The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-12-28

Hiuy oC iiS mig III uO SOIDGUDl lDi
dc could not understand why MIR. Jo
dan was displeased with him, but tn
fact that anyone took enough interest
him to be displeased with him, arouse
a new sensation. He gazed steadily a
the house. 1t didn't look like tn
houses up in the village, where Christ
mas came every year that was q fact
but perhaps he could yet tx it up il
time.
Johnnie, who always did as jackson
did, stood and stared al the house
too. But his feet became cold, and il
trying to stand on one leg again, h,
lell over against his brother. Thi
aroused Jackson, and he started of
down the river at brisk trot, Johnnie
OF course, trotting after him. Arriv
Ing at the mill, he borrowed an AK O
the man in charge, and also got some
wide shingles from those scattered
about. With these, he covered the
broken panes in the window and took
down the shawl. Then he chopped
some dry limbs from fallen tree near
the house and building up rousing
lire, shut the door. Next he and
Johnnie, using shingles for trowels,
brought clay from the river bank, and
hlled up all the cracks they could
reach. 1t was surprisingly warm and
comfortable in the house, when they
went in.
BY this time it was nearly night,
and they had to hurry down to the
mill to return the ak When they
came back, Jackson stopped to look at
the house again. So did Johrnic.
jackson surveyed their work in silence,
but Johnnie spoke the supreme
thought OF both when he asked
Do you spose Krismus will come
now, jackson ?"
Jackson shook his head dcspobdcnt.
ly. reckon Krismus done forgot
we uns for good" he said. ISlt hjs
eyes belied his words; lh,y w,r,
either shining with unwu, ia pride IN
his work or lit by spark "t hope.
After freeing his mind To j ick,or,
Mr.. Jordan thought he fe.t better, but
IL was FOR short time Only. He keep,
thinking of the two forlorn figures ~ o.
the river bank, all the after.o'". He
eald over, lazy" "shiftlcss," anu
" good-for-nothing," great man,
times; but that did not seem to nelr
much. He did not feel at all comfort
able. Finally, he did up a large pack
age OF candy, nuts and raisins, and laid
II one side on the counter. He then
Ielt better. A man oane in and
bought some shoes for his children,
who were about the size of Johnnie
and jackson. Mr.. Jordan laid a dupli-
cate pair OF each of those sold by the
side of the candy. He felt so much
better that he went on adding to the
pile, one article at q time, first some
stockings and warm woOlen shirts, then
! large piece Of bacon, and at last a
sack OF tl)ur.
Mrs. Jordan in the meantime came
10 to get some raisins for her Christ
nae pudding, and seeing these bundles,
asked whom they were all for. He
tried to make her believe that he eX-
oected some one in to buy them al
'eady done up. She smiled doubling
y. but said nothing.
1t was late when Mr.. Jordan closed
,he store that night, yet the moon
vas still above the tree tops. When
ne reached homo Mrs. Jordan was still
ousy getting ready for her usual large
lumber OF Christmas visitors Her
christmas dinners were events looked
Onward to longingly by many OF her
poorer relatives and neighbors. They
,a!ked over their plans for the morrow,
and the presents for their little rosy
checked girl. Then Mr.. Jordan read
he newspaper through. Mrs. Jordan
vas still busy. Mr.. Jordan grew ner-
Jous and looked at his watch, he look |
~ ouo VI WIG VIC lllOOu WAS
below the tree-tops now. He went to
,he door, and scanned the sky anxious.
y. 1t looked ike rain, OFF in the
1orth. west, he believed he would go
iown and take another look at bis logs.
the river rose, he might lose some
)f them. Mrs. Jordan, who happened
10 be peeping out soon after that, saw
4 man come out OF the back door OF the
store. There was still light enough
Tor her to sec that he was carrying
like sack on his shoulder
and bag, or basket, in his hand. He
looked and acted like q thief, but
strange to say she did not arouse the
neighbors she only smiled to herself
when she saw him slip away into the
woods toward the river.
AS rule, jackson did not get up
early, but on Christmas morning the
light was just struggling in through
the Two dirty. unbroken windowpanes,
when he suddenly sat up and looked
round the room. He had been dream
ing that Christmas had at last come ~
them, as he heard other children de-
scribe its joyful event in their we'll
kept homes. He got up and groped
his way over to the fireplace, and
threw some wood upon the slumber-
ing Goals. A ruddy blaze soon lit up
INC room. TIC looked eagerly around.
1t was the same cheerless, desert, i
place. Not trace of Christmas could
he fiud. He was bitterly disappointed
He had hoped against fear that they
would not be missed this time oIt 1t
was no use expecting aDyth,ce. ,veu
when they worked for it. Wn.s MIR.
Jordan said might be all right for r,ch
people, but it did not rppiy To tb, IN
He choked down som, t Ing that
came up into his throat, aod f.or,ng
he was going to cry, opened the door
to &c away by himself.
AS he opened the door large, ur-
gainiy object slid down apd bumped
against his legs, while u lot of little
bundles rolled about him on the h)Or.
Jackson's eyes grew big with wonder
when he saw that the something which
had hit him was q sack of flour. They
opened still wider when he found some
socks and shoes in ono of the bundles,
but when he came to package which
had broken open and he saw the cand !, ,
nuts and raisins scattered on the floor
he knew what had happened.
He's come Johnnie. Nam, les
come y he cried. "Krismus has come
sure ~