Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1895-12-19
BILLY'S CHRISTMAS.

Zeph Davis didn't agree with the
world at all
He found very few things which met
his unqualified approval, and the more
persons he found agreed upon certain
point the more certain was he to dis
cover the utter weakness Of their posi-
tion. He was very shrewd and looked
at the world from the heights occupied
BY superior and complacent being. 1t
amused him to see all the women agree
ing on certain lines Of house ornamental
tion. 1t provoked him to find all the
men united on theories Of improvement,
dress and behavior. He particularly re-
sented the universal surrender of the
race to the spirit of Christmas.
Its all hoky poky, said Zeph.
As Christmas approached his wife
wondered if he would not break his
usual habit and make some conventional
preparation. She remembered a very
pleasant gayety in these seasons when
girl, but had been unable to repeat them
since becoming the wife Of Zeph. And
her little boy, now 8 years old, added to
her uneasiness. He had caught some
thing Of the seasons 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 filtered
the conviction that he and his household
were outside the pale embraced in the
reign of Santa Claus He had no doubt
the day held great and joyful sig
nificance to the squire's children, nor
that Santa Claus came down a 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 cf the Christ child could
not naturally embrace the little cabin at
the edge Of the woods. Yet he had an
uniformed, pathetic little regret that it
was so.
Zeph was in town Christmas eve and
etaid little later than usual, though
that did not trouble his wife much He
was not in the habit of coming home
till he got ready, not leaving till moved
by the same consideration. Only he was
sure to come some time, and always
sober. He was quite superior to the
nearly universal habit of acquiring a
dual personality by imbibing stimu-
lants. 1t was altogether an unmixed
folly to him.
Towns pretty lively, Ireckon, said
his wife as Zeph came in and prepared
for supper. He did not remove an over
coat. He wore none. He looked upon
that custom as quite as unnecessary as
popular notions usually were.
"Ya-as," snarled Zeph, griDning in
derision Of what he had seen. "Stores
all lighted mp. and candy and things in
the winders. "
"Whut things in the winders, pap?"
inquired the boy, his blue eyes large
and bright.
"Oh, toys, and them thingsr'
"Whut things?" again. but hesitat-
inRly.
Zeph glanced warningly at the boy
and then slowly replied:
Skates and red mittens and some
wooden soldiers and drums and pictur
books.
The boy had never seen the stores, for
be had never been in town, but he had
in his mind very vivid picture of the
place and its glories. And he looked
very straight at his father as that pic
ture took form before him.
Many people in town." questioned
the wife. She had seen those splendors
ON Christmas eve, and she had counted
on seeing them again this season.
"Ya-as the stores was crowded and
the streets was full Of teams Couldn't
git more'n go cents for that coonskin
and bad to take that in trade Wouldn t
pay no more'n 90 cents if took it in
cash. So traded for some truck and
come home. They tried to sell me lot
Of plunder, but don't go none on them
things"
''Whut plunder, pap?" asked the boy.
The resources for trimming his fancy
stores were really very slender. He
needed more material Just hint would
do. 1t seemed SO real to him.
"Oh. tin horse and wagon and
candy bird and woolly little sheep
that says 'bahr"
big sheep, pap, or just lamb?"
Nav. About so high" And Zeph
measv span from the top Of the ta
BILE.
That changed the whole interior Of his
wonder cave for the boy. These treasures
were smaller than the natural size. II
smaller. why could they not be made
taking. delightful shape. 1t was quite
picture he found himself arranging when
lis mother said from the depths OF the
6ishpan. where she was finishing the
supper work:
You're sound asleep, Billy. Go to
bed. -
Aud he hurried into his little cot,
hoping he could carry the dream unbro-
ken. How they danced before him, those
excellent animals How gravely the
birds addressed him. and how reason
able ii seemed that tin soldiers should
become live dogs and bark aloud, and
how swift it all was, for this was morn
ing, and Dash, the hound, was challeng-
ing some noises he heard in the woods
across the road.
This was Just the same as any other
morning to Zeph- He got up lazily and
dressed in food Of sunshine, shivering
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 jingling with
tempting melody and jingling still till
the horses stopped in front Of the
-raira's farmhouse. when they gave way