Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-12-23


word and never will As for young
jim, why everybody that looks at him
owns up that he is the greatest boy
that was ever born. Smart, bright,
cute, good. Why that don't describe
him. I've made up my mind that
nothing less than the presidency of
the G. & ". will 10 for him.
A smile lit up the grim features,
and, as he gave signal blast of the
whistle in answer to another signal
that flashed out of the gloom, he add
ed
won't Nellie be pleased tonight ?
She don't suspect anything of the kind
and nobody can tell her, for the only
one that knows it beside myself is
Tom Rushton, who is waiting for me
at the Junction. It'll be big sur
prise for her.
And the engineer with his hand on
the lever peered out from the cab and
kept his keen gaze upon the shining
rails and the spotless snow lining both
sides of the track. Nellie Gordon,
the "little wife, stood for a minute,
until the red light at the rear of the
Express had been swallowed up in the
night, and not the faintest roar or rum
bic came from the vanished train.
Then she closed the door, set down her
boy and busted herself with the prep
arations for this eventful night-the
greatest of the whole year fo- all the
boys and gills in the land. Young
Jim was fervent believer in Santa
Claus, and of Just the age to overflow
with exuberant expectation. He piled
his mother with his innumerable ques-
tions, and the good woman, like many
another mother, had her ingenuity
taxed to the utmost to save herself
from tending upon what resembIed
downright fiction. However, she
managed it when hard pressed by that
infallibIe recourse, "You must not ask
too many questions" SO the pratt
tling voice soon ceased, the chubby
youngster was led upstairs, his night
dress douned and he knelt at his
mothers knee to repeat his evening
prayer. She did not let him see the
smile when he mixed up Kriss Kringle
in his petitions so that only One could
understand the infantile thoughts
that crowded through his brain. But
He heard and understood, and an
swered.
Hardly had the head touched the
downy pillow and scarcely were the
warm clothes tucked about the preci-
Gus form when little Jim was off in
dreamland, his bright eyes intently
folIowinga fat, jolly figure, with snow
white beard, perched in a sled drawn
by six tiny reindeer, who scampered
swiftly over the roofs, pausing with
unerring perception at all the chin
neys where good children lived, while
he slid down and distributed his pres
ents to the deserving ones. Over the
chimney place hung two short but
capacious stockings, sweled to burst
ing with the souvenirs Of Kriss They
even overfowed, so that a jar would
have caused some of the presents to
topple to the floor The mother sat in
her rocking-chair, knitting in hand
and musing
"If only Jim could be with us! 1t
seems a pity that on this one night Of
the year, he must be miles away; but
he will come home tomorrow and
will listen with pretended wonder as
little jim shows him the presents
which Kriss has brought him for being
good boy. Idon't know which will
be the bappiest-the father, our boy
or myself, but suspect it will be my
self. l thank thee, Heavenly Father
she murmured, reverently, "for being
SO good to US.
She heard the latch of the gate
click. Some one was walking rapidly
over the gravel. A moment later he
stepped upon the porch, and, instead
of ringing the bell, raped sharply on
the door. Before the wife could rise
to open, the knob was turned and her
brother Dick stood before her. His
face was white, his eyes glowing, and
he trembled with agitation. The two
looked in silence for a moment at each
other and then he dropped into the
nearest chair, swallowed lump in
his throat, tried to speak, but his voice
was so husky that his words were un-
ineligible.
What is it. Dick ?" asked his sis
ter, as pale as he but with wonderful
self-possession; "don't be afraid TO tell
me; | know it's bad news"
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