The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-19

Oue 81 Nature's Orcrsights Cerreuted ara
Nar Rnncta Ahnnt nnntn Clans.

~ - ~
New Faets Aheut Santa Claus.
Rsmorseloss yime. with cruol insistonce.
had robbed Mickey Firms b~illygoot OF his
pristine playfulnoss. His step was slow and
decrepit His manner was blase. His teeth
wero loosened 80 that tho toothsomo rutabagAN y
turnip and the juicy carrot would have
awakened only unappeasod desire. But no was
not put to so cruel n test, because these dAintlea
were reserved for tho nanny with economical
tactical intent. In Mrs, Firms rude PHILOSOPHY
utility preceded philanthropy.
But old age was not altogether responsible for
loosoning tho goats teeth. Decay had had an Y
able assistant in the shape of a trolley car. In :
tho course OF a long and varied career the goat 2
had acquired some knowledge OF botany and
natural history. To these were added some
few facts regarding painting, which tho goat
had assimilnted from circus bills. To vary the
monotony OF prosaic existence the goat had 40 y
quircd a playful habit OF stepping on tho track 2
Just rs tho horscoar camo along. II IL a wcll.Ssl
known principle of equine action that no solf- %
respecting horse ever tried to step over a goat -
that was alive. Consequently the driver was y
forced to use his whip, also his stock OF or
plotivcs. But an all-wise Providence had de-
Mod tho goat any knowledge OF physics. espe-
clally Of the marvellous power Of eloctricity.
Hence, when they replaced the horse cars with
tr~olleys-but details are unnecessary. p
But although tho billy's teeth woro loosened
and his kneejoints stiff with rheumatism hes
was not unhappy. Long introspection, together
with inherited instinct, had taught him the
%salutary lesson that lifo is a comedy, and 50 10 -
was that he came to DO regarded rs q humorisu =
rather than q tragedian. By common consents
he was associated with the clam and the negro
baby In popular estimation. Why this was so 10 =
would be hard to tell. for he always wore a look :
OF unwinking solemnity and inscrutability. =,
Still. he was universally loved. Tho boys =
cared for him because he had been the
means Of putting many cents into their e
pockets. Because OF his magnificent pro-
portions, his great horns and his splendid beard. q
he was coveted by many passersby. Tho boys 2
lassoed him with q clothes line for n considera-
tion). his legs were tied together. he was thrown
into u wagon, and carried several miles awny
to decorate some well-kept lawn. But he never s.
remained away more than three days, and came
back to his old pasturage dragging q rope with
q stake tied to It, to be resold the next week. hF-.
And now that the fiery old buccaneer had ar. 81
rived Mt such an advanced ago that he was OF q"
no moro use as a propulsive force he was still
beloved by his owner. Mickey could not forset~
the many glorious hours whom. seated upon the
back Of the goat like q knight Grant, he had
ridden over the hills in search of I'D venture. In
fancy Mickey could feel himself again astride Of .
his horned charger, and his heart raced as he
remembered with what fiery impatience the RI
goa. had reared In an Intellectual effort to un.
replete with vlgor for the goat and rare az
porterhouse steak for the boy. And now that
the goat had almost reached the end of life;a
tether the boys heart was filed with tender
ness. He patted the hoary old patriarch upon :
the head. He stroked his long rnbbi-like beard.
He looked into the goats questioning eyes and
with tho precedence Of q seer he realized that
tho goat would never breathe the air OF another
Gladstone Juno day nor assist a small boy to
'i Ia Ua q 'e noon ., q d,v ,o,o IN nooorh.r vn,n
these reflections came to Mickey. Mechanic
ally he united tho goats tetber and together
they walked out of the shed into the warm
sunshine. side by side. uttering no word, bub
up the sunny slope OF Stumpy Field, which was
now carpeted with snow, over the ridge where
tho sassa,ras grew, through the laurel and the
sumach bushes into the pine woods. A fnGi-
;na .vss ~. thsx stood to,.,ber ,oohipr nvsr
i ,ns ys a. . ton,,;or TSen 10. ~oa. ns,sos 1870 ~.
echoed through the silent wood. frightened a
parss as e he a had s said in aT ths words On In Of f Paul Hayn as
Oh. for one more glimpse of my los. youth
With all youths glory in IT.
IL was Chr1stmaS 1--WE. The decaycd logs
which Mickey had gathered from Lindsley'O
Wood fiared high in the fireplace. Flames
roared up the chimney and sparks few out into
the night. In the genial glow of the firelight
sat Mr.. Finn, smoking. Near him sat his boy,
Mickey. lost in a reysrie. while Mrs. Finn and
her neighbor. Mrs. O'Brien, were discussing. tho
origin OF Santa Claus for the benefit OF the boy.
'''They do be saying" said Mrs. O'Brien. with
O sly wink at Mrs. Finn, that Santa Claus
Is aDootchman and that he do DO Twin in the
North PEI"
Faith, that's what I heard myself" replied
Mrs. Finn. They say he has n big house up
there filled with toys and candies"
Mickey listened to the conversation with both
ears open.
Last year Mrs; Murphy told me" continued
Mrs. O'Brien, that Santa Claus told her he
had q narrow escape comm from the North
Pole to Greenland; He said that when he was
1 thiSyq nait a w Wits w1 bear ms Chased stea 'f bim' When Wl.e sG pSe
boar got too close he threw over to him fouP
pounds of mixed candy, and as soon as he swaI-
lowed 1t he WIS took with cramps and died.
II wonder" interrupted the boy, "if Sandy
Claus ever brings ANYTHING to animalsi'
=. uaar tha hnutib nx,latpnad h;a ,o1tLA.