Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-12-23

man dinner knowing all the time that
hungry eyes are watching every mouth
full of food we devour; no, that's out
of the question. but what can we do?
That woInan is no pauper. and she
would probably scorch US with a glance
if we presumed to offer her money, or
even to blow her off to a dinner. But,
great Caesar! they must be fed some
how. Now If we could manage TO
scrape up an acquaintance with the boy
think we could make the deal; so let's
see it we can hypnotic him."
Agreeable to this resolution Reuben
fastened his gaze upon the child until
he caught his eye, then smiling the
same old smile which had won him
friends from Boston to California, he
addressed him: Flows this for
Christmas, little boy?" But the little
boy only chung closer to his mothers
skirts and scowled at the presunptu-
Gus stranger.
whats the matter, little friend,
can't you find a seat? You just come
with me now. and if we don't find q
place I'm much mistaken"
The boy ceased whimpering and
looked ipquiringly at his mother.
Reuben thought he could detecr the
conflicting emotions of the woman in
the struggle between wo1nanly pride
and motherly Lore. He saw he tighten
her hold on the hand of the boy and
turn slightly away.
Slipping forward and politely doff-
ing his hat, he addressed the womaJ:
Madam, l leg your pardon, but you
see 1 have taken a notion to that boy
J of yours, and as I am far away from
my own little ones (this was rank du-
plicity. for Reuben had neither wife
nor children, near or far), and as this
is Christmas Gay, 1 am feeling little
lonesome. You, being a parent your
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 I beg you to permit
your little boy to be my guest and eat
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 conserving, replied diplomat
icaliy: 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 Bullwinl<le 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 foriorn 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
| fingy 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 a
sigh of supreme satisfaction prepared to
! slide off the high stool, ignoring all OBJ
Legations and without word of excuse
or thanks TO his genial host. 1t was
very probable that with the purely
natural selfishness which we are all
heirs to, but which is more plainly evil
dent in children owing to their limo
Ieence, the boy who did not think that
Ibis poor mother was still fasting. but
with the sublime faith of childhood in
the omnipctence of parents. he rested
in the conviction that she was old
lenough to look out for herself if indeed