The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1897-12-22

self, can appreciate my feeling, for
doubtless were you away from your
boy you would naturally be interested
in any child which reminded you of
your own. Now / beg you to permit
your little boy to be my guest and cat
his Christmas dinner with me-"
The woman lifted her downcast eyes
to the honest face of the stranger, then
blushing slightly, without either for
bidding or consenting, replied diplomat
ically: Tommy is afraid of strangers.
However noncommital this answer
was, it was equivalent to full consent
when made to a knight of the grip, and
either owing to the hypnotic power
of Reuben Bullwinkle or the cravings
of appetite, no difficulty was expert
enced in winning the child's consent
to any arrangement which had for its
ultimate object the eating of din
ner.
Hungry children are not very fastid-
ious, and however unappetising the
viands of that forlorn lunch counter
would seem to you and me as we sit
down to our Christmas turkey at our
own table, TO the little hungry boy they
were fit for a king, and If everyone
throughout the land enjoyed his Christ
mas dinner as little Tommy did in that
dingy old station, it was indeed merry
Christmas.
However, it came to pass that the boy
was finally satisfied. He had stuffed
himself to his full capacity, and with
sigh of supreme satisfaction prepared to
slide off the high stool, ignoring all OBJ
legations and without word OF excuse
or thanks 10 his genial host. 1t was
very probable that with the purely
natural selfshness which we are all
heirs to, but which is more plainly evil
dent in children owing to their limo
cence, the boy who did not think that
his Door mother was still fasting, but
with the sublime faith of childhood in
the omnipotence of parents, he rested
in the conviction that she was old
enough to look out for herself, if indeed
he gave the matter any consideration,
which is not at all probable.
But Reuben had not forgotten, and
had made up his mind that the woman's
fast should be broken.
"Vait minute, Tommy" said he,
seeing the boy was about to escape.
Don't you want something more?"
mo, | don't want no more, an
swered the polite Tommy.
"Wouldn't you like nice big apple
N mt in your pocket?-o hold on, I've
an idea. It's Christmas, you know, but
YOU didn't know that | was old Santa
Claus. The reason you didn't know me,
Tommy. is because the blizzard blew
NV beard clean off. Yet all the same
I'm going to fill your stocking. ana II
7 can't get at your stocking I'll NIL some
thing else for you. Here, young lady,
let's have one of those big paper bags
Now. Tommy, we'll call this a stocking.
Let's fiji it up. What'll you have? Ap-
nles. of course, and doughnuts and some
of those delicious sandwiches and PIE
like YOUR mother makes, ana guess
that exbausts the bill of fare. Now hold
the end of the bag tight and don I spun
out the vicuals; and, Tommy 9oui
mother wants you.
The refreshed travellers had all set
tied themselves in their seats ana the
train was jogging along again as pest II
could through the snow. RAISING
through the car Reuben looked eareiui-
~ about for the woman and child as ne
was deeply interested in the success o.
his maneuyers There is no great oii,
fculty in locating anyone on a tram OF
cars. and as a matter OF course neuoen
soon found the objects OF MS search
His business with them was very oliei'
indeed il was completed win passing
glance, and completed 10 ms 'n'sns'
satisfaction. for that glance was
fcient to shos him thai 'ne huns'
woman was enjoying his bounty WIN
relish which none can appreciate un