Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-12-24
"OLD MAN CRUDE"
with Acknowledgements TO Dickens Christmas Carol

I hold package. won't they? We
haven't time to wait"
"rhey don't expect anything" ex-
planned the mother. ITS been hve
years since Santa Claus visited our
house and"
We'll, never mind, good night
"Good night. and God bless you
CRUDE began to feel better. The cold
did not feel so intense. and he felt II
was less Of shame to play such an
innocent game. Ellen certainly was q
good girl, whatever she might lack In
business ability.
CRUDE began to be Interested too.
Perhaps IT. was the smell of the sage
brush; he had always known 1t to be
a good. healthful smell.
The first basket was not yet empty
when they entered n house where
everything was dark: but Ellen turned
the door knob without knocking and
they all stole quietly In. There was
glow enough from the fire TO see
row of small stockings hanging by
string from chair to chair. In bed
in one. corner three little heads could
be seen. Some OF the stockings were
bulging and CRUDE remarked that
Santa had been ahead of them.
Ellen took up one and emptied It's con-
tents into his hand. All 1t contained
We're some pieces of wood and coal;
"Rube has played trick on the title
ones suid Ellen.
The sage-b brush smell was stlll with
CRUDE. and in close association with II
was an incident in his childhood Just
such a trick had been played on him.
and he remembered how broken
hearted he had been when that Christ
mas morning so long ago he had gotten
up and found his stocking full OF sticks
and stones. The decline OF stock, the
losing of thousand dollars surely was
no harder than the disappointed PAIN
of a child.
put in two packages whispered
CRUDE. Ellen looked at him curiously
and then did SO.
we they got nearly TO the bottom
OF the second basket. they called at
house where lived family or emf
grants Ellen tried to talk Danish, but
It had become so Americanized that
1t was some time before the good peo--
pie could make out that she wished
to put something in the children
stockings. Ellen hung the Allied stock
ings before the stove. Then the mo-
Their comprehended its meaning and
shook them all by the hand. Inc
grateful father followed with more
hand shaking and bowling of head,
until CRUDE startled his companions
by laughing heartily.
1t was now getting late, and the bas-
ket empty, but CRUDE wanted TO go TO
the nearest store for more supplies.
He knew of a great many more who
ought to be visited, he said; but Ellen
shook her head. 1t was getting late
and they would have to stop with
one more call.
"Brother Evans has been out of work
so long" explained Ellen. we must
give the children something" 1t was
mot until they were outside that
CRUDE thought of Tommy; hut Tommy
was in bed and asleep long ago; so
CRUDE searched in his pocket for a
nickel but found nothing smaller than
a quarter, which he wrapped in a
paper on which he wrote something
and dropped It into the stocking.
The music floated out from the meet.
ing house as the three passed, and
CRUDE proposed that they all go in to
the dance. Ellen again refused; 1t was
getting late.
When CRUDE was alone again the niFht
seemed to close in upon him and the
usual familiar streets became maze
to him. why had the city discontinued
| the electric light? To save? Yes; ana
people might be murdered and no one
soc It, How cold 1t was! How tine
| snow came down in fierce gusts OF
wind CRUDE was surely lost; and he
might perish in the storm. his Dram
| seemed to be in n whirl, when bump!
| Grubes head received a terrible knock
| on the table by which he was sitting.
| He awoke with n start. His door nau
been blown open by the wind and
| drift of snow lay far into the room.
| While he had been dreaming in his
chair. the fire had burned out and
! CRUDE was chilled Through. With q
| painful effort he went to bed.
Sister White, wife of Bishop White
| of the Second ward was visiting Sister
| Brown, wife of the First wards Bishop
when the latter came in.
Glow is CRUDE today?' asked Sister
| Brown.
20, Brother CRUDE is better; he is
sitting up"
| ~ didn't know he was sick" said
\ Sister White. What is the natter"
| "a severe cold" said the Bishop. HE
called me In TO administer to him. and
| afterwards he handed me this which
he had already written out"
"a check for ten dollars" exclaimed
| Sister Brown.
eyes; for fast donation" said the
| Bishop.
why, Bishop White got the same
thing this morning." exclaimed the Wis
| itor.
Sister White had business with Sis.
| ter Green, wife of Bishop Green of tn,
| Third ward that afternoon, and sht
asked Sister Brown to go with her
which she did. AS the talk was or
| hr.fc Giotar cron,