viii make good many
little hearts glad tonight, sir." And all
around him was warmth and light and
music and a Gathering Of happy tongues,
and altogether such joyous atmosphere
as he would not have believed could pos
sibly exist anywhere.