The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1893-01-07
CHRlsraAs Foil:
A True story OF CsFis.nas Eve IN n
Crowd on Breadyay.

; The following Christmas story Wa
written by Ed. S. Hoch, an old Cap,
boy. and was published in tie s,
sLoGis ReppJi:c Of last. sunday. Ed
is a great friend Of tie DEAocrA1
AID he sent Us ills for publication
II is an excellent little story end wi!
he :apprecia.ed by I'll! Who may reat
!, 1T:
at wss 9 o'clock at night on Broad
! way in ST. Louis. The crowd which
had bccI sdrging IN and out OF tht
shops ami struggling along in front
of the great show windows was con
sidersbly diminished, and the SHARP
Wind that blew down the street made
those who were 1~allying behind pick
up their steps and hasten holnewafds
1t was almost time for the shops to
close. had just emerged from one
OF the great doors with my arms fui!
of Christmas supplies and was duck
ing my head down into the big collar
of my overcoat, preparatory. to start
ing up the street, a vision of 8 bright
fireside, and cxpectant wife and happy
children distinctly outlined in the
cold atito.phere before inc, when my
attention TN. attracted to . little
gathering of humanity in front of one
of the show windows st my eide.
The most conspicuous figure of the
GROUP was Il Of those white-haired,
long-wkisketd1. t~eh=faced. reindeer
reminding caricaiures of Santa Claus
that liate been holding forth in front
Of The large retail n1,ion-houses dur
lug the week facciving the stocking
requests OF tie children and making
mothers happy o. sad IA the condition
of their purse might decree. lie was
stampin. hi. feet and blowiu. on his
hands rs q sort Of counteracting in
Auence TO the sharp wind that made
its way briskly through his wisk!.,s,
even and anon CHANGING over his
shoslder towards a certain door at
the upper end OF the building, as if
he %erc expecting a signal from vita
in Ia rome and dof his gsrb of
Christniastide and go home with the
crowd.
The other members of the gather
ing were a dirt, faced. sparlv clothed.
tough-looSing newsbOy-with a
mnltipcrforated cap set jaurtily un
one side of his head aid a bundle Of
papers under his arm-aud n little
ragged unchin of 4 girl about 0 years
old, almost wholly e%nvelupeu in q
dirty shawl, which served AS both
cloak and dress. bare-headed. and
with scarcely any shoes. her cheeks
black and rel in spots. and her hair
struggling in the wind. She was try
ing to catch hold Of the long coat Of
Santa Claus her face upturned to
his, her little eyes bright in the
rays of the flashing electric lights.
lis you Sarty Clos:'
/ hsar.i her say this. and moved
over closer to. the group, making
pretensc of lnok'ng at the display i'll
the show window.
The Santa Claus that was supposed
b. locked down at this little one, shook
his massive wiliskers, and thinking,
and perhaps justly SO. that he didn't
get his $3.50 Toe listening to the
stories Of such misunderstanding
creatures rs this. gave his feet another
stamp, and replied in a decidedly
anti-Sauta Claus tone of voice:
NO! What you want here-get
away oat of this, quick"
The newshoy spoke up immediately:
"Of course you is, you duffer! Wat
" git v money fur? Now git out de
book, an take down her order-datis
Wat yer here fur, SEE? Now Sissy
yes. dis is sanity Claus; tell i'm wa,
you want"
At this Santa Claus" who was
evenly a very recent importation
from the country, 10 comply with a
newsboy's demand SO readily, had
taken out his book; and the little one,
who seemed to understand neNeboy
talk pretty well, proceeded to hand
in her request.
/ wants some candy. an'!sone cakes.
an spsne PEANUTS, an .orn, = i corn,
an'-au'-a doll like This, coming
close to the windrs aid pointing in,
''an a horsoy like this; am wagon
like this. an a locomotive like this.
an a dfess like this, su' a." she be-
gan going fsster-"an' 8 monkey like
this" Santa Claus. had Stopped
writing and was starting at her-"an'
a house like this, an a piano like this,
an \ little boy like this. an A.
HOh say, you don't want de hold
wiader. do vesS .Thenewsbcy thought
she wanted too much.
sUmhul' and the little head bowed
in the affirmative quite decidedly.
Guess Jay Gould vas called off tc
leave room fur you-but go OH, sissy,
is def anything else yoh-wantg'
as. + wants sumfin' fur Eddie"
Eddy! Whose Eddy"
.An' sumfin' fur johnny an Jimmie,
an Mary, an sumlin' for baby, an
You don't want much-Bjec
you'd" but the newsbOy stopped
short, as if he thought il best not to
finish the sentence.
"An' say Santa Clos, ! wants my
mso,mse,