Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-12-12


1t was the eve Of the fete Of Saint
Nicholas. Great preparations were
being made in the town Of Wavre for
the celebration of the holiday, especi-
ally in the house of Hans Jams, the
\baker, which stood CT the square. In
b chamber above the shop, bright
ire burning on the hearth and little
1amp, east their light on a bed at one
side of the room, hung with pretty
chintz curtains.
In the bed lay Fleur-de-Ble, the
daughter of Hans Jams.
Grandmother Jams threw a billet of
wood on the fire; then, pushing her
spectaces up on her white hair, she
went on tipSoe toward the bed.
Fleur!" Gne said, in a low voice,
as ga drew aside the curtains
TEo light of the lamp showed the
little form of Fleur-de-Ble beneath the
clothes that covered her and her little
arms lying outside.
Twice since the great clock in the
shop struck seven had the grand
mother opened the curtains of the bed
speaking softly to F'leur-de-Ble, and
the child had not awakened She
heard every moment the sound of the
little bell which Jams had fastened to
the shop door and which rang when
ever customer entered. There were
many customers that evening, for Jams
had In candy and cake, the finest little
men and women OF any cOnfectioner in
town. Every time the bell sounded
the grandmother wondered if the GUS
toner wanted figure that cost six
sous, or one for a franc. Those that
cost franc had cheeks made of white
sugar and hair of red sugar, and those
sold for six sous were made in plain
4 cake. Hans had also had to make
some figures that he sold at two francs
because there were always those peo-
pie who wanted to pay two francs when
their neighbors only paid one.
JAMS wife was behind the counter in
the shop. While she was watching the
little boys, with red noses and with
| their hands in their pockets, as they
stopped before the window to admire
the men of cake and candy, she heard
Jams, who was in the bakery, exclaim:
'Now, lads, be CAREFUL for | am 60
ing to make a figure of Saint Nicholas
for Fleur."
And through the window at the back
of the shop Madame Jams saw Hans
In white blouse and trousers, his arms
bare, as he moved hither and thither
beside the men leaning over the knead-
Nam kthe largest of his molds-
18th butter care
the batter; then he put
pven.
bought Madame JAMS,
be man your father is
There is not another
who can make such
Certainly, being the
er, | have done well
>Eans drew the mold
0and1 turned the figure
Gard spHinkled with flour.
large figure, that Of a man
n Ibreeches, with a mitre on his
a staff shaped like a crosier in
1lis( d, and his big pockets over
Gowih with toys. Attached to the
figureWas a streamer on which could
be read the name *Sa1nt Nicholas
Then yames began to frost the cheeks
and the nose of the saint with red SUI
gar; he put chocolate on the coat, red
frosting on the waist coat sprinkled
golden powder on the mitre and the
staff, sugared the hands and the stock
ings in white and finally, calling his
wife and showing her his master piece,
said:
Annette, I would not sell this Saint
Nicholas for five francs, for probably
l could not make another like it."
Fleur-de-Ble awakening with a start,
said In a feeble voice:
Grandmother, what smells so good?
Has Saint Nicholas come already?'
Fleur's voice resembled the last vi
brations of a crystal goblet which had
been struck with a knife and emits a
sound that seems to die away.
no my child" replied the grand
mother, Saint Nicholas has not yet
come but he is entering the town. and
>s.s-t is what makes the sweet odor."
....Gr&adnother," said the child, 81
tave had dream. l dreamed that
saint Nicholas came to me as | lay in
my bed. said to him: Good morning,
Saint Nicholas, patron of good chill
drenn and he replied: 'Fleurde-Ble,