Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1891-12-19
CHILDISH PRATTLE.
A Little story fos the CHRISTMAS Sea-

it was about the middle Of the after
noon. The car was full of s~uburbanites
returning home laden with purchases
for the holidays a.
"A lady entered the car, followed by a
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 Ii wa
by the side of a large nan withac close
" cropped beard The little girl wa
duly installed in hat seat, her pack
ages disposed of to hec satisfaction,
and as the train started off she began a
conversation with the large man. He
had smiled at her and taken a part of
her load on his own lap.
Awful hard work buying SO many
Christmas things, isn't it2' she OH
served.
Yes, it must be hard work"
But | like il. I'd most rather buy
Christmas gifts than to go skating, and
Id rather 90 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 a sud-
den fear that she was giving out an
impression Of personal giddiness not
warranted by all the facts in the ease.
That's my m oye there that
lady with the brown hair. It's all her
own hair, too. Don't you think my
mammals nice?'
Indeed | do"
$50 does papa, He takes mamma on
his lap sometimes, just like she was a
little girl. Don't you think she'd be u
pretty big armful?'
"H'm-no; zone too big"
We'll, | 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 | hold
on by his head, and ! amt a bit afraid.
You can't guess what Eve got for my
papa in this bundle
"A pound of candy?'
The little girl laughed gleefully.
mo. I'spect he's got a 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 find, and its
awful pretty. Papa, he's got a great
long black mustache. Wouldn't you
think it would be dreadful unhandy to
kiss anybody with long mustache?"
"Wby-"
well, it isn't. You get used to it,
you know. When you want to kiss
anybody right bad you amt going tc
let a mustache stop you"
A young lady on the seat Immediate
ly in front was seized with a violent
fit of coughing that made her face very
red. and she pulled down the blinds tc
keep the sun out of her eyes.
Most everybody in this car is load
ed down with Christmas things, aim
they?" went en- the little girl. "It's t
good thing your seat isn't, or I'd a haC
to stand up. Don't you have any
Christmas at your house,"
ayes. We always have Christmas
in some shape
'May be you haven't got any little
folks?"
'Oh, yes. I've got a little girl abou'
your size"
is she a good little girl?"
f'Indeed she is"
doesn't she ever pout?"
Never"
well, | do sometimes when the,
won't give me another piece of cake
Doesn't she ever go off in some corne.
and throw herself down on the lounge
and kick the floor with her toes ant
say she's mad and hates everybody?'
Never"
Never acts a bit cross and naughty?'
"No-never.'
"She must be a dear little girl. DON
you love her very much?"
"Yes-Oh, yes"
'Then why haven't you got you,
arms full of Christmas presents to taxi
home to hero
''She doesn't need them, my dear,
said the gentleman, gently strokinE
the little girls glowing check. ssh
has gone to live with the angels. y