Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1893-12-21
BlLLY'S CHRISTMAS DINNER
Ky EVA II. BRODIIotr

Jay III his hand. In giving il an al
di1lohal yank over the red ears wbiol
stood out like the sails of n n,ut;l,s
the dilapidated capote had como :,
pieces like ship in storm,
'Wots to be done" unused R;lv
| christmas amt the funniest time
o the year to go bareheaded i'm. Ones.
Il catch cold in my hair this way"
Then he laughed, for Billy was moth.
ing if not good-natured, and The Idle, .,
cold IN connection with his fiery red
har struck him very funny.
Hello, Reddy! Are YOU irvine 10
warm all outdoors !" yelled Scottv the
Terror, as he rushed by, blowing on his
cold fingers. -
Yep. I'm a-lightin' things up u bit
dlsreEardlng personal Inconvenience, ="
replied Billy, !grandiosely, but with q
merry twinkle in his blue ewes.
Ih' stuif's good huff, fur as il goes.
but yer've got Il big contract, ole Brick
top, yelled Scotty, as he disappeared
around the corner which led to Dan
Peterson's lunch-room.
Billy looked after him hunprilv "Ef
cud only find some of dem things Wot
Finder will be rewarded or somethin'
like dat, wouldn't | hev blowout Or
sum money. Let's see. Half dollar
wud buy new cap an some corn-beet
hash and hot coffee. Yum! | guess
m gittin '-wot wuz it Mr.. Dan'ls sed
folks Wuz who got to disbeieve things
wot they ulster b'lieve? Shersker cap
tickle-thats it. Well, burned if |
bTeve red hair is any hotter than other
colors, for my head is cold as if my hair
wuz white Great snakes, how de win
blows -
The poor little red head bent YEARLY
down, pcering through every crevce
and crack of the sidewalk, every dingy
nook of the street where someone might
have dropped n treasure trove. The
Wind from the lake swept round
the corners with 4 bitter cry and an
icy touch that mads tho little tramp
t:gure SILVER In its sparce clothing
The swift winter darkness was de-
scending over the land. Billy straight.
ened his tired little back. 1T amt no
use a-looking. Nobody amt lost Moth
in tcrday | reckon. Guess I'll go and
fin some place to shelter in, an p'raps
III hcv ~ sleep, Hey, Who's datI"
he croakcd hoarscly, rs he came in
contact with a living body crouched in
the deep recess of n back doorway.
WHO'S yerself?" was the sullen re-
joinder, "wot do yer want, young fell
ler|f -,
"Nothih' mhch. Ohly yer skesre1
me. 'cauee cauldn't see yer at tifst |
thot pcrAiahs Soh was NtHshty cum
back N0hi de bottom uS ue say. Say !!
viii Nvr take cuinpany i'll yer corner
there? Two's warmer than one:
"Comc in" said the man, q! ain no
mortgage on this yer doorstep. Sides
Pm spending Christmas charity, l am,
SO | gives YOU lodging here rent tree,
no cookin' allowed. Please don't lee the
servants.
ooh! I'm Il model roomer, never
break dc printed rules, said Billy as ne
squeezed himself in beside the ragged
and cmaciated man. ~ Jest want to
stay here till kin hire out as iog-horn
TO some of de boats. Rcen-a-goln'
bareheaded to-day in order to get my
voice inter proper condluon. very
hard lines, but me and Patu uoh
drudge nothin' to perfect our voices
m. ghost of a smile fitted across the
VANS wan features. ''liad any dun
ner?" he asked.
"Iep. Leather belt
.-Wot, YOU eats leather.
.oThat amt no trick. | know lots oil
falxs in swell boardin' houses who Try
il on every mornin', / didn't eat mime
tbo'. but n leather belt is tine wheh yer
hungry. Jest draw 1t tighter, aI , 1Non
again tighter, and yea can most ,ioN'
we've BIN eatin', yer Reels 80 eo''' ~"
nll. ,... ,h,, .
,n,,hnr helf " muttered the man. hal
to himself. .s,lf,
..Nn j can't take it myself but-~se'
h,,m-liest hook at lne--straight.
Rilly looked up. The strange mai
was making rapid passes before 'n'
hny,s face, and his ewes
t.Mot oneer ewes you've got, muster
+,,.,;re like fire balls in the m'duie O.
the night, an -
..what was that his foot sTucf
.xa;nst? That toe was always s'uo, ti',s
| ;tSnlf on something or other nc
i'so, He would throw tins last 90
,,,'s,' ont of the way. As his hnSer'
s''',. al the supposed stone some'ninhs
;u'J christopher Columbus ~
p i,.aS = ,u,se full OF money! Ihere WE
"'' ',i T. ,liuht ut the store wlnuoM
lille mrther on. In u second n.,.a .,, ma
Standing by it examining ms 'a I'D NV,
Three gold pieees-~one 'etii.' .,a,nbhn,
fiyes. 4 heap of silver ms rnll q
fnpers could not couh., 1T ana-
mrHsnhacks in an inner pocket, wv m;tl
s"G "uhs ro~of that s shm"e Ts,
very y, diamond ring he had oee'' ""N'
10 lind, ael;ciou
!, the midst of his JOY ue ~ llas,
o.l ln . swent down and seemed 10 ,h Is,si
him in its embrace. Poets 81, tbs SOU
scent has more pt s,wsp over Billy its' knew
unthinr, of poetry, but us ina. s.'' an,
%%ss pies snysl d ssa as II %
n his t 'psm rss,aarant whence the viv''y'n
o' ~ want the, finest Christmas s a,,,ne
vonMe ,sot-turkey.orann.e;aslstt;csa ally a
souM ..r;nn nssaid Billy mWes. .I' f,tl