The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1895-12-25
B{LLY'S CHRISTMAS.


more persons he fo0ud agreed upou Il
certain point the more certain was h.
to discover the utter weakness OF tEelr
position. He was very shrewd and
looked at the world from the heights
occupied by a superior sud coup;a,
cent being. 1t amused him to see al
the women agreeing oa certain hnes
of house ornamentatlon. |: PROVOKED
him to Gnd ali the men united on the"
olies OF Improvement, dress and beha-
vior. He particularly resented the ull-
versal surrender OF the race to tee
spirit of Christmas.
''It's ali hokv poky,' said Lsph.
As Christmas approached bis wife
wondered if he would not oreak his
usual habit and make some coaven-
tional preparation. She remembered
very pleasant gayety iu these sea-
sons when girl, but had been unable
to repeat them since becoming the
wife of Zeph. And her little boy, now
years old, added to her uneas!ness.
He had caught something of the sea-
sons inspiration from the children
who drifted past his cabin home and
from the activities at the great house
Of the squire when he went up there
one day to do an errand for his
mother.
He was full of questions which his
mother could not entirely answer and
which he could not suspend when his
father was at home. But down through
his infant consciousness at last litter
cd the conviction that he and his
household were outside the pale en-
braced in the reign of Santa Claus.
He had no doubt the day held great
and joyful significance to the squlres S
children, nor that Santa Claus came
down chimney and gave presents to
all the good little boys and girls IN the
world. Only, of course, his house was
not included. The gentle sway of the
Christ child could not naturally en-
brace the little cabin at the edge of the
woods. Yet he had an uniformed, pa
thetic little regret that it was so.
Zeph was in town Christmas eve
and staid a little later than usual,
though that did not trouble his wife
much. He was not N the habit OF
coming home till he got ready, not
leaving till moved by the same cou-
sideration. Only he was sure to come
some time, and always sober. He was
quite superior to the nearly universal
habit of acquiring dual personality
by imbibing stimulants. It was alto
eesher an unmixed folly to him.
Clowns pretty lively, I reckon, !"
said his wife as Zeph came In aud pre-
pared for supper. He did not remove
an overcoat. He wore none. DE
looked upon that custom as quite as
unnecessary as popular nations usual
II were.
.'Ya-as," snarled Zerh, grinning in
derision of what he had seen. Stores
all lighted up, and candy and things
in the winders."
'sWhat things in the winders, pap~
inquired the boy. his blue eyes large
and bright
.sOh, toys, and them things
sWhut thingss" again, but hesltat-
ingly.
Zeph glanced warninly at the boy
and then slowly replied:
Skates and red mittens and some
wooden soldiers and drums and picur
books.
The boy had never seen the stores,
for he had never been In town, but he
had in his mind very vivid picture
of the place aud its glories. And he
looked very straight at his father as
that picture took form before him.
MANY people in town2" questioned
the wife. She had seen those splendors
on Christmas eve, and she had count
ed on seeing them again this season.
s'Ya-as; the stores was crowded and
the streets was full of teams. Couldn't
git MORN so cents for that coonskln
and had to take that in trade. Would
not pay more'n 50 cents if l. took 1t II,
cash. So traded for some truck aud
come home. They tried 10 sell me
lot of plunder, but I don't go none on
them things"
'Whut plunder, pap2" asked the
boy. The resources for trimming his
faocy stores were really very slender.
He needed more material. Just a hint
would do. 1t seemed so real to him.
''Oh, tin horse and wagon and
candy bird and woolly little sheep
that says 'bah!'"
Big sheep, pap, or just lamb"
S'Naw. About SO high" And Zeph
measured a span from the top of the
table.
That changed the whole interior of
his wonder cave for the boy: These
treasures were smaller than the natu-
raj size. If smaller, why could they
not be made larger2 So his wonderful
creations were taking delightful shape:
It was quite a picture he found himself
arranging when his mother said from
the depths of the dishpan, where she
was finishing the supper work:
You're sound asleep, Billy. Go to
bed"
And he hurried into his little cot,
hoping he could carry the dream un-
broken. How they danced before
him, those excellent animals! How
gravely the birds addressed him, and
how reasonable it seemed that tin sol
diers should become live dogs and
bark aloud, and how swift it all was
for this was morning, and Dash, the
hound, was challenging some noises,
he heard in the woods across the road
This was just the same as any other
morning to Zeph. He got up lazlly
and dressed in a food of sunshine,
shivering a little and complaining
that his wife had no better fire. He
looked out on the deep snow and
knew the hunting would be excellent
Just after breakfast sleighload OF
people passed, their bells lingling
with tempting melody and juggling
still till the horses stopped in front OF
the souire's farmhouse, when they
gave way to shoutings OF cheer and
answering shouts OF welcome.
Must be Miliers folks, from Burr
Oaks, said Zeph's wife, as she closed
the door and wondered if her other