The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-25

oahd. IL Is true recognized the rur coat
he wore. but the pointed bat covered with
Snow, and the gray beard with icicles on it
| and the big, strong hands were all strange
even to me. He stepped forward, this coed
saint, and said something in a language
none OF US understood, but which ChiTnmie
translated to mean That ev'ry one OF yOuse
Z Is to be blindfolded as youse turn comes,
and with the stick you will point out what
you want on the tree" o, this was too
good We had au seen trees tefore, but
| they had been Just to look atone little girl
I felt this 50 intensely, this fact that she was
TO have something Of her own, that she
took to hard crying, and said
SIZE WAS GLAD TO BE IN HEAVEN,
but she'd like to have her mother there,
too. Charles little friend was the first one
/ hhndfoldedi the long stick was put In his
hand, aud, guided by Santa Claus, he
walked % TO the tree. 1t wss curious
! thing, 1t seemed as If that stick
knew Just where to gos Some people might
say it was because Maggie was straig hten-
ing the branch, but you and knew that
had nothing et all to do With 1t. Il touched
right away on a square package tied I'D
with red ribbons, and when Santa Claus
came and took it down and the boy opened
II there was the most beautiful copy, with
picture in 1t of the story Of Little Lord
tauntieroy." Now. did Santa Claus
! know that boy could read7 Then ths old
gentleman put his hand in his own bag and
drew out bright red stocking full of good
candies and nuts and an apple and an
orange, aud long mint stick, Then girl
! and boy each tried their luck. and each
seemed to get just what suited them. and
each one was happy and glad. Last of all
came the little dogs turn. Is is true he had
TO be held he got basket made Of mint
Ecandy. with two rubber balls in it., rubber
baby that squeaked every time be bit it,
and, let US hope that he'll never need it, a
small whip trimmed with ribbons.
| GOOD TINE ALL AROUND.
Then came Charles presents. Santa
Claus carried them to him. There was the
bird cage with the singing bird to suggest
TO him that one little prisoner could be
happy all the day long; there was a great
| picture book, there was q marvellous box of
games. and from Maggie and Chimmie
| there was the warmest, gayest wrapper for
| Charlie to wear that you can imagine.
Mis- Counelly got fancy handkerchief.
| two bottles OF perfumery, a pair of ear
rings from Connolly, and a copper teapot,
with lamp under it, so she might have no
| trouble III making a cup of tea for herself
when the fire was low. Mis- Connelly's
husband was presented with gay necktie
by Maggie, a new pipe and bag Of
tobacco by Chimmie. and gold pin by
Mis- Connolly.
Then Chimmie went upstairs, carried
down the big box. took of the cover, and
suddenly
SOMETHING WAS PLAYING
Killarney" After that it played every
thing, from Maggie Murphvs Home" TO
the Strauss waltzes, from "The w caring Of
the Green" TO The Star Spangled Banner
and ia ra-ra Boom~de-syp to Maryland.
| My Maryland" And we all danced We
made circle ond danced around Charles
bed. Ne stopped dancing when we were
asked To eat something. The big cake was
| carried over to the bed and Charlie put the
| knife IN the white icing, on which was writ
/ ten. in pink, CHARLES Christmas Tree,
1892" We had cake, we had ice cream, we
had sandwiches, we had oranges; some Of US
sucked the oranges, some of ue carried
them home, and then, just before the
church bells began TO ring in Christmas,
we all had a glass Of eggnog-eggnog
served from punch bowl, that once had
been at great feasts in Ireland-and we
drank it IS the bells rang aud the music box
played "Auld Lang Syne."
REFORMED SANTA CLAUS.
Then saw who Santa Claus was; it was
Billy. come up from the sunny south to
spend his Christmas with us. aud, keep it
secret, to see Maggie and Chimmie get mar
rted-Bllly, who, having been given the
opportunity, had made an honest man OF
himself, and VINO, because he was young and
youth soon forRets. had lived down the grief
we played kissing games-played them
around Charles bed We sang king
William" and Charlie chose Maggie aud
kissed her; then Maggie selected Mis- Con-
nelly's husband and kissed him; and Mis-
Connelly's husband chose BIliy's grand
mother, an old Irish lady in q white cap,
with frlll to it, and after they kissed each
other they gave US an Irish jig. l never
saw it danced 80 well but once before. and
that was when Mrs Lspgtry di d
it. Then the old lady chose
Chimmie and Chimmie chose me; but
Chimmie being gentleman. and fearing
that l might not want to be kissed on the
lips, or that somebody else had better
right, stopped down and kissed my hand
Then | chose the little Jew boy, and he paid
me the compliment of saying he would like
to have me again; but that couldn't be. so
he chose one OF the girls instead; and after
that everybody had their turns
had an envelope in my pocket for Mis-
Connolly. l thought it would make Billy
happy to give it to her; she read it; she
looked at him; she looked at mo, and then
she went over and kissed her boy-that was
all. That note told her that good physi-
clan would come down soon to see Charlie
and that, please God, IL he could not make
him entirely we'll, he could at least make
him stronger, and possibly get him so he
could walk with the help Of a crusch.
GRATEFUL POOR REwARDING Bah.
And my Christmas gitt9 had the best
Of all: Chimmie gave me an image Of the
Blessed Virgin, which Maggie had had
blessed for me the day before; don't you
think that will bring Joy TO mea
Charlie gave me book, the pictures of
which had been colored by him, ana his
loyal little friend don't you think that will
teach me how great a thing is friendship
And now Mis- Connolly and Mis- Con-
nelly's husband gave me great Christmas
gift. in the invitation to come and share in
their festivity; while Billy-well, Billy
brought me huge bunch Of sweet violets
from my own dear home. This is the story
OF my Christmas this year.
There are thousands of children who had
Christmas trees this year. / don'S believe
there was one, that for richness of fruit,
compared with Charles. don't believe
there was one where there was greater
thanktulness. greater joy, or more consid
GRAFTON. And it was among the people on
the other side. They have taught me how
good they are. They have taught me how
good they are Co each other, and 10 seeing
them, in being permitted to share 10 their
Joys or SORROWS, l feel myself houored.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
to the other half, wherever they are, aud
Mrz4k nj