Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1893-12-20
BILLYS CHRISTMAS DINNER
BY EVA II. BRODLIQUE.
THE blamed thing -

!
two sections of a NANCY fur cap which
lay in his hand. In giving it an adj
ditional yank over the red ears, which
stood out like the sails of nautilus
the dilapidated capote had gone to
pieces like a ship in a storm.
"Wot's to be done ?" unused Billy.
christmas amt the funniest time
O the year to go bareheaded in. Guess
I'll catch a cold in my hair this way"
Then he laughed, for Billy was moth
ing if not good-natured, and the idea OF
cold in connection with his fiery red
hair struck him very funny.
Hello, Reddy! Are you trying to
warm all outdoors ?" yelled Scotty the
Terror, as he rushed by, blowing on his
cold fingers.
yep. I'm a-lightin' things up a bit
disregarding personal Inconvenience"
replied Billy, grandiosely, but with a
merry twinkle in his blue eyes.
"Th' stuff's good huff, fur as it goes,
| but yer've got a 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 hungrly "Ef
| | cud only find some of dem things wot
! the papers advertise: diamond ring
Finder will be rewarded, or somethin'
! like dat, wouldn't | hev a blowout Or
sum money. Let's see. Half dollar
wud buy new cap an some corn-beef
hash and hot coffee. Yum! | guess
l I'm gittin' WIZ it Mr.. Dan'ls sed
folks wuz who got to disbeIieve things
wot they ulster b'lieve? Shersker cap
tickle-that's it. Well, burned if [
b'Peve red hair is any hotter than other
coiors, 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, peering through every crevice
and crack of the sidewalk, every dingy
nook of the street where someone might
| have dropped a treasure trove. The
wind from the lake swept round
! the corners with a bitter cry and an
/ icy touch that made the little tramp
figure shiver 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 terday, [ reckon. Guess I'll go and
fin some place to shelter in, an p'raps
IN hev a sleep, Hey ! Who's dat :"
! he crOaked hOarsely, as he came in
the deep recess of a back doorway
who's yerself?' was the sullen re-
ioinder, ''wot do yer want, young fell
| Ter? ''
"Nothin' much. Only yer skeered
me, cause / couldn't see yer at first. |
thot perhaps you was McGinty cum
| back from de bottom ur de say. Say
| viii yer take cumpany in yer corner
there? Two's warmer than one"
Come in, said the man, Il amt no
mortgage on this yer doorstep. Sides
I'm spending Christmas charity, am,
| SO | gives you lodging here rent free,
servants"
ooh! I'm model roorer, never
break de printed rules" said Billy as he
squeezed himself in beside the ragged
and emaciated man. Il jest want to
stay here till kin hire out as fog-horn
| to some of de boats Been-a-goin'
| bareheaded to-day in order to get my
voice inter proper condition. Very
hard lines, but me and Patti don't
grudge nothin' to perfect our voices.
See !"
The ghost of smile fitted across the
mans wan features. Had any din
ner?" be asked.
"Yep. Leather belt.'
| "Wot, you eats leather
THAT amt no trick. [ know lots of
folks in swell boardin' houses who try
! it on every mornin'. didn't eat mine,
| tho, but leather belt is fine when yer
hungry. Jest draw it tighter, an then
again tighter, and yer can most b'lieve
| we've BIN eatin', yer feels SO good an
lull"
"I'u give yer somethin' better than a
leather belt" muttered the man. half
to himself.
"Bully for you. Take some yerself."
"No, [ can't take it myself, but-see
here-iest look at me-straight."
Billy looked up. The strange man
was making rapid passes before the
boys face, and his eyes
"Wot queer eyes you've got, mister;
| they're like fire balls in the middle Of
| the night, am"
"What was that his foot struck
against? That toe was always stubbing
itself on something or other he told
himself. He would throw this last OBJ
stacle out Of the WY. AS his fingers
touched the supposed stone something
iingled. Christopher Columbus If it
was purse full OF money! There was
an electric light at the store window
little further on. In a second Billy was
standing by it examining his treasure.
1Qf6C gOlO DlocoS-Ou0 ICnuof ana TWO
fves. \ heap of silver his trembling
fingers could not count, A roll Of
greenbacks in an inner pocket, and
good gracious ring set all round with
a double row of gems that shimmered
in the light like drops of water. The
very diamond ring he had been wanting
to find
In the midst of his Joy a delicious
odor swept down and seemed to clasp
him in its embrace. Poets say that a
scent has more power over the soul
than any other influence. Billy knew
nothing of poetry, but as that smell of
roast turkey, boiled chestnuts, and
mince pies gushed forth he felt
delightful culver of anticipation thrill
his frame. Half way down the block
was the restaurant whence the vivifying
odor came.
81 want the finest Christmas dinner
you've got-turkey-c cranberry sauce
everything" said Billy majestically, as
he seated himself at on eff the little
white tables.
II ,,,oc c,,r,,,.;cad 70 COO +Lo .oc+o,,.