New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-12-20

had become a lofty patronage by this time; and
he meyer forgot to- share with him. literally. all
such things as h. did not particularly care for
himself
The lltile invalid did not improve. or course
he had no doctor. but Mistress O'iialloran
brought her own coufcssor to see him. he
causc.' as she explained to her noighhors she
uasnt gon To- have on her conscience tn" loss OF
his immortal soNl I'm ease n should end up by
dyin. NV which there didn't seem any danger.
an Tho Lord forbid ~ should
Not hat the pr"sp"' Of a ""akr' troubled
Mr. O'Hailoran. So long as IL wasn't for Patsy.
ou IA" contrary. the thought wax rather rxhilar-
aiing a. promising degree OF excitement and
opportunity for renew al ~ acquaintau'" with
Hiheruar fri dS. tp whom h"T hospiiablr roof
had too hong been stranger. so the priest came
aad baptized the boy CScraps was outlandish
and hcathenish. Mrs. o'iialioran declared) and
she bestowed ON him the name Of jamie
This had been thr name Of Patsys elder broth.
cr who had died when an infant and 1t was a
halloW"d name in the memory # his mother;
and she declared II was only fitting to give 1t 70
ou" who was 'innercent and harmless As the
babe in arms"
1t was after the baptism and the priests bless
INK that scraps seemed To- take = sudden turn
for TIA" better. he slept much IN" cough left
him. and he ceased Wheeling when he breathed.
and. as Mrs OIiailorau said. ''hc brrathed lik'
an infant. that soft an low We could but jusi
hear him at all. at all" But his eyes were
brighter than before. and h. seldom spoke. hut
he watched the prepare lions for Christmas with
more interest than ever perhaps because they
PatsV'S business was NOW quite NOuriShinC.
for he had added weekly papers and even. Dc.
casonally. magazines To his stock. and h. had
acquired regular and Increasing custom There
fore there was TO be turkey with cranberry
sauce for dinner and an old fashi, ned plum
pudding luxury of which TIL then scraps
had never even heard.
There was a sprg ~ mistletoe hanging from
nail above tn" door. and wrcaths Of hollis
tackled into every window and "A bunch of holly
in broken pitcher on the table. and Patsy
had even pinned a bit of holly to the far corner
of the bed which Scraps lying. and
alongside of 1t. hanging downward out OF sight
he had fastened stocking provided for the
casion by Mrs. O'tiallOran. For 1t was Christ
mas Eve and. OF course. IL was expected that
Santa Claus would pay his usual visit some
time before morning.
Scraps had learned the legend of Santa Claus
late in life but he had never doubted the story.
Il was the speciality of Scraps notwithstanding
his lifr's cXpcrence-that nothing ever seemed
10 him too good to he true" The more beau
tiul the vision. the moro wonderful the story.
the more certain he felt that it was true. some
wherc-and would come to him some time.
when at last Patsy and his mother had re-
tired To wc-e1rned rest Scraps lay awake.
though often doing. He kept drifting off into
light. dreamlcss slumbrr. from which, his eyes
would softly unclOsc now and then. Just long
enough To hr aware OF the familiar things about
hIm-thc "shakedown" on the other side Of the
room ON which lay Patsy, already sound asleep;
the nckering light from the IRE. which was
being kept going all night. so that everything
might bc bright and warm for Christmas morn
Ing: the stockings waiting FOR Santa Claus. and
the sprig of msiletoe over the door.
Once in one Of these sudden aWakenings.
Scraps was conscious of n figure moving about
from place To placc-a figure that was flling
the empty stockings and sticking spries of holly
at the last above their bulging contents; then
the figure placed small bundles. Variously
wrapped up. on the table in a circle round the
broken pitcher. and ont Of mis- charmed circle
the holly with its scarlet berries shed bright
ness that lent Christmas magic Ia these hum
BILE offerings.
Scraps wondered. almost with a smile that
he could look on SO calmly. knowing quite well
that this was Santa Claus; for he had always
thought that sight of Santa Claus-a real live
Santa claus,-WOud have caused him wild cX-
element But perhaps this was better. this
sweet pca'e and JOY that was now pervadng
him. For the deepest and dearest feelings are
ALWAYS uuittest Scraps knew that quite we'll
FOR he had known it all his life Nor did It cause
him moments surprise that Santa Claus
should look so like Patsy's mother: for since he
a magician at all times and the most
wonderful magician in the world on Christmas
Eve-was ii not certain that he would come tn
every child in the form Of that who most
loved it? Just one happy sigh came from the
seen Santa Claus-as his eyes closed and he
dozed arar.
Then with a sudden start he walked once more
But the slight sound was only the fall OF n
cinder and the ashes dropping. and the fire was
very bright. How good II was of Mrs OHal-
lonan To leave II burning all night II cheered
Scraps and made the room so bright, Not even
at MONDAY in the full glow OF summer when
all the world flooded with brightness, had
he ever seen such light. II seemed To grow and
grow; the whole room was filled with II. white.
shining and so warm. though only a little while
cold again In this glorious warmth. nor dark In